Day 14 Today the doctor removed the stitches and the knee immobilizer brace. It seems so much of a relief as the burden one was carrying seem to have gone. The doctor has advised to try to walk normally and continue the flexion, ROM and feet movement exercises. I am not able to bend my knee much due to to the swelling and the general fever due to which I have not done too much ROM exercises. And when the doctor bent it to 90 degree the pain was earth shattering though when the pain was not there I was able to bend it to 90 degrees previously. Also because of the same the joint is painting and sue to the swelling above the knee it is difficult for me to walk so I bought crutches for the support. Started icing which has helped in the swelling and hence by the end of the day I am feeling much better in the walking though still not close to what I could do 3-4 days back. The most important thing is to do the exercises and maintain/reduce the swelling which will aid the healing and quicken the recovery process.

Day 13 Tomorrow is the follow up visit to the doctor to remove the stitches and further advice on the exercises. I have not started any major PT except flexion and ankle movements. The ROM flexion exercises took a setback this week with the continuing fever and the increased pain in the knee. When last week I was happy with the progress and thought that it was good that I had finally got the surgery done and looking at the end results after surgery, this week due to the above issues have been having self doubts and thinking of the need for surgery when everything was going quite okay. Maybe this is just a passing phase and when I am at least able to walk with little pain, these thoughts will not occur. I have also been thinking about the travel back to Dubai in 10-11 days and whether I will be able to do it. Last week I had thought that it would be no problem but this week it just doesn't give confidence. Questions which come to my mind are, am I sleeping in the right position. I only sleep in the sideways position hence putting some stress on the right operated knee. Also the doc had advised against icing but which I have done for a couple of days now. Now waiting for the consultation tomorrow with the doctor and some relaxation or complete disposal of the knee immobilizer brace.

Day 10 Last couple of days has been quite bad with fever. The doc asked for a few tests. The main reason being that I started the knee flexion exercises 3 days back and the slight pain and the increase in swelling has resulted in fever appearing. The doctor has advised against using ice for the swelling for the time being. I am able to put the entire weight on the operated leg and able to stand with both legs straight though for walking I am bending my knee and hence the gait is slow and limp(when there is no fever). I am using muscle relaxants like volini liberally to ease the pains in other parts like hip joint and lower back due to the increased pressure on them. I am very careful of resting them as my previous injury in the right knee(for which the ACL reconstruction is done) led to double pressure on the left knee and I over stretched my aching knee which has resulted in cartilage damage in the left knee.

ACL surgery

Day 0 onwards I had read a lot on the Internet posts about the ACL recovery but nowhere about what to expect from the surgery itself. I have had a hamstring graft and medial meniscus repair and the surgery itself was only for half hour with 15 min each of pre operative and postoperative procedures in the OT. I was awake waist up all the time to see the screen and the hamstring graft etc. and only half hour in the ICU and was back in the room but the effect of anesthesia takes around 8 to 10 hours to wear off. The first two days post the surgery is very important as although there was no restriction on going to the washroom, I didn't have any strength to go there. 2 days at the hospital including the day of the surgery and I was free to go home. Some doctors even suggested just one day at the hospital but I think 2 days was perfect. And after 2 days I had to climb one flight of stairs to my home which was not much of a problem. I climbed in the reverse(as one climbs down) as the knee was in a immobilizer brace which I will have to wear for 2 weeks.