There is some concern for such limited flexion after 2 months post op. Knees are important! If you’re staring down the barrel of an ACL reconstruction – or just went through ACL surgery – you probably have a few questions…, (Learn what to expect during your ACL reconstruction.). I have recently realized that I may have accidentally been bending my knee past 90 degrees at home when resting in bed with the brace off. Please let us know if you have any additional ACL questions! Im 6 weeks post-op on ACL and MCL surgery. If you are worried about your recovery after surgery you could also consider getting a second opinion. In many cases, prescription pain medication can be supplemented and/or eventually replaced with over the counter NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen. Scar tissue popping or a problem with meniscus repair? From immediately post-op, to five plus years later. Recently I’ve been having this sharp pain at the upper outside part of my knee and sometimes the lower inside. If your surgery was successful with no complications and you Please let me know if you think there may be something wrong or if this is somewhat common. My knee does make a little crack when I bend it but that’s about it. That’s great! Arthrofibrosis is a condition in which you have a buildup of scar tissue around a joint, usually after a traumatic injury or surgical procedure. Your doctor will want to re-evaluate your knee and possibly get more imaging. I am looking for advice on how NOT to get here again! I feel d/t significant swelling. It is hard for me to communicate here but I’ve been told to avoid the surgery as long as possible if my knee is stable. Abhimanyu, Overall, it’s not anything to worry about at 3-weeks post-op. My knee barely even touches the 0degree mark when I push down on it and is always at a five degree bend. Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, A Team Approach. I contacted doctor and went for MRI scan. Lareina, Theresa, I had to call the surgeons office for refill. I am 58 and in physical condition. I had acl reconstruction done 5 days ago (second time, first one was 10 years ago and then I recently fell and prob twisted my knee on impact). I had a torn ACL, MCL, and Meniscus. i do often have pain and swelling still because i am active but when they say do whatever your physical therapist says to do they mean it! Andrew, All the best! Thank you. Overall, I would suggest following your doctors recommendation for treatment. I am scared to have surgery again. Please advise your recommendation. Is that good for my knee? As per doctor, my ACL Is complete tear and getting pain while making the quick actions so needs to go for the surgery. Hi dr I would recommend seeing an orthopaedic surgeon for evaluation. We would recommend reaching out to your surgeon’s nurse/medical assistant for detailed instructions. You want to rehab your ACL. Excess scar tissue, layers deep, can significantly reduce function and movement months after surgery. The MCL connects the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone) and helps stabilize and control the sideways movement of the knee. Ideally, a patient needs arthroscopic adhesiolysis. And, is it alright to leave Ice Machine on ALL the time? Pain after surgery can be normal. They told me that I tore my meniscus I said I want an mri ended up being an acl I tore. I feel this is excessive. I’m concerned that I was not taken care of properly ( i’ve been walking with a limp for 6 weeks) and that getting a brace now would be redundant. Are you in the Salt Lake or Park City, Utah area? In early healing phases, try and massage your scar for 10-15 minutes a day (2-3 times a day for 5 mins). We would be happy to give you a doctor recommendation, if we know one in your area. 5 week ago In two wheeler accident I got injury in my right knee. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2011.12.009, Ekhtiari S, Horner NS, de Sa D, Simunovic N, Hirschmann MT, Ogilvie R, Berardelli RL, Whelan DB, Ayeni OR. After knee surgery, the knee is often swollen. I was able to ski for about 6 years after a few years of healing, and now in the past few, my knee was feeling quite compromised after a 1/2 day of skiing and thought I’d best not push it, so given up skiing for the last 2 years. I had surgery here and they removed my ACL ligament completely but did not replace it. Do I sound like I might need replacement / reconstruction, or possibly another form of treatment? It simply gave out. the letter, the best guess is no less than six months. surprisingly i had a quick recovery. I have an 112 degree pull back in the knee now with pain. Further incisions are made to remove the old ligament and attach a new ligament to the bones with screws or o… Gage, Rehabilitating from ACL or MCL surgery is a long process – I was not doing anything! Kindly guide me a bit, I’ll be very thankful to you. I started PT and AAROM during PT on 08/31/20 was at 90 and after PT measured 114. Hello, I just did my ACL and medial meniscus reconstruction surgery last Sunday. Thanks for your questions. Although these are the common reasons for these symptoms, there are obviously other less common scenarios, such as another knee injury. My doctor did not say about the knee strength excersice. I told the Doctor my story and he told me to see him in two weeks in person if symptoms didn’t improve. Vitamin E is proven to help build collagen and massaging with lotion lubricates the skin, cutting down friction. If you are concerned about the lack of strength in that leg, I would recommend discussing this with your doctor. They can give you a more detailed idea of what to expect at each stage of recovery. Have your had a post-operative appointment yet? The most difficult thing about ACL rehabilitation is sticking to the program – whether that means pushing yourself past your comfort zone or reigning it in so as to not overdo it. Felt like a noodle and I fell. Hey, just had my Acl and meniscus repaired today. They typically have a protocol in place for optimal recovery. It could be both too. I’m 16 day’s out from surgery.. did I do something wrong and injured the graft? so not recommended. This new tissue is not as strong as the original hamstring tendon. Hope this helps! It can be difficult, but it is their job to help you obtain as much mobility as possible. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. Acl pcl mil reconstruct took place on 2 May 2019. If you feel it is excessive, or that you are running out too soon, this is definitely a discussion you need to have with your physician. Arthrofibrosis, also known as “stiff knee syndrome,” occurs when excessive scar tissue forms around a joint, limiting range of motion and causing pain and disability.It can be a complication of knee replacement or anterior cruciate ligament surgery, with infections and bleeding as known contributing factors. It takes time for the joints to heal and begin to move smoothly again. So far so good, just the discomfort and the new normal (crutches, brace and all in between). Other surgeons will recommend gradual weight bearing as tolerated. Amanda, I am so torn as to what to do, but have been advised that getting the surgery now is better as I’m not getting any younger and will likely cause issues down the road anyway and better to heal when you are younger than older?! And hot. I went to urgent care and got X-rays. Arthrofibrosis associated with total knee arthroplasty. Good luck!! I am taking good care to avoid such knee unstable causing actions now and doing all of my daily routines without any problem. You will want to As for the brace, let your doctor know it is causing your leg to cramp. We hope the surgery went well. I use a pillow between my legs and roll my whole body as one unit to lay on my side. Not needing crutches for 2 days but using ice machine and brace while walking. Treatment and rehabilitation of arthrofibrosis of the knee. J Arthroplasty. Extension is often focused on first, followed by flexion, with the goal to ultimately return the patient to their previous activity level. But i observed that my knee is unstable and getting pain while doing the quick actions. Talked to the orthopaedic surgeon and he recommended it’s time to do the ACL repair…but then said I likely would never ski again?! © Copyright 2020 Heiden Orthopedics. If you cut yourself, have surgery, or tear tissue in the body, scar tissue will develop. I’m also walking with crutches every 2 hours in the house to keep the blood flooding, and trying to put weight on the knee. We hope this helps and wishing you a quick recovery. Your doctor will need to evaluate your knee and review your MRI and other imaging before giving any recommendation for treatment. Whether you injured your knee on the slopes, in the gym, on the field or from a slip and fall, getting back to 100% after knee surgery can feel like an uphill battle. Stretching just seems to make it worse. At the appointment The doctor was going to send me on my way until I explained to him that my knee felt loose when I walked, he scheduled an MRI. it’s hard work but don’t give up! Family is saying do the surgery can you tell me is there a way to heal & get back to normal with just the therapy. Together, the ACL and MCL (along with the PCL and the LCL) are vital to knee stability and functionality. ACL tears, however, are a whole different story. In 2015, I strained the MCL longboarding (and likely ACL too), but make a “full recovery” for both within a couple of months. My knee is very swollen now and feels hot. I did acl reconstruction and meniscus repair and its already been 2 and half months. Pain-free and full mobility. Hi, is it possible for me to tear my ACL vertically? These would be good questions to ask your doctor, including where you can find knee strengthening exercises. If there is laxity in the ACL (too long) then the possibility of it overlapping even minutely can give that sensation and may feel better if it was shook to loosen it up. They say my progress is good from where I’m at. If your situation doesn’t improve, discuss these concerns with your doctor as well. The expectation after surgery, regardless of the graft used, should be to regain full range of motion and strength. It is also important to note that Physical Therapy(PT) doesn’t necessary heal the meniscus tears either, but helps prevent stiffness and increases strength while the injury heals. And while these two ligaments are involved in the majority of knee injuries, their function within the knee and corresponding treatment after injury aren’t as similar as you might think. It’s honestly that simple. Amanda, Should I call for a refill again? Elsevier; 2017. I’m going to use my personal experience more though. And after surgery how much time it will take to start walking? Although these symptoms can be due to many contributing factors, here are a few common causes: He is an excellent surgeon and is very personable and caring. Arthrofibrosis after ACL reconstruction is best treated in a step-wise approach with early recognition and intervention: A systematic review. However, by getting surgery to repair your ACL, you can help restore your function in no time. Knee snapping or popping can understandably be irritating and uncomfortable. Even, i am doing PT on regular basis.So, what can i do now ? Not sure if this stuck feeling is normal or if I buggered up my meniscus. It’s been 5 days since the fall and the popping sound disappears but I can’t rotate my left knee from the left to the right. It's typically performed arthroscopically (with small incisions). I’m 9 months post op ACL and Meniscus, and next Tuesday I’m getting surgery to remove scar tissue. Knee scar tissue develops as a result of traumatic injury to the knee or as a complication of knee surgery.It might form after procedures such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery or total knee replacement. require surgery. I had hardly any discomfort after the surgery. Was told the two options were surgery or to let it heal naturally if I wasn’t “needing to ski” for a season or two (& because it’s just recreational skiing I do, I opted the natural healing) and orthopaedic specialist said there would likely be less scar tissue if it healed naturally. Pain can vary patient to patient. Getting ACL surgery can make you feel like an old man. I would also recommend being extremely cautious with exercise, even though your pain and swelling have gone down, until you are able to get a second opinion. My doctor did the very same thing until I was persistent I needed an MRI. To confirm the diagnosis and get a feel for the extent of the problem, you'll likely be sent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray. About 9 months later I went in to see a new doctor, come to find out I had a torn ACL and MCL. Everything was fine but from yesterday I’m having pain on the medial side of my knee whenever I put weight on it. I had my ACL surgery 8/18/20 and all went well. They can help you work towards full extension and flexion. I tore my ACL in my right knee and am having pain in the top to the right of my knee where the graft is. I am 6 weeks post ACL repair using a cadaver tendon as replacement. Popping sounds can also occur due to stiffness from scar tissue after surgery. Can I achive full range atleast 150° in 20days..If Yes How??? to be honest it was very dreadful sometimes to put the work in but in the end it is so worth it. You'll likely be advised to start gentle range-of-motion exercises to increase flexibility. I have been icing my right knee, no swelling and it becomes sore with any amount of walking. Christian, Ugh! I’d get it fixed, but to be honest with you. Rupi, I am having trouble sleeping. Any time you have a surgery or injury, the area scars up. Be careful not to massage directly over the scar, until it is well healed. And unfortunately intimidated & speechless by his horrible bedside manner that I couldn’t bring myself to ask what he meant! Call your surgeon if you’re not getting any sleep and they can give you detailed instructions or prescribe a sleep aid. Is there any other procedure I should do? Is that good for my knee? My hamstring and quad on my operated leg keeps cramping I think mainly due to the brace. I was considering just going on my side and still keep it elevated with a pillow. Popping in your knee can be due to scar tissue after surgery. Follow your doctor’s guidelines for optimal recovery. My ACL and MCL were completely torn . Also, the quadriceps muscles can be weak. I’m not a back sleeper. Did not feel a pop. Hey I just had surgery for my ACL (brand new they used my own parts to replace) i also had my meniscus fixed.. my MCL fixed.. we drove home after.. about 4 1/2 hour drive. Now my question is can I continue my sports (long jump ) . Ziauddin, I had surgery on my right knee acl, mcl, and meniscus in February this year due to a car accident and it’s been a few months and I still can’t get past a little more than 90 or it goes down to the 80’s. My only issue is I can’t sleep. Each patient needs a tailored recovery plan based on their injury and surgery. 1.5 tonne pallet fell on my right knee. Sometime I feel ok and sometime I feel pain in my foot. with physical therapy. Since you have started Physical Therapy already, I would discuss recovery expectations with your Physical Therapist. MRI shows partial ACL tear, partial MCL tear and both medial and lateral meniscus tears of my LEFT knee. Rishav, I’m glad you’re recovering well, keep up the good work! If you have started Physical Therapy, discuss a few exercises you can do for your neck/shoulders with your Physical Therapist. We’re glad you were able to see a specialist and obtain an MRI. Thanks! I wish I can sleep on my side. I want to continue with sports, should I continue without the ACL ligament or is this considered risky? With knee arthroscopy, a tiny camera is inserted into the knee through a small incision. 2019;7:9. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0047-x, Frye BM, Floyd MW, Pham DC, Feldman JJ, Hamlin BR. My next question is am I taking to many. Firstly, we recommend following your surgeon’s orders for post-op recovery. I was taking 2 ever 4-6hours. Where are you located? Healthy tissues may be destroyed from a cut, significant injury, or surgery. How much time it take to be normal. Joshua, The problem arises when its formed due to lack of adherence to a strict post surgical stretching routine. At this point, considering your surgery was in February, one option to try is aggressive ROM therapy. There are exceptions to these recommendations, where weight bearing needs to be restricted for several weeks. Read our, Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD, Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD, Verywell Health uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, One Way to Get Your Knee Bending After Surgery Is With CPM, What to Expect on the Day of Your ACL Surgery, Surgery to Address a Stiff Shoulder Joint, Explore What Talus Fractures Are and Why They Occur, Orthopedic Surgery for the Treatment of Bone and Joint Problems, Adhesive Capsulitis or Stiffness and Pain of the Shoulder Joint, Understand What a Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty Is, What You Need to Know About Arthroscopic Surgery, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery, Pathological mechanisms and therapeutic outlooks for arthrofibrosis, Effect of femoral component design on patellofemoral crepitance and patella clunk syndrome after posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty, Arthrofibrosis after ACL reconstruction is best treated in a step-wise approach with early recognition and intervention: A systematic review, Arthrofibrosis associated with total knee arthroplasty, Treatment and rehabilitation of arthrofibrosis of the knee, An inability to straighten your leg, resulting in a limp, A grating sound or sensation when you move the joint (called. Thank you! The first question has a simple but imprecise answer: it Also I’m spending all day in bed with my legs out in front of me but when I get out of bed I get a really painful throbbing in my knee so should I maybe not be keeping my leg out all day? I ended up getting a second opinion after a doctor told me nothing was wrong. Hello, I had acl reconstruction for a grade 3 tear and they removed ~20% of the meniscus. This protocol varies, however, so I would ask your surgeon for specific instructions to follow that is tailored to you and your surgery. If you live in the Park City or Salt Lake area I would be happy to demonstrate the exercises in person. However what i’m concerned about is my extension. When it comes to extension everything seems ok, but when I get near the ~40 degree flexion there is intense pain at the bottom of my kneecap. Popping in your knee can be due to scar tissue after surgery. This is with 50 physical therapy sessions and home exercises. 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Knee surgery or injury, especially the 6 mile hike back out look like development tightens the can! Side of my hamstring off for the remaining 6 miles heal that way that leg, we ’ be... Near-Normal condition kirsten, if that normal or if i buggered up my i... Right before bed but i can ’ t even speak mobility to avoid such knee unstable causing actions now feels!