+ What do I do with my dressing?

• Cover it when you shower for the first 3 days and change it if it gets wet or dirty. You can remove the dressing after day 3.
• You can also remove the outer ACE bandages in order to remove the ice pack from out of your dressing, just be sure to put the ACE bandages back in place.
• Leave the Steri-strips in place until they fall off on their own.

+ What are my restrictions?

• Wear your brace and use crutches for balance
• You can put your full weight on your leg as long as you didn’t have a meniscus repair

+ Do I have stitches? When do they come out??

• You have 2 stitches that will be taken out at your first post-operative visit. Don’t worry, they don’t hurt when they come out! There are other stitches that are under the skin and will dissolve and you will never see them

+ Can I put lotions or anything on my incisions?

• No. Please do not put any lotions, creams, oils, antibiotic ointments or anything on the incisions until they are perfectly healed and the scab is gone.

+ When can I shower?

• You can shower immediately if you cover the dressing for the first 3 days. After 3 days, you can remove the dressing and let the water run down over the incisions. DO NOT scrub the incisions or submerge them underwater.

+ How long do I wear my brace?

• For about 2-6 weeks after surgery, depending on what is done. It usually depends on whether or not you also had a meniscus repair at the same time.

+ What do I take for pain?

• You will be given a prescription for narcotic pain medication after surgery (usually Percocet/Oxycodone).
• However, Ibuprofen and Tylenol work great. You can take start taking Ibuprofen every 8 hours starting immediately after surgery to minimize the amount of narcotic you will need to take as long as you have no stomach ulcer issues, kidney issues, and you are not on any blood thinners. We have patients who do not need any of the narcotic, but everybody reacts differently to surgery.
• The Percocet has 325 mg of Tylenol in it already, so if you are taking Tylenol, just be sure that you do not exceed 3000 mg of it in a 24 h period.

+ What medications will I be on?

• Aspirin- to prevent blood clots. Take daily for about 4 weeks
• An opioid for pain, usually Percocet or Norco
• Zofran- for nausea
• Colace- stool softener

+ Will I have a nerve block?

• Yes, our anesthesiologist will typically place an Adductor Canal nerve block while you are asleep, but it will not prevent all of your pain.
• Some numbing medicine was also injected into the skin.
• These usually last 1-3 days.

+ How frequently do I need to use the CPM Machine?

• Some people like to sleep in it. Otherwise use it as much or as little as you want to. The amount of time spent in the CPM will not make or break your recovery.

+ How do I return the ice machine or CPM?

• Bring it back around your 1st post-operative visit and drop it off at the hospital entrance. They will have a cart for you to use to help bring it from your car.

+ Do I need to wear my brace when I sleep?

• Not necessarily. If you tend to move alot when you sleep, and there is a chance that your leg could fall off the bed, then it is a good idea.
• If you have a meniscus repair at the same time, then it is advised that you wear your brace while you sleep for the first 2 weeks at least.

+ When do I follow up after my surgery?

• Between 7-14 days afterwards. This appointment should already be made for you, but you can adjust it if needed.

+ When should I start going to physical therapy?

• Immediately, the sooner the better. You will have all the paperwork you need for PT when you leave the hospital.

+ How long will I be going to physical therapy?

• For the next 6+ months

+ How frequently do I need to go to physical therapy?

• 2-3 times/week initially, but this will be spaced out over time as you progress

+ What are some red flags after my surgery that I should be looking for?

• Fever over 101.4 F
• Calf swelling or severe calf pain
• Increasing redness around the incision
• Pus draining from the incision. It is normal for some drainage from the incisions for a few days after surgery.
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing

+ How long is the recovery?

• As a general rule, you will be feeling good at the 6 week mark, really good at 3 months, and then strengthening your knee after that. Full recovery is about 9 months, which is about how long it takes for your quad muscle to recover enough to go back to cutting, pivoting, and twisting sports.

+ When can I sleep on my side?

• You can sleep on your side as soon as it feels comfortable to do so.

+ When can I swim?

• You CANNOT get into a pool or hot tub until your incisions are perfectly healed, usually around 4 weeks. After that, you may get into a pool but check with us or PT before swimming.

+ When can I run?

• You will work with us and your physical therapist to determine this, but it’s usually around 4 months.

+ When can I return to sports?

• You will work with us and your physical therapist to determine this, but it’s usually around 8-9 months after surgery.
• You will likely complete a functional sport test in PT before returning to sports to more objectively determine if your muscles are strong enough.

+ Will I play sports in a brace?

• Yes. It depends on your sport, but usually you will be fit with a functional ACL brace at around the 3 month mark.
• Once you return to sports, you will use this brace for up to 12-18 months.

+ When can I drive?

• When you can fully weight bear and are not on any pain medication. Be sure to practice before driving again.
• This often takes longer with a right knee surgery, even up to 6-8 weeks according to some studies.
• It also depends on if you have weightbering restrictions from a meniscus repair.

+ When can I go back to work?

• Depends on your job. If you can perform your job while abiding by the restrictions, you can go back as soon as you feel able to.
• We recommend not making any important decisions while on the pain medication.