ACL Recovery Log #8 – 2 Weeks Post Op

Today I had my first post-op appointment! Good news: my surgeon said my knee looked great! I’m still not allowed to do much besides the stationary bike with no resistance, along with physical therapy which starts on Monday.

Most of the swelling has gone down, just have some residual bruising. My stitches have been removed (minus the big dissolvable loop stitch on my big incision) and now I’ve just got some steristrips over the incisions which will probably fall off in a few weeks.

Over the past two weeks, I have been focusing on the few post-op PT exercises my therapist gave me. I’m still doing heel slides and quad sets like it’s my job. It’s frustrating to see little to no progress day after day. My knee is so stiff and difficult to bend. At least I have my own office now where I can set out my yoga mat and do my exercises on my break. I’m still supposed to be icing/elevating, but since I went back to work and can’t elevate my leg too well so by the time I leave it’s really stiff and swollen. I guess that’s just my life now.

But my surgeon reiterated today that this process is long and slow, and my knee won’t feel like it’s getting better for a while. I can’t do anything until he clears me for it which is frustrating. The winter season has already passed me by, and spring will be doing the same. Hopefully, after my next appointment in a month, I’ll be able to go for walks on flat, even ground. For now, I’ll just focus on getting back my flexion (extension is pretty good!) and strengthen my quads and hamstrings. I can’t wait for my
first PT session! I’ll also be going to the gym (if it stays open amid the Coronavirus fiasco) for upper body training sessions with my personal trainer.