within a week post-op

[ange1os]

I had ACL reconstruction 2 days ago by Julian Feller. I have been given two excercises to do 3 times a day for the next 2 weeks. I had to try to do them pretty much as soon as I woke up. I am experiencing lots of pain in my joint, and around the back when I try to do them. To the point where I struggle to even walk with crutches.

Excercise 1: lie on back with leg elevated on a roll/towel about 30cm off the ground and try to tense quadrecept while pushing ur knee towards the ground.

Excercise 2: Sit on the edge of the bed with knees bent, and drag foot along a slippery floor underneath your bottom.

I am having extreme difficulty doing these excercises, to the point where i am crying out of frustration, even with taking Prodeine Forte I cannot do them.
With excercise 2 I have to get my friend to force my foot along the floor and at this point I am screaming in agony; my joint feels like its going to explode! Could someone advise me as to whether I should try and push through it, or just keep icing and wait till the swelling goes down a bit.

[kjwilkin]

Hi there,

It is still very early days, so try not to worry too much.

One other thing you could try is icing your knee before you do the exercises.

Don't think you should be in that much pain doing the exercises, particularly exercise 2.

If you have any concerns I would ring Julian Feller's rooms.

[just_a_soccermum]

Hi there, i would suggest that you keep taking all your pain killers in the first 2 weeks, as this will help when you are doing the exercises which are very important so you can get your knee straight. My son has also just recently had an ACL done and is icing a lot and doing his exercises and stretches when he has had his meds. Make sure you keep on top of the pain,and ice as much as you can.(he is taking ******** and endone and panadol, not all at once lol but every 4 to 6 hrs )Hope it all goes well and keep in touch as its a hard long road to recovery, even tho i am not doing all the hard work, i am just a mum who is watching my son do all the hard work ..Ring your doctor if you have any concerns especially if the pain is getting out of control,as it should be getting a little better each day. Take care....

[ange1os]

Toula?
if it is this would be a funny coincidence.

[2ndacl]

I'm seeing Julian next week, and was just wondering if you are happy with him and how long does he keep you in hospital for?
I'm up to my second reco - my last one being 18 years ago on my other leg, (I was 14 at the time) but stayed in hospital for 4 nights - 5 days back then, and I do remember being in pain and on a morphine drip (no doubt a low dose), so think it would still be pretty painful those first few days - do you think they keep you in hospital long enough? Last time the exercise and movement didn't start until I left hospital but these days they try and get you going a lot sooner. I just want to get the operation and get on the road to recovery.
Hope you are feeling better today.
No more netball for me though!

[kjwilkin]

Hi there,

What time are you seeing Julian ? I am also seeing him next week at Olympic Park. Wasn't due to see him until the end of August, but had a car accident last week thanks to an incompetent driver who crashed in to me.

Usually he only keeps you in hospital for a couple of days at the most. It is much better to be in your own home once pain is under control. He gets all his patients to see a physio straight after surgery, usually the next day if you stay over night.

You shouldn't have to wait too long to have the operation.

[2ndacl]

I'm seeing Julian at 2pm. How weird is that, I was also ran into last week - fortunately just a little bingle in the back of my car, yours doesn't sound too good- how are your shoulder/knees doing?

[kjwilkin]

I'm seeing him at 4:20pm. Also injured my shoulder in the accident. I have been given a referral for an ultrasound. Hopefully I will be able to speak to my shoulder surgeon today.

[ange1os]

Julian is really good, he does so many knee recos its not funny. now a days I dont think the hospitals keep you in there for long enough. They load you up with pain killers to reduce the work load and are pretty much going to send u home unless ur dying.
Its ridiculous. I went under at about 10pm on a thursday night. and was discharged at 9am friday morning. But to do with the surgery all is well, I am doing better with my excercises.
try to ice it alot, cryocuff is good but its not cold enough, try putting icepacks inbetween the cryocuff the compression bandage and ur leg and then fill it up with water and thats a great bandage. U'll understand when u get there.
Id reccommend staying away from ******** as pain med, it really affects your stomach. They will probably give u prodeine forte. Makes you constipated, I didnt drop my guts for 5 days and i tell u it was painful. apparently Oxycontin is good and it doesnt make u sick.

But i find the main problem is the hospitals not keeping you there for long enough, I had to go back into hospital 2 days after i was discharged because I had a huge red mark running down my leg. There was a good chance i had cellulitis, which is an infection. Its not Dr Feller thats the problem its those damn hospitals and some slack nurses.

[ange1os]

****** is T R A M A D O L