When facing surgery, one of the first things you likely want to know is the recovery time. But the answer isn’t always cut and dried. If you have a hip replacement in your future, here’s what you need to know about the recovery process.
Your knee contains four major bands of connective tissue that give the joint stability and movement. While strong, these ligaments are also vulnerable to injury when under stress, especially the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL. This ligament passes across the middle of your knee and connects your shinbone to your thigh bone.
Most ACL injuries occur from sports or fitness activities that stress the knee joint, such as:
ACL injuries do not always require surgery. However, when needed, ACL reconstruction provides effective results in 75-90% of cases.
Dr. Jared Tadje specializes in sports medicine and regenerative orthopedics in Meridian, Idaho. Whenever possible, he uses conservative measures to treat ACL tears at Tadje Orthopaedics. But, depending on your injury, ACL reconstruction could provide better outcomes.
ACL reconstruction involves removing a torn ligament and replacing it with healthy tendon tissue from another area of your body or a deceased donor. Dr. Tadje performs these procedures arthroscopically, which involves smaller incisions and faster recovery times.
While ACL reconstruction can repair ligament damage, you have to take additional steps in advance to ensure the best results from this procedure.
Individuals who undergo ACL reconstruction on a stiff, swollen knee have more problems regaining proper function after their procedure. As a result, you usually need at least three weeks of physical therapy to restore motion to your knee before having surgery.
Depending on your injury, Dr. Tadje could also recommend bracing and healing the ligament for a short period before having surgery. However, it’s important to work with an experienced provider because waiting too long to fix a torn ACL can lead to additional joint damage, which is more difficult — or impossible — to fix.
Postoperative care and rehabilitation are equally important as the prep work you do before your surgery. By following Dr. Tadje's detailed instructions, including regular icing, physical therapy exercises, and bracing, you can usually expect to have a full range of motion, endurance, and muscle strength within four to six months. However, it can take eight to 12months (or longer) for athletes to resume certain sports.
Since not all ACL injuries require surgery, it can be challenging to know when reconstruction is an effective option for you.
First, Dr. Tadje assesses the severity of your injury and whether you have other tissue damage in your knee. Then, he discusses your goals and lifestyle. Generally speaking, you can usually treat ACL injuries in less active people with more conservative treatments, like physical therapy. However, Dr. Tadje often recommends ACL reconstruction if you:
In these cases, ACL reconstruction with physical therapy can restore stability and function to your knee.
Do you have an ACL injury? Schedule a consultation at Tadje Orthopaedics by calling 208-515-2654 or booking online to see if ACL reconstruction could provide effective results for you.
You Might Also Enjoy...
When facing surgery, one of the first things you likely want to know is the recovery time. But the answer isn’t always cut and dried. If you have a hip replacement in your future, here’s what you need to know about the recovery process.
Did you know your body is a healing machine? It’s easy to overlook since so much happens without you thinking about it — like how a cut seems to magically heal after an injury. But that magic is exactly what PRP taps into. Read on to learn more.
No one wants to wait to get in the game. But warming up first helps you avoid ending up on the sidelines with an injury, whether you’re about to shoot hoops or head out on a walk. Here’s what you need to do.
You’ve probably heard of athletes suffering ACL tears, a debilitating type of knee injury. But did you know they occur more often in women and girls than their male counterparts? Keep reading to learn more so you can avoid this injury.
Did you have a sudden, sharp pain in the back of your thigh? Or a popping sensation at the onset of pain? It’s hard to mistake these telltale signs of a hamstring tear. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid them.
Advancements in surgical techniques have made joint replacements easier than ever, but it’s still surgery. So when is it time to get a knee replacement? Here are a few factors to consider.