An ACL injury is a serious condition in which one of the main ligaments in your knee is damaged. Proper rehabilitation is a major part of the recovery process from this injury. During your rehab, you may experience some pain in your knee. However, this pain should decrease as your rehab progresses.
ACL Injury
Your ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of the four major ligaments in your knee. It is a stabilizing ligament that prevents your shinbone from moving too far forward. Injuries to the ACL--including sprains and tears--are common, especially in athletes who run, jump and pivot. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, ACL tears are the most common knee ligament injury. You may be able to recover from some ACL injuries with a combination of rest and physical therapy. However, oftentimes, patients require surgery in order to repair the ligament.
Rehabilitation
Physical therapy is a vital part of recovery following an ACL injury. Therapy usually begins immediately, focusing on regaining the ability to fully straighten the knee and restore quadriceps control. You will probably wear a brace and use crutches when walking for the first few weeks. The goal of rehabilitation is to reduce swelling, maintain mobility of the knee, regain full range of motion in the joint, and strengthen the quadriceps and hamstring muscles.
Pain
A certain amount of pain is inevitable when you recover from a severe injury, especially as you begin your physical therapy. However, your pain should gradually decrease over time. If the pain is too much during exercise, rest for one or two hours. Then resume your exercise with less intensity and for less time or repetitions. If your pain level does not decrease, contact your physical therapist. Any other complications, such as fever or headaches should be discussed with your doctor.
Pain Treatment
You should follow your doctor's instructions regarding your recovery and pain treatment. You can use pain medications to help reduce the discomfort. In addition, your injured knee should be iced regularly. This will help reduce both pain and swelling in your knee.
Prognosis
Full recovery, depending on the severity, usually takes at least four to six months. Athletes can return to competition once they have no pain or swelling, and the knee and muscles have fully healed. Successful treatment and rehabilitation of an ACL injury can restore stability and function to your knee. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, nine of 10 patients who undergo ACL reconstruction report good to excellent results.
