Hi Behan. I had ACL surgery on my left knee just over a year ago and I
feel great. I can try to answer some of your questions.

--- In kneesurgeryforum@yahoogroups.com, "behan22003"
<behan22003@y...> wrote:
> I might be having ACL surgery in June. I was told that I would be in
> the hospital for two weeks. Long hospital stays are the norm in
> Japan, it seems.

WOW!! LOL. I had mine in an outpatient clinic. It was not a good
experience. I think the surgery is definitely the type where you
should stay overnight in the hospital to get control of the pain
before going home.

> After the surgery I suppose the knee is really swollen. How long
> does it take, on average, for the swelling to come down. I suppose
> this varies person to person. I'm just wondering how soon I will be
> able to go back to work.

It really does vary from person to person. It helps to keep the knee
elevated and iced as much as possible, which I will assume they will
do in your hospital in Japan.

> I sit down all day at work, which might be good, but I work for an
> Engish school that has us teach in little cubicles. I wonder, if my
> knee is swollen, will I have to have it extended out straight.

I work from home as a telecommuter. I took one week off and I started
to work after that. For the first week I was back on the computer, I
did keep it elevated and I was still on pain relievers. I have to
wonder how productive I was but at least I was online and available if
needed. Yes, you will have to extend it straight because for several
weeks after the operation, you will be in a knee brace that will lock
your knee straight, then gradually, your physical therapist will allow
you some bend. I had the brace on for 9 weeks, 4 weeks I had to wear
it 24 -7, even to bed.


> Also, how long do you need to ice it(on average)?
> I wonder if I could keep an ice pack on it at work.

Ice always helps with healing as well as compression. There is a
device, that wraps around your leg and it is connected via a hose to
what looks like a cooler. That is filled with ice and water. The part
that wraps around your leg fills with the ice water and periodically
compresses. You will probably wear that constantly for about 10 days.
It is good to have it and wear it at the end of the day too.
>
> If you are icing your knee all the time could you get frost bite?
> Silly question? Any other problems? Would it be possible to work
> with an ice pack on your knee?

Not a silly question and no, you won't get frost bite. I think you
could probably get away with not using an ice pack all day at work but
you should elevate. You will probably appreciate elevating it and
applying ice at the end of the day.

>
> A lot of these answers are probably in previous messages and sites
> about knee problems but if you have time I would appreciate any
> advice you might give me.

The biggest piece of advise that I could give you is to work and stay
will your physical therapy. This is THE key to successful healing and
a return to near normal use of the leg. I say near normal because I
still have a tendency to shift my weight to my good leg, but I am
working on standing correctly. Also, kneeling still tends to be a
problem. But at 7 months post op, I returned to the ski slopes and had
a fun yet cautious season. I look forward to next year when I will
venture onto the intermediates again.

Good luck and take care..Suzette