Suzette,

Thanks a lot for your helpful answers. You obviously spent a lot of
time in writing them. You answered all my questions. I'm really
glad I found this site and I'm really glad you took the time to
answer my questions.

I'd like to keep posting here after the surgery to ask advice or help
with anyone after I have some experience.

Good luck with your skiing.

Brendan

--- In kneesurgeryforum@yahoogroups.com, "barracudawoman_2000"
<barracudawoman_2000@y...> wrote:
> 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