First is the fact that the knee has many natural healing stem cells located in the fat pad and around the ACL (3). You know if it's extreme or slight or something to watch out for. Rehab Phase 3: Weeks 6-12. "Why some people get a neuroma and others don't is part of our investigation," Dr. Shi says. There has been no discernible difference in failure rates between ACL repair and ACL reconstruction. Illustration shows the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, which is typically severed during total knee arthroplasty. Your pain should improve within a few days of surgery, allowing you to cut back on pain medicine. The Long-Term Effects of ACL Reconstruction Surgery - Regenexx Thanks in advance. How to care for yourself after lumbar spinal fusion. ACL Tear: Symptoms, Recovery & Treatment - Cleveland Clinic To be patient, it is critical to allow the healing process to take its course. Symptomatic anterior cruciate ligament tears treated with percutaneous injection of autologous bone marrow concentrate and platelet products: a non-controlled registry study. Depending on the individual, you may not be able to walk normally with a normal gait after ACL surgery. They will also keep you comfortable while you are resting and recovering in your hospital room. This can make it very painful to bend the knee and may require additional treatment. When sitting for any significant period of time, elevate your leg and foot. To get the tendon to stay in place, the surgeon drills tunnels in the top femur bone and in the bottom tibia bone and then anchors the tendon in those tunnels. As the video above shows, the patients pes anserine tendon was destroyed by the surgeons drill. You should sleep on your back and place pillows under your knees, or on your side and place a pillow between your knees, to maintain good spinal alignment. The earliest period after ACL reconstruction surgery in which long-term outcomes can be expected is usually the most important.