5 Ways to Speed up Your Recovery after ACL Surgery

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common among athletes. If you have had surgery after an ACL tear in West Orange, getting in good shape becomes your priority. You’ve got to have a comprehensive rehabilitation program to help achieve your health goals.

In the past, the only available post-operative cold treatment to help manage pain and swelling was ice packs. Fortunately, nowadays, there is a better solution to help manage your condition after surgery. This involves using a wrap that is anatomically designed to combine cryotherapy with intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC). An IPC device helps reduce swelling, promotes the flow of blood, and relieves pain.

Below are five ways through which an IPC device can help in your ACL post-surgery recovery.

  1. Decreased pain

Cold therapy has long been used in pain management. The method offers a pain-relieving effect by numbing the nerves. Your doctor at Brick City Orthopaedics understands that conventional cold therapies including ice packs and baths may make you uncomfortable and are messy. An IPC system is designed to continuously ensure the flow of cold water around your knee joint. This helps decrease your recovery time and reduces pain since you will adhere to the instructions given by your doctor.

  1. Less Swelling

After you have undergone an ACL surgery, blood and other fluids will rush to the site to promote faster healing. This results in swelling, which is painful and can hinder your ability to move around. Reducing swelling is crucial to restore mobility and reduce pain. Ensure to stick to the instructions given by your doctor on how to use the IPC system to help you get back on your feet soon.

  1. Increased Flow of the Lymphatic Fluid

Your body relies on the lymphatic system for healing and recovery. The lymphatic fluid contains vital nutrients that help transform the healing process from an acute stage to a repair phase. For this to happen, the normal flow of the fluid has to be restored. An IPC system optimizes the flow of lymphatic fluid away from the injured area to help speed up your recovery.

  1. Stimulated Tissue Healing

The use of an IPC device has therapeutic effects, which promotes healing in your connective tissues. Intermittent compressions help your legs achieve a better flow of the lymphatic fluids away from the area of injury, which gives the tissues an enabling environment for repair and regeneration.

  1. Lower narcotic use

Your doctor will prescribe painkillers to help manage post-surgery pain. You may become drowsy after taking these medications and unable to resume your routine. Additionally, the use of painkillers can be addictive. There is a rise in opioid use among Americans, with more than 17,000 people losing their lives to opioids in 2017. The use of an IPC device helps reduce your reliance on pain management medication within a short time after surgery. You can even forego medication from the first day when using an IPC device.

ACL surgery recovery does not have to be painful and slow. Schedule a consultation with your doctor to learn how IPC can help.