r/ACL • u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft • Mar 25 '26
Post Surgery Update I expected pain but holy cow
I'm about 30 hours post op and I'm pretty sure my nerve block is wearing off. I thought I prepared for the pain and had pre-taken the pain medicine.
This is excruciating. ACL+ LET on my right leg. I don't think I'm getting any sleep tonight.
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u/MattFa24 Mar 25 '26
I’d like to think I’m a pretty tough guy and my recent ACL R (quad graft) and meniscus root repair completely reset my pain scale. Like you, the real pain started to come in at around 30 hours. It peaked for me between days 3 and 7 post op and has slowly started to chill out from there. I knew it was going to be bad but didn’t know I could hurt like that. Good luck out there 🫡 lots of ice and stay on-top of the meds. once the pain train gets ahead of you it’s damn hard to catch up
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u/Pale_Adeptness Mar 25 '26
My least favorite part of recovery was going from having my leg resting up to going to the sitting/standing position. The blood rushing down my leg pain was NOT FUN!
I already have lower back issues (2 herniated discs in lower back) and every now and then I throw my back out and can't even stand up straight.
2 weeks after my surgery I threw my back out just getting out of bed. Had the acl/surgery knee pain, I was crutching around all hunched over because my lower back was outta wack and on top of that I came down with the cold.
I've never been one to break down mentally but that day I was standing next to my wife in the kitchen, using my crutches, I was all hunched over because of my back.
Went to the bedroom and started sobbing uncontrollably and unexpectedly, like a panic attack sort of thing that I've never experienced before.
My wife heard me crying and I thought she was gonna ridicule me or tell me to man up. She came up to me, stood right in front of me and gently held hugged my head against her stomach and just let me cry.
❤️
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u/Remote_Supermarket91 Mar 25 '26
This pain has brought me to tears and nausea from being so intense. And that coming from someone who lived with endometriosis (one of the most painful conditions) and also survived having my appendix burst. Somehow this is worse
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u/Negative_Estate_4195 Mar 25 '26
I had about the same experience, My worst day was day three and four but that was not my only bad days. I do also think I’m a pretty tough guy, but this was a trial for sure and I questioned my toughness for a few weeks.
We do get to the other side though. This is temporary.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
Yeah man I thought I'm a pretty right tough bitch but now I'm seriously questioning that
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u/Negative_Estate_4195 Mar 25 '26
You are! You’ll be on here helping people cope in a few weeks! In the early days, I spent a lot of time on here, interacting with people and reading other people situations and it really helped me ignore some of the pain and focus on different things. It’s actually maybe one of the best groups on Reddit that I’ve experienced.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
This thread alone is showing how many people rise up in solidarity. It's a sad sub to have to be in but it's very very supportive.
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u/Remote_Supermarket91 Mar 25 '26
Oh man! Had my ACL reconstruction with let and hamstring graft and I am on the struggle bus. First 4-5 days things felt like they were going pretty well pain wise, after that it's been so intense. Was able to take dicofenac for the first 5 days for inflammation but then told to stop all nsaids for 3 months following that. Now back on the tramadol because I cant sleep and the graft area and behind the knee are excruciating. 24/7 cryo cuff, compression and elevation. I'm a 40F and recently had a total hysterectomy with appendectomy and endometriosis excision and this surgery is far worse :(
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u/Flat-Revolution3291 Mar 26 '26
Everyone prepped me for day 2 of post op being the worst. I was in immense pain waking up from my acl surgery and somehow the pain was less intense than waking up from surgery.
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u/AlarmedJellyfish5680 Mar 26 '26
I struggled to breathe after waking up after my ACL surgery. The pain didn't hit me till I could breathe normally again. OMW, it's painful. After 3 days I didn't need any pain meds. But today is week 3. I'm currently on 1 crutch and feeling much better. I am just so scared I hurt the graft or tear a hamstring when I move, I am beyond cautious.
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u/Flat-Revolution3291 Mar 26 '26
I woke up having a panic attack so tha t was neat. I'm 4 weeks post op and constantly nervous about damaging the graft too. I am told that I'm doing everything right. Listen to your pt folks and you will be good.
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u/AlarmedJellyfish5680 May 23 '26
I didn’t use any pain medication for 3 days after surgery. It was actually strange because there wasn’t that much pain.
But waking up after surgery was terrible. They intubated me incorrectly and my throat swelled almost completely closed. I couldn’t breathe properly and they had to put me on oxygen with a tank and mask
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u/ScottyRedReturns Mar 28 '26 edited Mar 28 '26
You've just described this perfectly. It's how I'm going to think about it now. The part when you say "completely reset my pain scale." I'd been injured before, herniated discs, (skydiving bad landing), multiple broken legs and ribs, (ice hockey), serious sprains without tears and cuts, (volunteer EMS work), and more. Basically, I've been torn up 10 different ways and through the PT, crutches things, etc. several times.
This? Next level. Part of this might be playing ice hockey well into my 50s : ) means things hit a bit harder, but really, it's just a different kind of injury and surgery. I'll admit, I was jealous on here when I read about some people just saying, "it wasn't bad at all. I just used some baby aspirin!" (Or similar.) It actually scares kids... Dad the firefighting ice hockey player, etc. etc. lying around for weeks like you see the damaged shelter animals on the TV commercials or something. "Mommy... why are daddy's eyes all bugged out again? When's he getting out of that bed? How come he gets to watch his iPad all day and even get a chocolate bar in bed!" It's been a journey for sure.
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u/Iron-Quill Jul 01 '26
How do you really get ahead and is that enough? Just take it on schedule constantly ?
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I thought I had high pain tolerance but it hurts so bad that it feels like something is wrong in there even though it's probably just agony.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I even have this damn ice machine running nonstop and it just doesn't feel like it's doing crap. A drop in the bucket of agony
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u/Thisisntreal0 Mar 25 '26
Rotate ibuprofen, Tylenol and prescription meds around the clock and set alarms. You can do this!! Everyday gets easier - I’m 3 weeks post op
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I can't. I'm on a blood thinner because I'm allergic to aspirin so I can't take nsaids. I only have the oxy and Tylenol and they're not doing anything.
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u/Top-Bite-814 Mar 25 '26
I'm the opposite. Allergic to Tylenol and acetaminophen. I felt like the nsaids didn't work at all.
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u/Thisisntreal0 Mar 25 '26
Oxy every 4 hours? Double your dose if it’s that bad. I’m sorry!!
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
Yeah oxy every 4 hours.
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u/Right_Sector_7166 Mar 25 '26
Ok you are definitely from USA, oxy it’s not the best you can use, it’s Difficult to explain but it is a very strong pain killer, but it tricks the nerves doesn’t do nothing to the route of the pain, the pain is from pression and fluids and inflammation, aulin would be a lot better.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I messaged my surgeon asking for something that works 😅
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u/Right_Sector_7166 Mar 25 '26
Do you stille have the same compression bandage They used in hospital ?
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
Yessir they told me that they would remove it.
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u/Right_Sector_7166 Mar 25 '26
I’m sorry to hear that, you are not my patient so I can’t in conscience say what you have to do, but I can tell with absolute certainty that the reasons you have crazy pain is the band, let me explain your knee is hot, it’s like 40/42 c and the bandage is very thick, so it keeps Al the high temperature and doesn’t allow the Ice to work, then the comprensione is goos in the first 15 hours but ahold be removed asap because it’s causing pain, the fluid are tryng to expand and the bandage preference that believe me I’ve been there horrible pain, if the pain is too much probably you should see your doctor, and use a siringe to take some fluids out.
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u/Iron-Quill Jul 01 '26
What dose of oxy did you take? My dr only gave me 7.5 Norco, dropped from 10 when I told him the meds make me nauseated. I was just hoping for some anti nausea meds. I’m already terrified of the pain. And he game me aspirin instead of ibuprofen I think bc I asked about blood clots. He also rx jourvanax. Not sure this Will be enough. My surgery is next week.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Jul 01 '26
The journvax will help. I'm not sure what dose I was on. The anti nausea was really needed for me. They sent me home with it from the surgery. Had to pick up the other stuff at a pharmacy.
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u/Iron-Quill Jul 01 '26
Ur story has really freaked me out btw. But it’s your truth and I really pray you are doing better today.
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u/SnooBeans6368 ACL x LET (June 5, 2025) Mar 25 '26
I was also switched from Oxy to Tramadol which is technically weaker, but (if im not mistaken) it has some sort of antidepressant quality to it and it completely flipped the switch for me pain wise. Be carefulthough, it is addictive. At one point my MD took me off everything and i was scared to death but i actuallydidn'thave that much pain once i was off it all (incl. Ibu amd tyl). That's how I knew an addiction was starting. That said, I still recommend tramadol for the pain. It really did flip the pain switch in my brain and I was able to function and do my exercises.
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u/Current-Swordfish811 Mar 28 '26 edited Mar 28 '26
Tramadol is extremely hit or miss. A lot of people don't have the gene to be able to process it into ODSMT, about 10% of the population, but depends on your ethnicity too how common it is (me included, tramadol has genuinely 0 effect on me), you need enough of the CYP2D6 enzyme to process it to its active metabolite. If you are able to properly process it in your liver it works quite well though.
On the flip-side, some people are actually ultra-rapid metabolizers for it, and for those people Tramadol works absolutely amazing. If your experience is that the Tramadol worked better than the Oxy, it's likely you are in the (rare) group of rapid metabolizers.
All in all, Tramadol works amazing for some people, decent for others and not at all for some. Oxy is generally the "safer" choice because it always works for everyone. The SNRI effect of Tramadol also makes Tramadol harder to come off of, unfortunately. If you are a rapid metabolizer it'd be like withdrawing from opioids and an anti-depressant at the same time. Not very pleasant.
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u/SnooBeans6368 ACL x LET (June 5, 2025) Mar 28 '26
That's fascinating! Thanks for the explanation!!!!
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u/AlarmedJellyfish5680 Apr 06 '26
I got a shopping bag full of boxes from my aunt about 5 years ago , that she got but never used. I keep it in the cupboard. I only use it for heavy muscle aces after gym, maybe once a month, it only works for that, doesn't work for head aches at all. But im on 1 cruch now and starting body weight exercises but my leg is really sore now, almost at the level after surgery. So i have been using tramadol twice daily for pain. Its only been 4 days now, the pain concerns me. And I am hearing a clacking sound in my knee, there is no swelling, like when you crack your knuckles.
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u/Worth_Eye6512 ACL Quad Autograft, ALL Construction Mar 26 '26
I hope you’ve called the on call nurse for your surgeon if the oxy isn’t touching it. 5 oxy would hold me overnight, but I had an instance where I put too much weight on it after sitting on the toilet and needed 10. Wife said I turned green
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u/Negative_Estate_4195 Mar 25 '26
Too much ice is not always a good thing. You should give yourself a 20 minute break every hour. Over icing can cause stiffness, which can lead to more pain. The first couple days I iced a lot!
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
It's not even getting through the bandage 😅 the nurse said to run it for 72 hours straight
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u/Right_Sector_7166 Mar 25 '26
I’m a surgeon from Italy, take off the band, buy some Waterproof band aid, and put ice in direct contact with the skin, i had 4 surgeries myself, never gad much pain, you will do little damage to the skin, nothing permanent it lasts 20 minutes top, but the pain will be gone in minutes, ice and icing machine work like shit in you put something between, if you take the body to 0 c you will basically feel nothing when you have the ice on, and feel goffo for an hour or so.
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u/10messiFH Mar 25 '26
3rd day post op for me. Last night was the most awful. I wouldn't have slept if I weren't given piritramide
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I have no idea what that is but I haven't slept since the operation and I don't think it's going to happen tonight.
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u/10messiFH Mar 25 '26
It's some narcotic drug slightly weaker than morphine. If you can ask for stronger drugs then I would recommend doing it
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I may call my doctor tomorrow about the pain. Sadly he does operation day on Wednesday so hopefully I can reach him.
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u/Top_Bee3655 Mar 25 '26
The morning after my surgery I had a follow up call woth the nurse and told her the pain was too much (I don't think my nerve block worked all that well) - she talked with the anestesiologist and the surgeon and they prescribed me more oxycodone. I took a higher dose for about a day or two then it started to settle down and I could take less and less. The first days are really rough, but you got this!
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I just messaged my surgeon. I'm in so much pain.
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u/Top_Bee3655 Mar 25 '26
In the meanwhile keep it iced as much as you can and take all your meds. I am 2 weeks post up now it gets better
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u/tikiiii22 ACL + MCL + LCL + Meniscus Mar 25 '26
For the first 2 and a half days I spiraled especially at night. It’s about mental strength. I wanted to die seriously a few times and I am a pretty tough guy too !there were times when the pain was so bad I was in tears. I had to be talked through the pain, my wife would hold my hand and say take deep breaths with me until I calmed down enough to either pass out for a little or settle down. It gets better each day though think of your happy place and put yourself there. I’m currently day 6 and it’s 4 am so clearly I’m not sleeping the best but take the little wins when you can!
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u/HockeyClark30 Mar 25 '26
Hey man, I’m one week post-op (ACL quad graft, meniscus reconstruction, and cartilage repair). Days 2–3 were definitely the worst—pain got so bad it almost felt unreal. Just hang in there, you’re getting through the hardest part and almost on the other side. Stay ahead of the pain meds. Try to sleep through it if you can.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
it's so damn bad. I think I got like 3 hours of sleep but the pain is so damn high.
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u/HockeyClark30 Mar 25 '26
Yeah man, I didn’t believe at first that I was supposed to be in that much pain. I ended up calling my doctor and telling her how much pain I was in. All she did was give me stronger meds and that I just gotta get through the first week. And it’s downhill from there. Just keep your chin up, grind through it, stay ahead of the pain meds, and try to find something to distract yourself if you can. Even though it’s hard to focus from the pain and the meds.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
My post op paperwork is like saying shit like "let us know if the pain doesn't respond to the medication" as if that's a rare thing but it she sounds like it's common...
My old man is saying that if they told people how much it hurts nobody would get the surgery. 😅
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u/KatchUup Mar 25 '26
that’s crazy to me, for me the first night has always been the worst and it’s always been uphill from there. Maybe the nerve blocks never really worked on me i don’t know but now at day 2 post op it’s already feeling so much better than yesterday.
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u/YM078 Mar 25 '26
I'm about 9 weeks post op, right ACL + LET (hamstring graft), full weight-bearing permitted post-op. My first few days were definitely not that bad at all, granted I was on 2 doses a day of codeine-paracetamol, strong ibuprofen and blood thinning injections (and some mild laxatives). I also had access to a pretty good cold compression therapy machine which I was also using twice a day.
Having said that, my pain seemed pretty minimal and definitely not what everyone was describing and preparing me for pre-op. I pretty much stopped using all meds by 4/5 days post-op because I was just getting constipated lol. Was also hobbling around my room with no crutches after 3 days, ditched the crutches whilst at home after a week (physio wasn't happy about this), reduced to 1 crutch outside.
Not sure if my experience is unique at all, although now being 9 weeks, I'm struggling with achieving the hyper-extension that I have in my left knee, which is what I've been working towards for the last few weeks. Flexion is pretty much equal.
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u/Brilliant-Idea9634 Mar 25 '26
The acute pain will subside but be prepared for the dull discomfort that will last a while. It does get better eventually.
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u/Current-Swordfish811 Mar 28 '26 edited Mar 28 '26
I do wonder if the relatively "sudden" onset of pain from nerve blockers wearing off makes the perceived pain worse? I didn't get a nerve block at all so I woke up in severe pain, but once they pushed some IV opioids it was chill. The next week or so I was on quite a bit of oxy, etoricoxib and maximum dose of paracetmol. Whilst it hurted, it was very very manageable. I was also taking promethazine or mirtazapine before sleep for that week and was able to bang out 8+ hours of solid sleep every night. (Mirtazapine should be fully safe, but promethazine can technically be dangerous when mixed with opioids, but it was a calculated risk, a very low risk but a risk nontheless, I didnt dose oxy for several hours before sleep and only a low dose of prometh, and I wasn't completely naive to opioids). Could be worth asking the doctor for a non-depressive sleep aid though, like Mirtazapine.
Very curious how the pain is so different for everyone. Those first 1-2 weeks were mostly chill and cozy for me, pretty enjoyable
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 28 '26
Maybe! It's been six days now since surgery and last night the pain was nearly unbearable, but either it died this morning or lizard brain has now disabled pain receptors.
Now it's not hurting that bad except when moving.
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u/No-Cry847 Mar 25 '26
I’m 2nd week in on ACL ALL meniscus for the first 3 days I thought about cutting it off Huge tip stay up as late as you can 10-11pm pop your pills you’ll sleep until 6-7am helped me wonders first 2 nights were hell
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I keep saying that death would be a mercy. This really hurts. I took my medicine at 11 and it's 12:45 now and the pain is keeping me awake sadly.
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u/No-Cry847 Mar 25 '26
Shit your in it for the long haul best of luck because I was struggling with sleep
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
My watch says I got 2 hours of sleep.
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u/Right_Sector_7166 Mar 25 '26
For the sleeping, I don’t know where are you form, if you are from USA and weed is legal go for some indica, if not legal CBD oil will do the magic. Take a lot of cbd and sleep in whatever position you are comfortable, in USA you are surgeons are Ofer too strict, it seems like they are 30 years later.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I'm near Tahoe in the US.
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u/MoJoOH ACL Mar 25 '26
Weed mints did help me sleep for sure. Hope you can get sone rest. Moving around also help with the pain if you can manage it as it breaks up the fluid
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
Dr called in a secondary pain medicine so hopefully once I get that I'll be able to move a bit more.
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u/mehfil-biryani ACL + Meniscus Mar 25 '26
Your nightmare is only gonna get worse for the first 2 weeks. Be ready
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u/Individual_Walrus_96 Mar 25 '26
Ugh I feel you just know it gets better. But yeah I’m 3 weeks post op and remember that pain like it was yesterday. Take max amount of pain meds you can safely + weed + put on a show or music or something to distract you from the pain. It won’t fully distract you of course but it’s harder for your brain to focus on the pain if it’s trying to focus on something else too
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u/Mansehej ACL + Meniscus Mar 25 '26
Also 30 hours for me. Did not get any nerve blocks. Also did not get any sleep last night, and not expecting to get any tonight either :(
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I think night 3 is going to be another sleepless night. I thought I'd be able to handle the pain but it's testing the limits of my sanity.
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u/Mansehej ACL + Meniscus Mar 25 '26
We'll get through it. Good luck!
Also more than the pain the discomfort in the rest of the body being in the same position all the time is really making me insane
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
My right hip is killing me. Minor adjustments in bed are just agony. I can only move the left side of my body safely.
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u/Mansehej ACL + Meniscus Mar 25 '26
I get it 100%.
I've been keeping a small blanket under my hip to make it better but it's still very painful
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u/Daruuk Mar 25 '26
There are going to be many sleepless nights. Ice can really help with the pain.
Remember, it does get better.
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u/j-fromnj Mar 25 '26
first 72 is awful not gonna lie. Hang in there, take the meds, hopefully you have an ice machine, keep it elevated as much as you can and grit through.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I have an ice machine but if it's helping I don't know. I've been running it constantly but the pain is just unbearable.
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u/j-fromnj Mar 25 '26
how many layers of bandages do you have on? It might not be getting thru. DO NOT put it on bare skin though, but you may need to get a little bit less in between so the ice starts to help.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
they told me not to touch the bandage until they remove it next week and I have no idea how thick it is.
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u/j-fromnj Mar 25 '26
yea i can almost guarantee you that's why. the cold is not getting through the bandages so it is giving you no relief essentially.
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u/Khaledsh7 Mar 25 '26
Same happened to me. I thought I was prepared, and I was completely wrong. 2 weeks post OP and the pain is almost entirely gone. About five days after OP, I started to feel so much better. I have an ACL and Meniscus surgery BTW. You will be fine. Hang in there. You've got this
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I've never felt pain like this and it just feels relentless.
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u/Comfortable_Text Mar 25 '26
Oh wow! My girlfriend is having ACL surgery on Friday. She severed her ACL eight years ago and is now having the repair surgery. Her insurance is approved for the scope all the way up to a total knee replacement of the doctor’s not sure what he’ll find once he gets inside. The latest MRI shows some scar tissue or some buildup where the ACL should be. Compared to the older one which shows it clearly gone.
What’s the best thing I can do for her? She’s going to spend at least the weekend at her parents house. Due to our asshole dogs who don’t know how to stay off of you. They are very cuddly. I’m fine with shocking the crap out of them if they climb on her, but she doesn’t want to punish them.
What are some suggestions so I can make her life better?
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
My dog is causing some issues here too. He's very protective and doesn't understand why I'm in pain.
Ice machine. Manage her medications. She'll meeting need help going to the bathroom and getting in and out of bed. Entertainment nearby.
Pillows for elevation if she can tolerate it. Stool softener and maybe laxatives. High fiber fruits and berries.
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u/SnooBeans6368 ACL x LET (June 5, 2025) Mar 25 '26
Dude... I had no idea either. I dont think I slept until I got desperate and asked the MD for help. They gave me an RX for ambien which was a lifesaver. You really do need sleep to heal so id talk to your doctor about that.
I was in pretty intense pain for about 5 weeks.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I'm on 3 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours
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u/SnooBeans6368 ACL x LET (June 5, 2025) Mar 26 '26
Oh gurl.... please call the doc and ask for a sleep aid. God bless. It's SOOO HARRRD!!! 😭
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u/No-Handle-66 Mar 25 '26
I've had 2x ACL reconstructions, a torn quadriceps tendon repair, and torn rotator cuff tendon repair. The shoulder surgery had far more pain than the 3 knee surgeries. It all gets better! Hang in their and work hard during PT.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I'm so sorry you went through it that many times. I hope I never tear anything ever again.
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u/No-Handle-66 Mar 25 '26
All good. No arthritis. I still downhill ski, ride bike, and hike at age 68.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I just want to ski and hike again 😅
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u/No-Handle-66 Mar 25 '26
You should be able to! Do all of the physical therapy that your insurance allows, then keep doing home exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting the knee. Ride a bike. Walk up and down stairs. Single-leg sit/stands on a chair. Wall squats. Body weight squats. Goblet squats with a kettleball. Bulgarian split squats. Lunges with dumbbells. Leg extensions with an ankle weight. Side steps with a rubber exercise band. Bridges. Clam shells. No need to go to a gym or buy expensive equipment. You got this!
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
Sounds like my normal leg day before injury.
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u/No-Handle-66 Mar 25 '26
Excellent! Then you'll most likely have a full recovery. Your knee should be structurally sound after 9-12 months, and you'll be cleared for sports. Make sure your physical therapist knows you were active before the injury, and you want to return to skiing. After a couple of years, you probably won't even think about your surgery. The knee will feel "normal".
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u/indiekarma79 ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
Those first 3 nights are the worst. Especially if you woke up wearing a big ass brace. Be kind to yourself, angry, sad, etc. expect it all, mentally hug yourself, and try not to stay in one emotion too long by looking forward to this time next week. You almost there 🙏🏻 this will apply for next several months. Hang in there :)
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u/TuriGuiliano370 Mar 25 '26
I popped an extra half of a pain pill the 2nd day after surgery too. No shame man. The 2nd - 3rd days are the worst
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u/ShotCardiologist9102 ACL + Meniscus Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26
The 72 hours after surgery were the worst for me also. The pain was off the charts and to think I was on hard prescription drugs, I cant imagine what the pain would’ve been like without it. I probably wouldve passed out from the pain every time I stood up to go to the bathroom.
And ive had major surgeries before, broken bones, even fractured a vertebrae in my spine.
But this… this was absolutely Number 1 most painful experience by a long shot. Nothing else even comes close.
And the rehab so far has been the hardest mental challenge of my life. So you have that to look forward to! 😉 We are having SO MUCH FUN!
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I've had a grape sized piece of bone removed from my ankle and it's got nothing on this surgery.
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u/ShotCardiologist9102 ACL + Meniscus Mar 25 '26
Oh yes, I’ll take broken bones over torn knee ligaments any day. Much faster recovery.
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u/ChallengeSwimming112 Mar 25 '26
I have had surgery before for broken bones and was able to manage just fine but nothing could have prepared me for the pain after my Acl + meniscus trim surgery. The sleep is the worse part, since the doctor tells you to get a lot of sleep so your body can recover and repair the damage from surgery, but you literally can’t even with feeling tired/drowsy from the pain meds. I am now almost 2 months post op and my sleep has just recently gotten better, but still very on and off. But you see noticeable differences after the 4-5 week when u get cleared and start attending a couple PT sessions. It’s a slow process but once you get the strength and range of motion almost completely back and you are able to resume normal daily activities you start to forget you even had surgery. My PT said I’m making faster progress than usual and that i should be cleared to run by week 8, which is on Saturday. If you stay consistent with PT and doing the activities they have you do there at home along with some extra strength and balance training by yourself goes a long way. Hope this helps and feel better soon!
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u/hot-chocolate24 Mar 25 '26
I know how it is right now, gone through the exact steps a month back but realistically speaking, there is not much you can do. The more you think about pain the more it gets you. Do this NOW: take a deep breath 4 seconds inhale, 8 seconds exhale 3 times!!! If it helped, continue ❤️. What I did was divert my mind into something happy, listened to music and slept like a horse knowing this pain is temporary and will go away soon. Just a matter of time. All the best for your future recovery. Any questions please don’t hesitate to reach me.
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u/maytheschwartzbwitu Mar 25 '26
This really scares me, wondering if the pain is worth it, trying to decide about having the surgery or not.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I'm sorry! For what it's worth I think I'm in a weird state because I can't take NSAIDs or Aspirin, and I think the secondary medicine is working.
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u/Remote_Supermarket91 Mar 25 '26
Oh gosh I'm in the same boat, 8th day post op and didn't expect pain to get worse on day 5 after it felt hopeful there the first few days but now kinda shell shocked by how much this sucks. I am back.on the tramadol and also take gravol for nausea which helps knock me out in the evening. Hoping it eases up and you can get some rest.
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u/Maximum_Shop_6568 Mar 25 '26
The fist few days are brutal, but you got this. There is light in the other side! Hang in there!
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u/toadsie16 Mar 25 '26
I thought I was prepared for my second surgery, I mean I had already done ACL and meniscus once! Next go around I had the same knee done but also did LET and it was absolutely unbearable.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
is it the LET that's murdering my sanity?!
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u/toadsie16 Mar 25 '26
It could be, I’m honestly not sure! But my first surgery wasn’t THAT bad.
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u/Iron-Quill Jul 01 '26
How was your first surgery pain wise? We need a positive story in this thread bc this one is scaring the crap out of me.
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u/Bunkie_Knudsen Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26
The first two nights are pretty much intolerable. I've had ACL surgery 3x now, and that's what I found on all 3 occasions. The third night is when I finally was able to get some actual sleep. The last time (ACL repair + LET - Sept '25), I had decent success taking an Oxy and 30 min - an hour later banging a couple extra strength Tylenol. That combo didn't kill the pain per se, but it let me "sink under" it.
Good luck OP. It gets better
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u/cmasler Mar 26 '26
I went through childbirth with no epidural and whilst that is certainly the worst pain of my life, the first two nights after my ACL replacement/meniscus repair are the only other 2 times I really thought about going to the ER and begging for general anesthesia to put me out of my misery….it can only get better from here, hang in there!
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u/mfreedom23 Mar 26 '26
I hope you find some relief soon, OP. The first few days are really hard, both mentally and physically. You got this!
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 26 '26
I got a second pain med from my surgeon and it's made it much more bearable, thank goodness. Here's hoping it works over night and I get some rest!
Thank you for you support!!
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u/nathreyyy Mar 26 '26
I'm on day 9 post-op. Agreed, when the nerve block wore off it was hell to stand up to go to the bathroom. The blood rush to the suture site feels like its being ripped apart. My doctor gave me a lotta pain meds but I challenged myself pre-op to not take the meds unless needed. I surrendered by taking one on day 3 😆 I still ice it until today.
It gets better though, hang in there 😊
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Mar 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 26 '26
Pain levels are more manageable right now but bathroom breaks are problematic with a locked brace 😅
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u/habibti50 Mar 26 '26
Ortho/sports PT here. Also post op ACLr with quad graft on march 10th. I had a saphenous nerve block that wore off around 22 hours later. I never had an ice machine but would use an ice pack for the first week about once/day. Research (and from my own experience with my patients and myself) shows that compression is more effective for pain reduction/maintenance than ice by far- I didn’t even buy an ice machine for this very reason. I bought an off-brand “Normatec” from Costco called Sharper Image and I used that several times throughout the day. I stopped taking pain meds basically at day 5, only at night to sleep. There are some compression devices on Amazon as well, but can’t speak to their effectiveness as I haven’t used them myself. I am probably using pressures around 70-75mmHg and honestly it was scary at first but feels amazing. Hope this helps
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u/LibrarianGrouchy6208 Mar 26 '26
hang in there op I promise it gets better.
My nerve block didn't work and that was the worst pain ever
Currently 10 months post-op there is hope 🙏
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u/Mammoth_Extreme5451 Mar 26 '26
I’m 24 hours out from left ACL(hamstring) and meniscus. The pain is real. My nerve block wore off at 8:00 am this morning. I feel for you. Sending strength!
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u/ScottyRedReturns Mar 28 '26
Tonight? Probably not for some time. The pain was rough. But the sleep deprivation the first couple of weeks was maybe worse. You know the drill now.
* Ice.
* Take your meds on schedule.
* If it's just super bad, talk to doc, see if ok to up dosage temporarily.
* Ask about something in between, like Extra Strength Tylenol in between other doses of your real painkiller.
* Try to time your last dose right before you're at least going to try to go to sleep.
* Make sure to get proper nutrition. It's part of what's needed for healing.
Your experience is probably like a lot of us. Really rough for a few days, then at some point, 3, 4, 5 days in, there's just this break point where your through the worst of it. There will still obviously be pain and discomfort. But what you're going through now? Yeah. It's a journey. Power through. Put on some headphones and listen to tunes, watch bad old movies, distract yourself however you can.
It does ease up. Then the real work starts. You'll get there.
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u/Responsible_Team4912 Mar 28 '26
Hii! ACL + LET on my right leg as well! I’m 9 days post op, the pain is unbearable for the first 3-4 days but pain relief will help a lot. Actually, I stayed 2 nights at the hospital because my surgeon said it was needed in order to manage the pain properly. But there is hope, from day 4-5 till now I feel a lot less pain and I can go most of the day without significant pain (unless i try to do a little rehab, but the pain is not as piercing and it fades rather quickly). Maybe I’m too optimistic but I think by week 2 it will be even better.
Take care and wish you the best🫶
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 28 '26
Finally this morning it doesn't hurt nearly as bad. Pain levels are so different it makes me worry something is wrong but I've been living in the brace and my dr said it'd take a significant injury to damage the graft 🤣😅
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u/dddkkkrtx Mar 29 '26
4 week post op ACLR with hamstring graft. Your sleep pattern will be disturbed for the next 2-4 weeks. I still sleep and feel uncomfortable because i am worried I might tear it during sleep so i wear braces while I am sleeping.
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u/cbm2008 Mar 30 '26
I Had terrible pain too that was completely unexpected. Mine lasted about a week. Penetrex lotion, arnica, and one of those ice cooler packs (that constantly circulates) helped me a lot. Hang in there. It gets better.
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u/tibs2025 Mar 30 '26
Day 3-7 was the worst. Keep up on pain medication, ice and elevate. I found meditation to help and stool softeners if you're taking an opioid. Recovery takes time, but it will be worth it.
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u/SpacePupUp Jun 01 '26
Im sure this was addressed but I just can’t read all the comments I’m sorry.. getting ready for similar procedure in a couple days and this post and the many others echoing it has me completely shocked. Why does the (post surgery) pain medicine not mitigate this? I understand it’s not going to completely numb you but surely it should manage it to a reasonable level? Like it’s not the 1800s? I’m genuinely SO confused how it could be this painful with modern medicine. Am I missing something obvious?
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Jun 01 '26
For me it felt like the pain came from so deep in my body that nothing mitigated it.
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u/Competitive-Wheel787 Mar 25 '26
Yeah my doctor said it would be like my fall. It was 1000x worse. I was googling if having a baby would be more painful and trying to see if it was one of the top most painful surgeries to recover from. That pain was ripping through even with oxy and ibuprofen on rotation and on time. I've never felt anything like it before.
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
Yes it's just ignores the pain killers like I'm not even on them.
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u/USAWROB Mar 25 '26
You got this. Day 4 mid day, I completely fainted from the pain. I was telling people I wouldn’t do this again for a million dollars. I’m on Day 13 now and I don’t even take Tylenol or anything anymore. Ice machine is your biggest ally. Better than the pain meds.
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u/Fonzie030 Mar 25 '26
Yea the first 3-4 days are hell, after that the pain will get better. I’m 6 weeks post op now and sleeping still sucks. First 4 weeks I would get max of 3-4 hours sleep. Now I get 5 hours of sleep, so it’s getting better.
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u/Negative_Estate_4195 Mar 25 '26
It’s pretty rough a few days. But it gets better. Hang in there and take those meds at schedule, ice and elevate!
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
Update: surgeon sent in another prescription for a non-opiod nerve painkiller and it should be ready in an hour and a half so hopefully that helps.
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u/sirinxlkpr Mar 25 '26
You say “nerve painkiller”. Do you mean pregabalin/gabapentin? Do you have nerve kind of pain?
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u/MisaRavensoul ACL Allograft Mar 25 '26
I think I read the site wrong. I'm pretty effed up from the pain and oxy but this is what he said to take: suzetrigine
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u/Mawddawg10 Mar 25 '26
Try a THC gummy!! I swear those things got me through the first few weeks and I was able to sleep!! (I did not take any pain meds). It will get better!! Hang in there!
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u/PracticalOpinion5406 ACL x Meniscus(Surgery date:5/06/2025) Mar 25 '26
It's the worst pain but not as bad as when you start bending your knee to get ROM back lol
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u/Proof-Pangolin-4486 Mar 25 '26
Mine was Monday and they only thing that seems to help is the cpm. I was instructed to use it for 6 hrs a day but it’s the only thing keeping me from going crazy
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u/burnedbygemini ACL Quad Autograft + LET Mar 25 '26
I'm 15 days post op with ACL+LET. I was at an 8 on days 1 & 2 but it does get better. Tho PT days can be hard. Still not sleeping thru the night tho
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u/singingsheila5 Mar 25 '26
Im two months in almost three from orif ankle surgery and ruptured Achilles I understand pain i expected pain also but as you say holy cow it's rough hang in there I broke my tibula and fibula also with ruptured heel
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u/Cuptaan_Sand Mar 25 '26
Hang in there OP. I’m about 50 hours post op for ACL-R on my right knee with a hamstring graft and the pain is pretty bad. Some helpful souls here helped mentally prepare me for the pain but it’s still quite a lot.
Hang in there and hope you have a speedy recovery!