Answer:
YES!! Absolutely Yes!
it keeps the swelling down.
Take your pain meds on time so you don't get stuck in pain and not able to get out of the pain.
I have just gone thru a 3 week knee injection of www.orthovisc.com injections, and the swelling on injections 1 and 3 have been really bad!! I don't know what i would have done w/o my ice bags on for 20 minutes and off for 20 and back on. Elevated really helped too!
I used a towell and tied the bags to my knees, wrapped them around. I had a friend go out and buy my 10 ice trays and the old fashioned ice bag, which i refrigerated when not in use.
It stayed cold for 12 hours! dang!
I took my pain meds, stayed in bed as doctor ordered for first 48 hours due to swelling at injection site.
the first week i didn't listen and suffered for it.
Call someone, and if and when anyone calls you, and asks if they can help, or let me know if I can help...
TELL THEM TO bring you a bag of ice and an ice pack!
*nicely!
Let them help you, fluff your 2-3 pillows and elevate that knee, and use your crutches/cane, or whatever when you go potty.
The 2nd and 3rd day are the hardest.
BUT this too will pass, and in 6 weeks you will be in physical therapy and kicking booty and ready to rock and roll by August!!
I wish you the best of luck.
I took aleve, and ice, ice, iced baby and elevated,
***AND the hardest thing-- LET PEOPLE HELP ME!!
WHEN people offer to help-- TELL THEM WHAT YOU NEED!
i feel for you and wish you a speedy recovery!
it helped me A LOT, but you have to keep movement going to help too! lying still cramps it up more, and movement also helps you to get motion back a lot faster as well!
good luck
take care
i went through the acl thing 2 times! the second time because the screw was out some and the grooves in it ripped it off again.VERY RARE!
yes you bet. What they usually have you do post surgery.
Absolutely!
Icing is effective for acute stages (48 hours after surgery) and elevation of leg help aid the return of fluid towards our heart. Avoid dangling position of your leg, this will aggreviate swelling. Ankle pumping exercises is also effective because muscles squeeze blood vessels to return fluid concentration. Prevent position or movements that is causing pain for faster recovery and prevent increase of pain.