The New Normal
Is this my new normal?
Most people who have a meniscal repair or an ACL reconstruction find that their knee function returns to normal, or close to normal, after surgery.
This takes time. How long it takes will depend on a number of factors, including
your age
your normal lifestyle
the kind of work you do
your overall health and medical history
the surgery itself and any complications you may have had
In the weeks following your operation, your new normal may feel a long way from life as it used to be. But as time passes – and your wound heals, your swelling subsides (that in itself can take up to 3 months), and your knee strengthens - it will become more and more like your pre-injury normal.
Everyone recovers differently. But for everyone, the key to a successful recovery is as much mental as it is physical.
It’s not just about doing your exercises. It’s about having the willpower to do them properly, day in, day out, even when they’re boring, time-consuming, or uncomfortable. It’s also about having the patience not to try to speed up your recovery by doing too much too soon (as you’re more likely to have the opposite effect).
It’s not just about making progress every day (though you will be progressing, even on the days when it doesn’t feel like it.) It’s also about accepting that you will have good days and bad days as you recover. Setbacks happen; accept them, don’t be discouraged, move forward, and before you know it, your new normal will be feeling pretty good.
How long will it be before I feel normal?
It can take anything from 6 months to a year to fully recover. (If your surgery has also included an ACL graft, this will not increase your recovery time, and the rehabilitation process will be the same.)
Recovery time will vary from person to person and depends on several factors, including the severity of the tear, the procedure used, whether there have been any post-surgical complications, as well as your age, lifestyle and your overall health and fitness.
But you can help yourself – the more actively you participate in your recovery and rehabilitation process, the sooner you’ll get there, and the sooner more aspects of your life will begin to feel more normal.
Don't be tempted to test your knee to see what difference the surgery has made. It’s important to follow your recovery programme.
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