Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are nursing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, you are likely wondering what your next steps should be. Especially if you became injured after someone else caused you to be in an accident, it is easy to become overwhelmed with everything you have to do. You may be wondering if you need to file a claim, if you need treatment, or if you even need to see a doctor. When this is the case, it can be tempting to put off surgery. Surgery can seem like a very daunting task and you probably know that you will have a long road to recovery, need to limit your physical activity, and need to go to physical rehabilitation.
However, this should not stop you from consulting a doctor and learning about the benefits of surgery. Continuing to put off your treatment could mean that you are left with a more permanent, chronic pain, even if you end up getting surgery at a later date. Additionally, if you are hoping to file a claim because of your injury, putting off treatment may mean your claim would not be successful.
What kinds of options are there after I tear my ACL?
You will have a few options for recovery after you tear your ACL, but it is best to speak with a doctor, like an anterior cruciate ligament injury surgeon to determine what the best treatment option is for your situation. A doctor will be able to diagnose you, determine how severe the damage is, and let you know if surgery is the right option for you. Often, a non-surgical option will be physical therapy. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy for a period of time and then re-evaluate to see if you still need surgery. However, your doctor may also determine that surgery is the best first option for your injury with physical therapy to follow.
Is there a risk in delaying my surgery?
There can absolutely be a risk in delaying your surgery. You may continue to make your knee injury worse if you do not get surgery right away and this can lead to long-term or permanent damage to your knee, even with surgery. Further, if you continue to walk on or use your injured knee, you run a high risk of injuring the other areas around your knee which could lead to further complications and a more serious surgery down the road. When you speak with your doctor, be honest about the kind of pain you are in and get the details of how surgery may be most helpful for your ACL recovery process. If your ACL tear was the result of an accident, delaying surgery may also mean you do not get the compensation you deserve from the liable party. There are many reasons to consider getting surgery soon if that is what your doctor recommends.
Find Help For Your ACL Injury Now!
Are you interested in getting ACL surgery but are unsure of what next steps to take? Reach out to a local doctor to schedule a consultation today.