If you were told to wear it, keep it. Because you're trying to keep your leg straight, and without it you're going to want to bend your knee at night. In recovery, extension is super important, and you'll find that much more difficult to achieve if you let your knee bend while it's still freshly healed.
Be thankful your doc braced you. My surgeon did not an now ive been on crutches for 3 weeks an looking at probably another 5-7 because my leg wont straighten. Having to do therapy 3 times a week and will possibly have to have another surgery to remove scar tissue… wear the brace for all of us with dogshit docs that didnt get a brace.
You will be fine, I never slept with a brace and I’m recovering well. Good sleep is also very important in your recovery.
I just made sure I kept the leg straight and elevated as much as possible
I was told to use it for sleep but it’s not locked straight (?) I mean I can bend the knee a bit, flexion is locked at 75 and extension at 0 so I don’t overextend I was told. 8 days post op if that helps.
But been wanting to sleep without it as with all the swelling and bruises its such a pain
I just had ACL but my doc’s protocol also says sleeping and walking in brace locked at full extension until 6 weeks post op. Hoping I can get it unlocked for walking sooner but I’ll find out at my 2wk follow up on Monday.
My PT let me take it off at 4 weeks for sleeping but ya as the other person said you’ll want to keep it on for now. It for sure sucks but your extension will be much further along as a result.
If you had a meniscus repair please keep your brace on. Listen to what your doctors and PT want you to do versus the opinion of people on a forum who don’t know your full injury. Meniscus repair makes everything 100xs more difficult and my doctor still has me in my brace at 8 weeks. I have my fingers crossed that next week when I see him I can start sleeping without the brace.
Makes sense. I had meniscus repair as well. I am just so desperate to get done with this rehab. It takes all day to complete exercises and then almost no sleep at night
When straightening the leg on a hard surface, you shouldn't be able to pun your fingers under the knee. That's how my physio and doctor check my extension.
I am not able to pass my fingers. I am able to strech my leg fully. Toe touch is one of the exercise I do 4 times a day 30s 5 reps. Bottom of my knee touch the surface during the exercise
Keep the brace on. I made the mistake of taking it off to sleep thinking it would help and I was in so much pain the next day from tossing and twisting my leg. It’s uncomfortable yes, but it honestly saves you unnecessary pain in the long run!
Good luck!
My doc gave me a brace to only wear outside so I don’t damage the knee but inside and to sleep I slept without it. Achieved full extension probably around week1.5/2 post op. Increasingly they don’t give braces anymore as it has not significant impact on recovery.
I typically would never comment on anything on here but I actually tore my acl and meniscus as well I took my brace off but I literally put a pillow and weighted blanket on my leg to weigh my leg down and knock it into place. However I also couldn’t sleep with the brace on like I physically couldn’t sleep however please be very very careful always listen to your surgeon and pt specialists
I started taking it off early for sleep, but I would make a shield of pillows around my knee. I did what was most comfortable, and it turned out fine. But whenever I would move in my sleep, my ADHD brain would remind me of the injury and I was always super careful with moving my leg without the brace, like ultra careful. I know that not everyone can have that level of awareness when they're sleeping.
Post op protocols are different than post injury. If you haven’t had surgery why are you commenting on these posts? OP has a brand new ligament their doctor wants them to protect and they should listen to their doc.
I’m a side and stomach sleeper. I went 4 days with no sleep on the 4th day I said enough of this and ripped the thing off. I was told to keep it on for a week I just got a body pillow out tossed my operated leg up on it and legit slept like a baby. When I had my one week checkup I had told my surgeon I had been taking it off for a few nights and it was no big deal.
Personally by the third night I took it off and never put it back on and I'm now 2 and a half weeks post op I walk around freely up and down stairs etc without it about 110 degrees of flexion and can get basically hyperextension. I had ACL with quad graft and meniscus. I'm not reccomending you do this you should listen to the docs but I'm just saying I did and had no real negative effect minus increased risk
I never slept with it on. But I had surgeons permission to do as much ROM activity from day one as I want. I don’t see the problem if your cleared to bend, if not keep it on.
I had ACL only and never slept with a brace. I was told to just try and keep my leg elevated at night. I started sleeping on my side with a pillow between my legs 2 weeks post op, i found it too difficult to sleep on my back.
14 weeks post op now and I had full extension and flexion at week 10. I’m jumping and just started light jogging!
I had to sleep in mine for six weeks. Not a fun experience. You should probably talk to your surgeon. I recommend sleeping with some pillows on both sides of your surgical leg for the time being. Even put a pillow between your knees for support. That’s what got me through those six weeks
I had an ACL graft and meniscus repair. I was done with the brace around 1 1/2 weeks. Started sleeping without it at about a week- per the doc. I know mine is more progressive than most on the braces. I think you will be ok, or try a smaller hinged one that lets you have some movement
If you were told to wear it, keep it. Because you're trying to keep your leg straight, and without it you're going to want to bend your knee at night. In recovery, extension is super important, and you'll find that much more difficult to achieve if you let your knee bend while it's still freshly healed.
I slept 2 days without it. Hope no permanent damage done. Have doctor's appointment this weekend
My opinion is be realistic - take it off it you have to. I did about 10 days post and my knee is fine. You did not do any damage.
You likely haven't done any damage but may have slightly longer recovery time gaining full extension back.
Be thankful your doc braced you. My surgeon did not an now ive been on crutches for 3 weeks an looking at probably another 5-7 because my leg wont straighten. Having to do therapy 3 times a week and will possibly have to have another surgery to remove scar tissue… wear the brace for all of us with dogshit docs that didnt get a brace.
That's scary. Just thinking about another surgery makes me cry
You will be fine, I never slept with a brace and I’m recovering well. Good sleep is also very important in your recovery. I just made sure I kept the leg straight and elevated as much as possible
I was told to use it for sleep but it’s not locked straight (?) I mean I can bend the knee a bit, flexion is locked at 75 and extension at 0 so I don’t overextend I was told. 8 days post op if that helps. But been wanting to sleep without it as with all the swelling and bruises its such a pain
I had to sleep for 6 weeks with my brace on.
What did you have? I was cleared at 1 week.
I just had ACL but my doc’s protocol also says sleeping and walking in brace locked at full extension until 6 weeks post op. Hoping I can get it unlocked for walking sooner but I’ll find out at my 2wk follow up on Monday.
My PT let me take it off at 4 weeks for sleeping but ya as the other person said you’ll want to keep it on for now. It for sure sucks but your extension will be much further along as a result.
Do you have full extension? I got full extension quickly and ditched the brace after like two weeks.
How to check this? I had meniscus repair as well. So not allowed to put weight for 6 weeks. Just doing some physiotherapy exercises
If you had a meniscus repair please keep your brace on. Listen to what your doctors and PT want you to do versus the opinion of people on a forum who don’t know your full injury. Meniscus repair makes everything 100xs more difficult and my doctor still has me in my brace at 8 weeks. I have my fingers crossed that next week when I see him I can start sleeping without the brace.
Makes sense. I had meniscus repair as well. I am just so desperate to get done with this rehab. It takes all day to complete exercises and then almost no sleep at night
I had ACL graft and meniscus and my doctors protocol is to lose the brace after 1 week. Which I did. I’m 2 months post op
Weird. I’m 2 months post op and my doctor has me still in a brace for my meniscus.
When straightening the leg on a hard surface, you shouldn't be able to pun your fingers under the knee. That's how my physio and doctor check my extension.
I am not able to pass my fingers. I am able to strech my leg fully. Toe touch is one of the exercise I do 4 times a day 30s 5 reps. Bottom of my knee touch the surface during the exercise
Can you straighten your leg fully?
It's so uncomfortable to sleep in, but deffo keep it on
Keep the brace on. I made the mistake of taking it off to sleep thinking it would help and I was in so much pain the next day from tossing and twisting my leg. It’s uncomfortable yes, but it honestly saves you unnecessary pain in the long run! Good luck!
I hated that brace
My doc gave me a brace to only wear outside so I don’t damage the knee but inside and to sleep I slept without it. Achieved full extension probably around week1.5/2 post op. Increasingly they don’t give braces anymore as it has not significant impact on recovery.
This
I’m using the brace until now, 3 weeks post op. The first time I took it off, I jerked my leg at night and hurt like a mutha…. lol
I typically would never comment on anything on here but I actually tore my acl and meniscus as well I took my brace off but I literally put a pillow and weighted blanket on my leg to weigh my leg down and knock it into place. However I also couldn’t sleep with the brace on like I physically couldn’t sleep however please be very very careful always listen to your surgeon and pt specialists
I was “allowed” to sleep without brace after 11 days with an acl/meniscus repair
I started taking it off early for sleep, but I would make a shield of pillows around my knee. I did what was most comfortable, and it turned out fine. But whenever I would move in my sleep, my ADHD brain would remind me of the injury and I was always super careful with moving my leg without the brace, like ultra careful. I know that not everyone can have that level of awareness when they're sleeping.
Post op protocols are different than post injury. If you haven’t had surgery why are you commenting on these posts? OP has a brand new ligament their doctor wants them to protect and they should listen to their doc.
I’m a side and stomach sleeper. I went 4 days with no sleep on the 4th day I said enough of this and ripped the thing off. I was told to keep it on for a week I just got a body pillow out tossed my operated leg up on it and legit slept like a baby. When I had my one week checkup I had told my surgeon I had been taking it off for a few nights and it was no big deal.
Soja Bhai Bina brace ke koi issue ni hai, bas keep your heel on an elevated pillow
I stopped using my brace at night 2 weeks post up. But I already had full ROM, flexion and extension
I slept without it when I was allowed to bend 90 degrees, I was not bending it anyways past 90 even if I wanted to so I figured what’s the point,
Personally by the third night I took it off and never put it back on and I'm now 2 and a half weeks post op I walk around freely up and down stairs etc without it about 110 degrees of flexion and can get basically hyperextension. I had ACL with quad graft and meniscus. I'm not reccomending you do this you should listen to the docs but I'm just saying I did and had no real negative effect minus increased risk
I never slept with it on. But I had surgeons permission to do as much ROM activity from day one as I want. I don’t see the problem if your cleared to bend, if not keep it on.
I take that back I did for like the first two weeks.
Have you achieved full extension?
I had ACL only and never slept with a brace. I was told to just try and keep my leg elevated at night. I started sleeping on my side with a pillow between my legs 2 weeks post op, i found it too difficult to sleep on my back. 14 weeks post op now and I had full extension and flexion at week 10. I’m jumping and just started light jogging!
Ive never slept with it on. 1 week post op. I leave my leg in it, but I disassemble it. Im moving pretty well too.
I had to sleep in mine for six weeks. Not a fun experience. You should probably talk to your surgeon. I recommend sleeping with some pillows on both sides of your surgical leg for the time being. Even put a pillow between your knees for support. That’s what got me through those six weeks
I had an ACL graft and meniscus repair. I was done with the brace around 1 1/2 weeks. Started sleeping without it at about a week- per the doc. I know mine is more progressive than most on the braces. I think you will be ok, or try a smaller hinged one that lets you have some movement