Torn acl, HELP!!!!!!!!!?

First off I agree with your physical therapist about the procedure. I am not one that easily recommends procedures but this is one that needs to be done. You can function in most cases without the ligament but the internal damage will lead to premature degeneration of the knee possibly leading to the necessity of a total knee replacement. As for the tendon harvest from the hamstring, I am against that. The studies have shown that one of the contributing factors of a torn ACL is weak hamstrings. So to give up a portion of that muscle is going to make it weaker and in the long run could cause the ligament to fail. Talk this over with your physical therapist and orthopedist. Lastly as to the ice machine get it if you can for it will increase the recovery time sometimes as much as weeks. The major problem after the operation is swelling and the machine is designed to reduce the swelling by the application of compressed cold. It does a great job! As to how long, that is going to depend upon what the surgeon ultimately does in the knee. The surgeon should be able to give you an approximate time frame after the procedure. A word of advice at this point is to make both knees as strong as possible now. This means working the hamstrings as much as possible. After the procedure start to work your Right knee as soon as you can. The reason for this is the body has a carry over system that will cause the left knee to gain in strength and mobility. Good luck!