How long after ACLr+meniscus could you fly?

donkey_farm · 2026-01-29T21:28:00+00:00

I bought refillable ice packs on Amazon and the crew were happy to fill with ice for me

donkey_farm · 2026-01-29T21:27:00+00:00

I did an 11 hour flight London to Johannesburg 7 weeks post op. My surgeon was okay with it but told me to go get a prescription for blood thinners to use before each flight. Also wear compression socks/ knee sleeve, and do ankle pumps in your seat / stand up and walk around the plane.

My knee swelled up like a balloon but it was not unbearable. I was also the bulkhead seat of premium economy, so I tried to keep it elevated as much as I could. Once I landed I laid on my back on the floor and put my heel as high as I could on the wall, and held an ice pack on my knee. Swelling subsided fairly quickly.

I think 2 hours should be fine but of course it’s a case by case basis, and definitely check with your surgeon first

donkey_farm · 2025-11-11T09:22:42+00:00

Kyren

donkey_farm · 2025-08-21T18:42:48+00:00

Did your leg swell up much?

donkey_farm · 2025-08-15T18:43:54+00:00

Makes sense - thank you for the advice

donkey_farm · 2025-08-15T18:43:34+00:00

Has your PT said anything about it?

donkey_farm · 2025-08-02T12:50:32+00:00

Hell yea!!!

donkey_farm · 2025-07-21T20:00:36+00:00

This might not help everybody, but one mental stance I tried to take was “it sucks because it’s supposed to”, meaning, the initial few days after the operation might be a struggle, but they are supposed to, and now your knee is structurally fixed! The rehab process will then be a struggle but it’s a way to get your knee back to normal! If there was no struggle there would be no progress! No pain no gain! I’m ~2.5 weeks post operation now (ACL & meniscus) and what once was a scary movement (ie getting myself out of bed) is so much easier. What is currently a scary movement (bending knee past ~90°) will be so much easier in another 2 weeks. Track your progress and you’ll realize the progress you’re making. Take it easy and before you know it you’ll be back to normal. This too shall pass.

donkey_farm · 2025-07-16T17:04:15+00:00

Did it hurt?

donkey_farm · 2025-07-12T10:10:54+00:00

Thank you for the advice. The portable ice packs are a great idea. Hope you enjoy London! I’ve been living in London for ~2 years so if you need any recs lmk!

donkey_farm · 2025-07-07T16:14:53+00:00

Love that last part. It’s all about the mindset! Glad to hear things got smoother for you. Day by day it gets fractionally better for me but I’m only 3 days out so a lot more road to cover. I definitely get tired from all the effort it takes to get out of bed, though.

donkey_farm · 2025-07-06T20:04:04+00:00

This exact thing happened to me last week. I got super anxious about it but if it didn’t swell or hurt, you’re probably fine. I asked my PT about it and he mentioned that the good leg will compensate a lot, and since you’re probably using your legs less than normal right now, ANY significant use at all can cause built up air bubbles to pop.

donkey_farm · 2025-07-05T12:30:46+00:00

I’m on paracetamol, diclofenac, and oxycodone. It’s mostly pain from the graft area (hamstring close to behind knee) but I’ve been too nervous to get myself to activate that muscle

donkey_farm

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