Please read my blogs on ACL Surgery & ACL rehabilitation all you need to know. This will answer all your queries and will introduce you in brief regarding what should and what should not be done post ACL surgery. Pain and stiffness are quite normal post ACL and will take some time to resolve. some amount of pain will also be due to the osteo-arthritic changes in your knee at this age. These shall not grossly subside after surgery. The instability and giving away feeling shall completely be gone now. Swelling is more evident post surgery due to Quadriceps muscle atrophy due to an absent ACL. As the muscle bulk will grow, the atrophy is likely to subside. Also, all patients are not the same with rehabilitation. So, donot worry. trust your doctor and physiotherapist. Full Extension is always the first goal post surgery.

Stiffness and swelling are common post ACL. This will come down only with knee exercises by around 4-6 weeks.