Treatment for an ACL injury includes:

• First aid right away.
  • Reduce swelling and pain. To do this, you may rest the knee, apply ice, use gentle compression with an elastic bandage, and prop up (elevate) the leg.
  • Move your leg as little as you can.
  • Take over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Exercises and training, also called rehab. It takes several months of rehab for your knee to get better.
• Surgery. You and your doctor can decide if rehab is enough or if surgery is right for you. If you have surgery, you will also have several months of rehab afterward

You may need to walk with crutches and use a knee immobilizer to keep your knee still for the first few days after the injury.