I did a fair amount of walking after 4 weeks but wore a strong knee bandage for about 6 weeks. This may reduce the amount of pain you feel and speed up your recovery. Whether youre awake or asleep, you wont feel pain during knee surgery. I had a right knee arthroscopy 2 weeks ago plus. and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified I was like tour husband in that I wasn't in too much pain and could walk for miles. Learn an initial home exercise program. Step up onto the platform, leading with your involved leg. It is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, which means that the patient is discharged the same day. Makes a small incision (cut) in your knee and inserts a long metal tool called an arthroscope into the incision. Meniscal damage can occur at any age, but its effects vary depending on the age of the person. It sounds like he will have a very good chance of a swift recovery then, it's a balance between working the muscles for the required support and not over doing it and causing unneccasary damage, weigh up the for's and against's of having the operation not sure if I was just lucky or if their is a lot of unlucky people out there post operation, but I am glad I had mine done. Swelling that results from blood pooling in the knee (this complication is uncommon). If you have certain health risks, a more extensive evaluation may be necessary before your surgery. Replace your dressings immediately if they become wet and fall off. Knee arthroscopy may relieve painful symptoms of many problems that damage the cartilage surfaces and other soft tissues surrounding the joint. Healthcare providers use knee arthroscopy to diagnose and treat a range of knee injuries. from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Questions and Answers for Patients Regarding Elective Surgery and COVID-19. This website also contains material copyrighted by third parties. 8 years ago, Relax. The surgeon can then examine and . If you have access to an exercise bike, adjust the seat height so that the bottom of your foot just touches the pedal and complete a full revolution. Posted Arthroscopic procedures that involve the removal of damaged structures such as cartilage typically require less rehabilitation to return to normal activities. Continue lifting in 6-inch increments, holding each time. The hospital or surgery center will contact you ahead of time to provide specific details about your procedure. Before my operation I was in severe pain, could only walk short distances at a very slow pace and as for climbing stairs - I could only master that by doing one step at a time with by body turned sideways. The damaged or torn meniscus is removed through small incisions in the skin around the knee joint. In general, most people need about six weeks to recover. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. the physio said excercise is the perscription not medicine for this kind of opperation. not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in Straighten your involved knee. Hold tightly for 5 seconds, then relax. For more active jobs that entail physical demands, including prolonged standing, you will be able to return to work after several weeks of rehabilitation. Copyright 1995-2021 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. To ensure your safe recovery, be sure to check with your therapist or surgeon before performing any of the exercises or activities shown. Slowly straighten your knee until you feel the tightness behind your knee. This helps your orthopaedic surgeon see the structures inside your knee clearly and in great detail. Doing the exercises provided by the physio as well as taking paracetamol and ibuprofen. Your doctor will talk about it and explain how long it is going to take until you can resume your normal activities. You will be on crutches for around two weeks and will need to avoid putting weight on your knee. Arthroscopic knee surgery recovery can vary based on what type of procedure was performed and whether structures were repaired or removed from the knee joint. You may need to stay in the recovery room for a while before you are discharged. Knee arthroscopy - any experiences, recovery times? Try our Symptom Checker Got any other symptoms? General anesthetic, to put you to sleep for the procedure. He is good with his job. appropriate medical assistance immediately. Mammoth Hospital: Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Patient does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Stand facing a 6-inch-high footstool or platform. You will likely be prescribed physical therapy to help regain range of motion and strength. Prior to my TKR, the hospital I was having the surgery at recommended a pre-hab PT program to strengthen my leg, which I did, and did the exercises religiously. The length of the surgery depends on the condition being treated, but it is usually less than two hours. While lying down on your back, tighten your buttock muscles. Arthroscopy is used to diagnose and treat a wide range of knee problems. The stiffness is definatly there, I will also take on board the bandage aswell i have a knee support somwhere i will dig it out.Thankyou for your kinds words of wisdom. More information on returning to normal after an operation can be found on the website. If you develop a fever or if the surgical sites become red, hot, or swollen, contact your healthcare provider immediately as these are signs that you may have an infection. In some cases, your doctor orders a knee arthroscopy to identify or confirm the condition causing your pain. My knee does still hurt a lot, not sure if the arthuritus (cant spell that! respect of any healthcare matters. I had arthroscopic surgery on my left knee for torn meniscus twice in 2000 & 2002 Both times I was back at work after 5 wks with restrictions of course. Knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows doctors to view the knee joint without making a large incision (cut) through the skin and other soft tissues. Your healthcare provider may recommend knee arthroscopy if you have knee pain that doesnt get better with nonsurgical treatments. As you only need a few small stitches, youre more likely to get back on your feet more quickly than with traditional surgery. They cross each other to form an X with the anterior cruciate ligament in front and the posterior cruciate ligament in back. You might have pain in your knee for a few weeks to a couple of months after your surgery. I didnt get any pain at all, (apart from a bit when I did one particular physio exercise), which really surprised me. Read our editorial policy. I had a hip replacement I'm 2008 and was told to carry exercising right up to the op and walk as soon as I could. An MRI scan can be performed to determine if the meniscus can be repaired. Your healthcare provider makes a small incision and then inserts a long, thin tool with a camera on the end. Your healthcare provider may recommend waiting several weeks before doing more physical or strenuous activities. as being in breach of those terms. respect of any healthcare matters. To treat injuries or structural problems, your healthcare provider inserts tiny tools through another incision. Ice or cold packs can be applied to the knee on top of wearing pants or by using a towel or pillowcase as a barrier. This is the reason why you may not notice how effective your surgery was for the first few weeks. However, it is important to follow your doctors recommendations regarding return to work. Your surgeon will inform you when it is safe to bear weight through your leg. A typical recovery time for synovectomy is 6-8 weeks, with a majority of patients able to walk without crutches within three to four months. Be sure to inform your orthopaedic surgeon of any medications or supplements that you take. Hold for 5 seconds. Begin to straighten your knee. A person who has had knee surgery may not be able to play sports for up to six months after the surgery. If you are unable to walk without exhibiting increased pain, a significant limp, or poor balance, you will be able to use crutches to assist with offloading your knee joint until you progress with your rehabilitation and make improvements in your leg strength and pain levels. Other times, a brace or a knee pillow can be used to provide pain relief at night. A surgical site infection, or microbial infection, is one of the most common risks of any type of surgery. These are decisions you will make with the guidance of your surgeon. You'll likely be able to go home for recovery on the same day of your procedure. The typical recovery time for knee arthroscopy is two to four weeks. not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in For example, those who have a more physically demanding job may need to take more time off to recover. You may be extremely tired right away, and your muscles and tissues surrounding the knee may take some time to heal. Most patients can get behind the wheel one to three weeks after surgery. Knee injuries among athletes (including adolescents) are very common. In general, most people need about six weeks to recover. After the op, the hospital arranged follow up physiotherapy appointments at my local hospital in Yeovil where I received excellent advice and treatment. Slowly lift your leg about 6 inches, then hold for 5 seconds. but I have been doing small exercises and borrowed a cane for the first week. In general, the amount of time needed to recover from knee arthroscopy is relatively short. Policy. Step forward up onto the platform, leading with your involved leg. . Closes the incisions with stitches or small bandages, and wraps your knee with a larger bandage or dressing. I was back to normal after about a month and now,18 months on, have nearly forgotten about the op and all the pain I had before it. Nonsurgical treatment includes rest, physical therapy, and medications or injections that can reduce inflammation. All the best Report / Delete Reply yusrina27606 john041952 Posted 5 years ago You inspired me. You should contact your doctor immediately if you have a high temperature with severe pain and swelling. I hardly seen any 4 incisions. Reverse the procedure and return to the starting position. Nothing else. Oblique Muscle Function, Strain and Treatment. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the bones of the knee joint. However, most people who have knee arthroscopy surgery can go home the same day. Since Saturday one of my incisions has been bleeding (still have stitches) has anyone else experienced this? At this point, a positioning device is sometimes placed on the leg to help stabilize the knee while the arthroscopic procedure takes place. All material on this website is protected by copyright. Your surgeon may close each incision with a stitch or steri-strips (small adhesive strips), then wrap your knee with a soft bandage. 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