Arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus (meniscectomy) It may take 4-5 months for full healing. The patient should be able to bear weight on the knee while standing or walking, immediately after surgery. Crutches will be necessary for 2-7 days after surgery.
Meniscus (cartilage) Repair patients cannot do twisting, pivoting, squatting, deep knee bends or impact activities for four months. It is vital that meniscus repair patients do not squat for at least four months after the repair.
It usually takes about 4 to 8 weeks for patients to increase weight bearing and range of motion. Most patients can walk without a knee brace and crutches in about 2 to 3 months.
Most people can walk with crutches soon after meniscus surgery. Many return to normal activities within six to eight weeks. Your healthcare provider may recommend low-impact activities rather than high-impact (such as walking rather than running). If you have a physical job, you may need extra time off work to recover.
You can drive when you are no longer using crutches or a knee brace, are no longer taking prescription pain medicine, and have some control over your knee. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. How soon you can return to work depends on your job. If you sit at work, you may be able to go back in 1 to 2 weeks.
If your torn meniscus was repaired with suture, you will be wearing a knee immobilizer to keep your knee straight. You should keep the knee straight in the immobilizer anytime Page 3 you are putting your weight on your leg, but may bend your knee up to 90 degrees when you are not putting any weight on your leg.
Walking, standing, stair climbing, etc… are not good for the knee for the first week after surgery so don't walk or stand anymore than is necessary until the discomfort and swelling from the procedure are gone.
Activity: You should use cane, crutches or a walker for the first 3 to 5 days following surgery. As your knee feels more comfortable, you may increase the amount of weight you put on the operated leg. You may stop using the cane or crutches/walker once you can walk comfortably without a limp.
Typically, the surgery can be performed under regional anesthesia with sedation, so there's minimal anesthesia risk. Occasionally, small stitches can be placed into the torn cartilage to sew it back together; this technique can successfully treat large tears in younger people. If the tear is small, it may be removed.
Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair: Minimally invasive surgery to repair torn knee cartilage.
Arthroscopic meniscus repair typically takes about 40 minutes to perform, and usually you will be able to leave the hospital the same day. There are three main types of meniscus repairs.
There are many cases in which surgeons recommend wearing a knee brace after arthroscopic knee surgery in order to provide adequate support to the knee. This is particularly true when your surgery involves the repair of a torn meniscus (knee cartilage).
Unless the torn meniscus has locked the knee, many people with a torn meniscus can walk, stand, sit, and sleep without pain. Other people find that the torn meniscus prevents them from participating comfortably in their usual daily activities.
Most people can get back to desk work, school or sedentary activity 3 to 5 days after surgery. If your right knee was operated on, it may be up to 2 weeks before the knee is strong enough to hit the brakes to drive safely. For heavy work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks before the leg is strong enough to allow for working.
What are the benefits? Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not. Surgery to repair tears may reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.
That's where – because a portion of the meniscus has been removed, the bones around the knee joint “see” more stress when you walk and they react by becoming very inflamed and can actually at it's worse, cause a stress fracture which is quite painful.
You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor okays it. When you shower, keep your bandage and incisions dry by taping a sheet of plastic to cover them. If you have a brace, take it off if your doctor says it is okay. It might help to sit on a shower stool.
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E) are recommended for patients recovering from any kind of surgery, include meniscal repair. Keep these guidelines in mind to make sure you're getting the most out of this approach: Avoid whatever activity caused your injury and rest as often as possible.
A few days after having arthroscopic knee surgery, you should be able to start walking with less and less help from crutches or a walker. Note that the recommended timeframe for complete recovery after undergoing this procedure is generally 4-6 weeks.
Back up until you feel the chair or toilet seat touch the back of your legs. Slide your operated leg forward slightly. Bend both knees and gently lower yourself onto the chair or toilet, using the armrests, countertop, or sink for support.
Range of motion may be limited due to pain, swelling, and/or mechanical limits from the tear. Daily activities such as walking up and down the stairs, walking down a hill, kneeling, and squatting are often made difficult due to increased pain in the knee.
A popping sensation. Swelling or stiffness. Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee. Difficulty straightening your knee fully.
In a typical moderate tear, you feel pain at the side or in the center of the knee, depending on where the tear is. Often, you are still able to walk. Swelling usually increases slowly over a few days and may make the knee feel stiff and limit bending.