The knee surgery that has the shortest recovery time is a knee arthroscopy knee surgery which is minimally invasive day surgery.
The recovery time for knee arthroscopy is around 6 weeks.
To recover from simple knee surgery takes around 6 weeks.
If the surgeon repaired damaged tissue then the recovery may take a bit longer.
The simplest knee surgery is arthroscopic knee surgery that is minimally invasive.
The arthroscopic knee surgery involves the making of multiple incisions in order to view and repair the knee.
And arthroscopic knee surgery has many advantages such as faster recovery, less damage to the surrounding tissue and lower complication rate.
The amount of incisions that are done for arthroscopic knee surgery are 2 to 3 tiny incisions which allows the surgeon to insert a pencil sized instrument into the knee to look into the knee.
The pencil sized instruments have a small lens and lighting system that magnifies and illuminates the structures inside your joint.
You should wear a knee brace after arthroscopy if the surgery involves more than just the removal of meniscus or torn cartilage or if you have a meniscal repair then your knee will usually be placed in a brace.
However for most arthroscopy procedures knee braces are rarely needed or used.
When sleeping after arthroscopic knee surgery you should sleep with your knee raised although not bent.
Then put a pillow under your foot and keep your leg raised up as much as possible for at least the first couple of days following the arthroscopic knee surgery.
Then you may also shower 24 to 48 hours after the arthroscopic knee surgery.
It takes around 2 weeks to walk without crutches after the arthroscopic knee surgery although you can begin walking immediately after the arthroscopic knee surgery with the use of crutches.
Two common reasons that a person would need arthroscopic knee surgery are.
Torn or damaged anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) or a knee cap that is out of position.
Other common reasons you would need arthroscopic knee surgery are swollen or damaged lining of the joint, small pieces of broken cartilage in the knee joint or removal of Baker's Cyst.
You can climb stairs after arthroscopic knee surgery and immediately after arthroscopic knee surgery you will learn to climb stairs using crutches safely.
And then as recovery from the arthroscopic knee surgery continues and you work on flexion and extension of the new knee, then you will also be able to climb stairs without the use of crutches.
You can drive after a knee arthroscopy but you should wait up to 1 week after the knee arthroscopy before driving and until the swelling reduces and the knee motion improves.
After a knee arthroscopy you will have to be off work for up to 1 to 2 weeks if you have a low impact job and for heavy work you will have to be off work for 3 months to 6 months after the knee arthroscopy.
Most times you're not put to sleep for knee arthroscopy and the surgeon uses local anesthesia which means your knee is only numb.
However you can ask for general anesthesia where you're put to sleep for the knee arthroscopy if you prefer. .
You can also be numb from the waist down by being given regional anesthesia.
The average age for knee arthroscopy is around 65 years of age.
Most knee replacement surgery is performed in elders who have severe arthritis and those under the age of 50 are considered young and are asked to wait until the age of 65 to have knee arthroscopy done.
A Knee arthroscopy is a type of surgery that is done to check for problems, using a tiny camera to see inside your knee.
Other medical instruments may also be inserted to repair your knee during the knee arthroscopy.
The knee is a complex joint made up of the distal end of the femur (femoral condyles) and the proximal end of the tibia (tibial plateau).
The recovery from knee arthroscopy takes on average of 6 weeks.
If your doctor repaired damaged tissue, recovery will take longer.
You may have to limit your activity until your knee strength and movement are back to normal.
You may also be in a physical rehabilitation (rehab) program.
Common arthroscopic procedures for the knee include: Partial meniscectomy (removal of the meniscus), repair of a torn meniscus, or meniscus transplantation.
Reconstruction of a torn anterior cruciate ligament or posterior cruciate ligament. Removal of inflamed synovial tissue.
The knee arthroscopy is a minor surgery and is done on an outpatient basis, which means you can go home the same day.
Your doctor may recommend it if you have inflammation in a joint, have injured a joint, or have damaged a joint over time.
After the knee arthroscopy you can start with some gentle exercise, such as walking.
This may feel a little uncomfortable at first.
After a week or two, you may be able to go for longer walks, swim or have a gentle cycle.
Don't do any high-impact exercises, such as running, for at least six weeks.
Pain is quite common, most often in the area where you had pain before surgery, in the soft tissues below the knee cap, over the arthroscopy wounds and occasionally the whole knee.
The pain settles usually within two to three weeks, but may take upwards of six weeks.
Swelling in the whole knee up to six weeks.