Arthroscopic Knee Surgery Recovery

Getting a surgery done is bad, but what is probably worse is the recovery period after the surgery. This is especially in case of surgeries on the knees. One tends to get frustrated at times and is also irritated because of the immobility factor which comes post surgery. But one must be patient and in fact, take extra care during the recovery period to ensure a smooth and speedy healing.

Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

One of the modern methods of operating knee joints is arthroscopy. An arthroscopic knee surgery is performed with the help of a tiny camera called Arthroscope, which is inserted into the knee joint with the help of small insertions on the skin. The camera gives the surgeon a proper and clear picture of the internal areas of the knee, helping the surgeon in performing the surgery more accurately. The fact that there is less work on the tissues involved, makes the recovery time lesser than that for an open knee surgery.

Taking Care in the Recovery Period
The healing procedure starts as soon as the patient is taken out of the operating room to the recovery room. From here on, there are various aspects the patient needs to be careful about, to ensure a quick recovery.

Immediately after Operation
The surgery is carried out with a general anesthesia. Don't rush into waking up once the effect of the anesthesia is gone as one should not move the legs too much. Take your time and whenever possible, have water or juice before eating anything. The surgeon would ideally ask you to spend 2 to 3 hours in the recovery room after which you would be sent home.

Swelling on the Knees
The recovery period is generally 2 to 4 weeks, depending upon each individual case. During the initial recovery period, swelling on the wound is a very common problem faced by many patients. Anti-inflammatory medicines can be taken (unless you have gastric irritation) for the purpose of reducing this swelling. Applying an ice pack on the swelling can also reduce the inflammation.

Taking Care of the Wound
After the surgery is carried out, the orthopedic surgeon applies a bandage over the wound to protect it from getting wet. One must take care that the bandage does not get wet. For this purpose, it is advised to cover the wound properly while taking a shower or visiting the toilet. You will also have to dress the wound periodically as advised by your doctor. Make sure that while doing this, you do not moisten the area around the insertions in any way.

Use of External Support
Most patients do not need any support for walking. They are able to walk without being assisted by anyone or anything. In spite of this, your orthopedist may suggest that, initially you use either a walker, crutches or a stick for walking. Ensure you do the same as it is not advisable to put a lot of weight on the knees for the initial period, at least. As you go further into the recovery process, you can start walking without any aid.

Exercises That Aid Recovery
The best and the most trusted method of a quick recovery from an arthroscopic knee surgery would be physiotherapy. Post operation, every patient should start doing these exercises as soon as he/she can, so as to quicken the recovery process. You need to consult a physiotherapist for the same. Quite a few of these exercises are simple and can be done at home. Regular knee exercises help in rebuilding the lost strength in the knee muscles, ensuring quick recovery. At times these exercises need to be continued for a longer duration if the surgery was a major one or a lot of muscle power is lost. Quadriceps exercises for the knees are generally recommended by the physiotherapist.

Important Tips for Words of Caution

As stated earlier, the recovery time for an arthroscopic knee surgery is much lesser as compared to an open knee surgery. This however, does not imply that one must be careless during the recovery process. A few minor, but important points to keep in mind during the recovery period:

• Rest is very important during the recovery period and you must ensure that you take adequate amount of rest during the recovery period. Do not strain your body too much and also avoid putting a lot of pressure on the knees.
• Place an ice pack on the wound for at least 3 to 4 times a day for around 20 minutes each time to reduce the swelling quickly. Be careful so as not to get the wounded area wet
• Antibiotics and narcotics as prescribed by the surgeon must be taken regularly so as to prevent any uncomfortable feeling or pain during the recovery period. If possible, get off the narcotics as soon as possible as it can lead to addiction and possible side-effects.
• Kindly call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following- Increase in pain, soreness around the wound, fever, chills, increase in swelling or even any amount of increase in pain in your calf muscle during the recovery period.
• Start the recovery exercises as soon as possible after the surgery only after consulting your orthopedic surgeon and a physiotherapist.
• Visit your orthopedic whenever you have been asked to, for the follow-up appointments, so that he can monitor your recovery process and also suggest any changes if necessary
• In case of people doing heavy physical work, do not put your knees under strain for the initial period of 2-3 weeks. You can resume work later, only with the consent of your doctor.
• Avoid driving, exercising, swimming, playing outdoor games and jogging for the initial 2 weeks, at least. You can do the same only after an approval from your orthopedic surgeon.

Keeping all this mind, you can expect a quick and proper recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery. As is the case with all health related issues, it is best consulting your doctor for the right treatment and recovery process.