Anybody had a knee arthroscopy?

[Flamingmaracas]

I am having a knee arthroscopy after I fractured my tibial plateau last year. Hopefully it's a simple cleaning out procedure as the MRI didn't show any meniscal/cartilage damage.

Can anyone tell me about the recovery time? Specifically driving and working (I work part time in a job that requires me to be on my feet most of the time).

Thanks.

I've had three. You should be back on your feet in a couple of days but possibly a bit longer for driving. You probably won't need crutches at all but for a job where you need to be on your feet it might take longer. I took a week off sick for my last one and it was enough but I had a short commute and a desk job. Good luck!

Have they helped DCMD?

I've read loads of articles about recovery and they range from being off work for 4-6 weeks to a week!

Could you drive back to work when you went back after a week?

Thanks for replying - sorry about the further questioning!

To be painfully honest, they didn't work... Mine was a repeated cartilage tear and it was only after 10 years of doctors that I found one who diagnosed a problem with my acl. He fixed that in another keyhole op, replaced the ACL with part of my hamstring and tidied up the cartilage again. I was off work for 2 weeks with that one and on crutches for 2-3 months. Since that op (2+ years) things have been MUCH better which is amazing!

I don't think it's the arthroscopy itself that is the problem, it's what they so when they're in there which is probably why you're seeing so much difference in people's time off.

I can't remember about the driving... I took the train to work but I don't remember driving for a long while afterwards, though I think that was more because I didn't need to rather than my knee being the problem.

Sorry that's not very helpful but I'm guessing you're looking at a minimum of a week and more likely 2....

I've had a couple and have needed a week off work each time.

Oh, sorry to hear they didn't work although clearly they wouldn't if you needed your ACL repairing! Poor you.

Sauvignon - what was yours for and did it work?!

I did have meniscal/cartilage tear so was more invasive than yours. You don't need to hear of my tales of woe.
My friend also had a clean out but also chipping bits of arthritis off, so that is also worse than yours.
I think it depends on the individual reason for the arthroscopy.
Your specialist should be able to advise you on your particular op and the likely after effects.
Good luck.

I had one a few years ago and also fractured my tibial plateau in 2005.
I had some torn cartilage in there that was removed and I recovered fine. I actually had my bunion done at the same time but on the other leg!