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Knee arthroscopy at Christmas

34 replies

Summersoul · 12/11/2022 17:07

I am due to have knee arthroscopy on 22nd December....for those of you who have had them...how long til I feel human after the GA? Have already sorted Christmas at Mils but am I likely to still be in pain and feel groggy on Christmas day? 🎄

OP posts:
jessieminto · 01/12/2022 09:52

I had a bilateral arthroscopy about 20 yrs ago. I could hobble around the house up and down stairs the next day. I was able to start a new job around 2 weeks later without anyone knowing I'd had surgery.

Best of luck to you.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/12/2022 10:05

jessieminto · 01/12/2022 09:52

I had a bilateral arthroscopy about 20 yrs ago. I could hobble around the house up and down stairs the next day. I was able to start a new job around 2 weeks later without anyone knowing I'd had surgery.

Best of luck to you.

It depends what you're having done though. I'm 3.5 weeks in, I can walk but still have to use crutches. The brace is on for another 3 weeks as I need to keep my leg as straight as possible. I'm off work until then and can't drive.

My DM had one around 10 years ago, was off crutches after a week and back at work after 2 weeks.

Mine was a massive repair whereas hers was cartilage removal.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/12/2022 10:05

Summersoul · 01/12/2022 09:49

Thats great news you definitely sound on the road to recovery.
Im booked in on 22nd ... how long have they signed you off work for? My consultant said 3 weeks but my physio thinks longer 🙄

I'm off for 8 weeks.

LindaEllen · 01/12/2022 10:06

My mum had one a couple of years ago. In as a day case and she was home by mid afternoon. She was climbing stairs from day 1 but it was tricky. Didn't need anything stronger than paracetamol, and we made the most of it and watched lots of crappy tele and ate snacks for 2 weeks. She was a bit tired during the first day, but absolutely fine when she woke up the day after.

I'd say if you have to have one, Christmas is the perfect time to need others to wait on you!!

dgirluk · 03/12/2022 09:34

Summersoul · 01/12/2022 09:49

Thats great news you definitely sound on the road to recovery.
Im booked in on 22nd ... how long have they signed you off work for? My consultant said 3 weeks but my physio thinks longer 🙄

It really depends what they do when they get in there, and how much inflammation you get afterwards - I think mine was relatively straightforward - shaving off some mucky stuff, and melting some cracks. I think sometimes they have to microfracture it, and that’s a longer recovery. And of course as some people on this thread have had, more invasive/tough procedures anyway.

So I couldn’t get an answer in advance of the surgery, because “it depends” was the answer I kept getting! I guess of course if you know in advance it’s a bigger job, then the answer might be clearer.

I’m pretty lucky with work as well - I was signed off the first week (which was fortunate given I was in A&E for 15 hours sorting the DVT out, and that was soooo painful), then I said I’d WFH for the 2nd week (which was this week) - Monday/Tuesday were a bit hit/miss because I was struggling to sit for too long and had to keep propping my leg up, but that was DVT related. And I’ve said I’m probably not commuting to our London office / meetings for another few weeks. It’s a shame because I’ve missed our team Christmas dinner, but this was more important.

Then I’m pretty much going to WFH til Christmas anyway - quiet time of year, the sort of job you can, etc. etc. Means I can easily do my exercises etc. Still not sure I’d drive if I needed to use that leg (if it was my right for example - my car’s an auto and it’s my left leg) - not sure I could do the clutch, and emergency brake on it.

I’m not sure I’d want to commute into London - too much barging, the trains are rammed and standing room and all sorts of delays, people impatiently pushing past on the stairs to the tube etc. I’d be tempted to take my crutches if I had to, just at least people might give me a bit of a berth while I’m travelling slowly !!!! (Maybe!). I’d be happy enough to drive to an office, sit at a desk etc. though.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 03/12/2022 10:06

Then I’m pretty much going to WFH til Christmas anyway - quiet time of year, the sort of job you can, etc. etc. Means I can easily do my exercises etc. Still not sure I’d drive if I needed to use that leg (if it was my right for example - my car’s an auto and it’s my left leg) - not sure I could do the clutch, and emergency brake on it.

I can't drive at the moment because of the brace so it's not really relevant, but I was glad it's my right leg not my left because I wouldn't be able to control the clutch properly. Just shows how it affects us all differently.

clipclop5 · 03/12/2022 23:44

I had one last year and was fine by the next day. Went and did the weekly shop with a bit of pain but nothing awful

dgirluk · 04/12/2022 08:47

HunterHearstHelmsley · 03/12/2022 10:06

Then I’m pretty much going to WFH til Christmas anyway - quiet time of year, the sort of job you can, etc. etc. Means I can easily do my exercises etc. Still not sure I’d drive if I needed to use that leg (if it was my right for example - my car’s an auto and it’s my left leg) - not sure I could do the clutch, and emergency brake on it.

I can't drive at the moment because of the brace so it's not really relevant, but I was glad it's my right leg not my left because I wouldn't be able to control the clutch properly. Just shows how it affects us all differently.

I wouldn't be able to do the clutch for sure - the car's an auto though, so the left leg just hangs around not doing much!

More of an issue now is the DVT so I can't drive for long anyway :(

Good luck with your recovery :)

HunterHearstHelmsley · 04/12/2022 10:33

dgirluk · 04/12/2022 08:47

I wouldn't be able to do the clutch for sure - the car's an auto though, so the left leg just hangs around not doing much!

More of an issue now is the DVT so I can't drive for long anyway :(

Good luck with your recovery :)

Thanks! I'm so over it now 🤣 just hoping I can still see my consultant in a few weeks as there is a strike that day. The thought of having to keep the brace on even longer is awful

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