Flying after an operation - swelling
Discussion
I'm a bit of a worrier, so thought I'd post here as well as asking the doc!
I had a knee operation 5 weeks ago and have two long haul flights next week. My surgeon said I would be fine to fly as did his nurse.
However, the swelling from the operation has gone down but is still 'up and down' - for example yesterday I was advised to wear my surgical stockings again as my shin/calf was visably swelling up.
So, for the resident experts:
Is swelling likely to get worse at 35,000 ft?
Would it be dangerous/uncomfortable?
How can I minimise it?
Would you still fly?
Thanks
The worrier.
I had a knee operation 5 weeks ago and have two long haul flights next week. My surgeon said I would be fine to fly as did his nurse.
However, the swelling from the operation has gone down but is still 'up and down' - for example yesterday I was advised to wear my surgical stockings again as my shin/calf was visably swelling up.
So, for the resident experts:
Is swelling likely to get worse at 35,000 ft?
Would it be dangerous/uncomfortable?
How can I minimise it?
Would you still fly?
Thanks
The worrier.
Yes it might well swell up a bit but wear your compression stockings, walk about as much as you can & maybe down an aspirin to ward off DVT. Given that people fly with broken bits as long as they don't have a full cast on it travelling is unlikley to be actually dangerous.
Can you get an upgrade to business class or at least get a seat with extra legroom?
Can you get an upgrade to business class or at least get a seat with extra legroom?
Your risk of DVT is higher than the average healthy person due to recent surgery, at the least I would expect your GP/ surgeon to advise aspirin and compression stockings. Make sure you drink lots of water and mobilise frequently and NO alcohol on the flight.
Seek immediate help if you suffer any calf pain/ shortness of breath/ chest pain.
Sitting with your knee flexed for long periods is not going to aid your rehab following surgery.
Seek immediate help if you suffer any calf pain/ shortness of breath/ chest pain.
Sitting with your knee flexed for long periods is not going to aid your rehab following surgery.
Don't bother with an aspirin - there is no evidence it prevents DVTs. The risk of swelling is mainly from sitting down for a prolonged period, not because of gas expansion this long after surgery. Good advice re compression stockings/flight socks. Keep hydrated, do leg exercises, move around the cabin etc etc.
goldblum said:
Why would your knee swell up at 35,000 ft? If the cabin's not pressurized you'll freeze to death before you notice any swelling.Lol.
Because the cabin isn't at atmospheric pressure?While the cabin is obviously pressurised (otherwise you would have a fair bit of trouble breathing, you wouldn't necessarily be cold though), it isn't to 1bar (which is what you get on the ground) hence the swelling...
Never wondered why your ears pop when flying?
Parsnip said:
Because the cabin isn't at atmospheric pressure?
While the cabin is obviously pressurised (otherwise you would have a fair bit of trouble breathing, you wouldn't necessarily be cold though), it isn't to 1bar (which is what you get on the ground) hence the swelling...
Never wondered why your ears pop when flying?
According to my watch (which tells me all kind of useless information including atmospheric pressure) it's pressurised to about 6000ft.While the cabin is obviously pressurised (otherwise you would have a fair bit of trouble breathing, you wouldn't necessarily be cold though), it isn't to 1bar (which is what you get on the ground) hence the swelling...
Never wondered why your ears pop when flying?
Parsnip said:
goldblum said:
Why would your knee swell up at 35,000 ft? If the cabin's not pressurized you'll freeze to death before you notice any swelling.Lol.
Because the cabin isn't at atmospheric pressure?While the cabin is obviously pressurised (otherwise you would have a fair bit of trouble breathing, you wouldn't necessarily be cold though), it isn't to 1bar (which is what you get on the ground) hence the swelling...
Never wondered why your ears pop when flying?
to your knee on a commercial flight as the cabins are roughly pressurized to a height of between 6 - 7,000ft.Ben Nevis is 4,500ft,and there are any number of ski
lifts in Europe above 3000 metres (c.9000ft),which tens of thousands use every season without suffering at all.
Actually I'd be interested to know how many people post operation HAVE suffered..
Maxf said:
I would have thought the number of people who ski immediately post ACL reconstruction is even smaller than the number of people who are affected during a flight. Stairs are a challenge 
Yes,absolutely.But it doesn't detract from the fact that 6 -7,000ft equivalent cabin pressure isn't very much..I'm curious that's all.I think you're only atincreased risk of DVT after an op when you fly because of sitting in the same position...nothing to do with cabin pressure.
You'd be surprised at the number of hardcore skiers/boarders on the slopes wearing substantial leg braces.One instructor I had from Ecole du ski
turned up first day in a full steel/leather brace!
Edited by goldblum on Thursday 10th March 14:01
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