Knee arthroscopy recovery

[scrw.]

Obviously depends on what they find when they get in there, but for a run of the mill cartilage trim how long before I can start back on my road bike?
I have the TT in the garage to get me going gently, just don't want to be missing the summer too long

What are people experience on recovery from this op?

Cheers

[200Plus Club]

3 weeks at least at a guess. It's painful after for a week at least then starts to ease up. Driving a car with clutch is worse! Had 3 of the buggers done. One knee I had a bucket handle tear and a clean up yrs later. Other knee had one trim. Much better for it tho!

[scrw.]

luckily on the driving side it is my left knee and all my cars are auto
Will have to see what physio says afterwards I suppose, don't want to be say on my ass too long though

[200Plus Club]

First week.is worst, very sore and stiff and usually on crutches. Just take it steady and don't rush it but they give you some physio type stuff to ease into.
When I tore mine first time I was on crutches 2 months and waited 13 months for the op!

[Wacky Racer]

Depends what you have done, and how invasive the procedure was.

I was told I would need crutches for a week, I was back at work two days later without them.

That was seven years ago.

Still get the odd mild pain, but overall it was a great success.

Others have not been so lucky.

[scrw.]

Did this one in April, sports physio person has kept me going, along with biking. Luckily (?) mine is locking infrequently but when it does I am off the bike for a week and off my feet for 2 days. From seeing GP (tried to avoid surgery until it became clear it was needed) it was 4 weeks to see a surgeon, and 3 week to op date (could have had it done in 2 weeks TBH).

I am just annoyed it is done under a general anesthetic, would like to see what they were up to.

[RyanTank]

as someone with blown knees from a very early age and developing arthritis in them at the tender age of 35 due to cartilage annihilation and continued high impact sports, absolutely follow the physios advice! keep the impact stuff as low as possible for the first 3-4 weeks, lots of non weight bearing exercise usually swimming or doing the rotation/movement exercises in the pool at least.
keep the cycling as light and minimal as you can manage, there may still be lose debris in the knee post op and can cause issues. the last thing to do is cause damage to the swollen meniscus and muscles in the knee during the healing process.

I spent 20 yrs loosely following physio and doctors advice as I just wanted to get straight back to playing sport after my ops and injuries, that my knees are know buggered and have been advised that a plastic one may be needed before i hit 45. Unless i slow it down and look after them now

[200Plus Club]

Once it's all settled down you'll be glad you got it done though if you get locking. Mine don't do that now and I'm fine hiking miles whereas before I was fubarred coming down hills etc.

[scrw.]

Well it seems I had 3 tears! both medial and lateral menicus tears and a tear in the catilage on the femur too.12 hours after op and its starting to get sore. Have some exercises from the physio to do before a real session next week.

[200Plus Club]

Good luck, take it steady.

[scrw.]

First real physio session last friday, just quad and hamstring exercises to do at the moment, nothing weight bearing. Physio decyphered the surgeons notes for me (he did speak to me after the op but was still a bit out of it) I had large bucket handle splits to both sides of the cartilage and achip out of the femur cartilage that was flushed out. Been told it can take up to 4 weeks for the fluid to get fully back to normal after the op and I shouldn't do any hard work on a bike until then. Tried to turn the pedals backwards on my bike on the TT last night as suggested by the physio, can't get enough bend in my knee for a full rotation yet Seems it will be end of August before I am on the road again at least :-/

Anyone know why I would have a blood blister on the side of my knee? I assume they clamp you knee when doing the op and it pinched the skin? not an issue, its gone now.

2 days after op when the dressings got changes - pasty white leg warning....





Owch by Old_Chad, on Flickr

[louiebaby]

I had a smaller op done a few years ago. Just a single tear. I had a good recovery and did another year of high level rowing afterwards.

I did an awful lot of swimming (front crawl, good leg push off) to maintain cardio fitness. Check with your doc, don't take the word of a chap off the internet.

I was swimming within a week, and back on the rowing machine in about 3 weeks I think. It took a couple of months to be back to proper training and another couple to be back to something like the right fitness. I took it steady, and have not had anything recur.

I think this was about 12 years ago now. I still have the video from the keyhole camera somewhere.

[scrw.]

First ride out on the road yesterday and no pain at all So back on the bike proper after 8 weeks, just in time for autumn, good job i got a long sleeved PH jersey.
No video, but have a picture or two, apparently a good example of a bucket handled tear

2017-09-02_10-46-35 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

[200Plus Club]

scrw. said:

First ride out on the road yesterday and no pain at all So back on the bike proper after 8 weeks, just in time for autumn, good job i got a long sleeved PH jersey.
No video, but have a picture or two, apparently a good example of a bucket handled tear

2017-09-02_10-46-35 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Exactly what I had many years ago. I've had to have it washed out and cleaned again since but touch wood it's still fine. Enjoy your bike!