Full recovery from meniscus surgery can take anywhere from
six weeks to three months
. Your care after surgery may involve: Crutches to take stress off the knee as it heals.
How long will I be out of work after torn meniscus surgery?
How soon you can return to work depends on your job.
If you sit at work, you may be able to go back in 1 to 2 weeks
. But if you are on your feet at work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks. If you are very physically active in your job, it may take 3 to 6 months.
Will my knee ever be the same after meniscus surgery?
Knee Swelling after Meniscus Surgery
Swelling is an indicator of inflammation, which is part of the normal healing process after surgeries such as a meniscus repair.
It can sometimes persist for a few weeks following meniscal surgery
.
What is the fastest way to recover from meniscus surgery?
You will recover more quickly if you
carefully follow all your doctor’s instructions
. In your first days after surgery, you will need apply ice frequently and elevate your knee above your heart to help relieve swelling. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, to help your body heal.
Can a meniscus tear lead to knee replacement?
Conclusions: In patients with knee osteoarthritis
arthroscopic knee surgery with meniscectomy is associated with a three fold increase in the risk for future knee replacement surgery
.
Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?
Can you walk on a torn meniscus?
Whether you can walk on a torn meniscus will depend on the injury’s location and severity
— and perhaps also your own personal tolerance for pain. A slight tear might not feel so bad to you. You may very well be able to stand and walk on a leg that has a torn meniscus in the knee.
What can you not do after meniscus surgery?
Meniscus (cartilage) Repair patients cannot do
twisting, pivoting, squatting, deep knee bends or impact activities
for four months. It is vital that meniscus repair patients do not squat for at least four months after the repair.
Why do my knees hurt 3 months after meniscus?
Swelling, infection, inadequate rehabilitation, spontaneous osteonecrosis, and arthritis in the joint
are a few of the factors that cause continued knee pain after surgery.
Why is meniscus surgery so painful?
That’s where – because a portion of the meniscus has been removed, the bones around the knee joint “see” more stress when you walk and they react by becoming very inflamed and can actually at it’s worse, cause a stress fracture which is quite painful.
Why do my knees hurt 6 weeks after meniscus?
knee to be swollen, and your foot and ankle may be swollen as well due to gravity.
The fluid in your knee often remains there for at least 4-6 weeks after surgery until your body can reabsorb it
. This fluid will make your knee feel tight or stiff, especially with deep knee bending or squatting.
Is walking good after meniscus surgery?
As this healing occurs, patients progress towards bearing weight, increasing their range of motion, and leaving the knee brace behind. How quickly this progress occurs varies by surgeon, but a typical range is 4-8 weeks. Patients are usually out of the brace and
walking without crutches around 2-3 months
.
Is physical therapy needed after meniscus surgery?
Even if you have surgery,
you’ll need PT afterward
. Your doctor may send you to a physical therapist, but at the very least you’ll get PT exercises to do at home. This will help bring your knee back to full health.
How do you sleep after meniscus surgery?
Sleep on your back with the leg slightly elevated
Keeping the leg elevated (but not bent!) encourages healthy circulation, which helps keep pain and swelling in check. This position also helps you avoid bumping the incision site, which can lead to bleeding and infection.
Is torn meniscus surgery worth it?
Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not.
Surgery to repair tears may reduce the risk of long-term joint problems
.
Can you get arthritis after meniscus surgery?
Knee injury with traumatic meniscus tear followed by partial or total meniscectomy is associated with increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (OA)
3
. As compared to APM, the purpose of meniscus repair, beyond short time symptoms relief, is to reduce the risk of later knee OA by restoring meniscus function.
What happens if a meniscus tear is left untreated?
An untreated meniscus tear
can result in the frayed edge getting caught in the joint, causing pain and swelling
. It can also result in long term knee problems such as arthritis and other soft tissue damage.
Should you stay off a torn meniscus?
Rest.
You should stay off your feet until your meniscus tear is healed
. Don’t walk, run, or play sports because this can make your injury worse.
What aggravates a meniscus tear?
You’re most likely to injure your meniscus when
suddenly twisting or turning while your foot is stationary and planted
. You could injure your meniscus while playing sports, such as football, soccer, or baseball. You could also injure your meniscus off the field by lifting heavy boxes or slipping on a wet floor.
What should I avoid with a torn meniscus?
The only way to prevent and avoid a torn meniscus is to
avoid activities that cause the knees to twist, bend, or rotate in an extreme fashion
. If a person cannot avoid these activities, they should take as much care as possible while participating in them.
Do you lose weight after meniscus surgery?
BMI decreases were greater among knee replacement patients (21.5%) than hip replacement patients (16.9%), researchers reported. Overall,
the mean weight of the group dropped from 175 pounds to 172 pounds after surgery.
What is the difference between meniscus repair and Meniscectomy?
Meniscus Tear Removal vs.
There are two basic approaches to treating a torn meniscus:
removing the torn part of the meniscus (a procedure called a meniscectomy); repairing the meniscus by suturing the torn parts together
.
Can I climb stairs after meniscus surgery?
Avoid activities that cause pain or swelling to the knee
. Examples include climbing stairs or standing or sitting for long periods. Begin other activities as advised by your doctor.
Why does my knee still hurt 5 months after meniscus surgery?
Most meniscal surgeries (95%) are partial meniscectomies where part of the meniscus is actually removed, not just repaired
. Therefore, the remaining meniscus is now smaller and does not perform as well.
How do you know if your meniscus repair failed?
If the knee does well and there are no significant symptoms, then it follows that the tear must have healed up and the repair was successful.
If, however, a patient is unlucky enough to develop recurrent symptoms and ongoing problems with the knee
, then the assumption is that the attempted repair has failed.
Can you have meniscus surgery twice?
If that repaired meniscus does not heal, you will typically need a second surgery
, often just 9-12 months down the line.
