Below you will find detailed
instructions to guide you through recovery from your arthroscopic surgery.
It is important that any concerns or questions you have be addressed to
your doctor. Following your doctor’s recommendations will help speed your
recovery and rehabilitation process.
The
Day of Surgery
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Following the surgical procedure,
a local anesthetic or numbing medicine was placed inside your knee. This
should provide pain relief for three to four hours. Be sure not to strain
the knee while it is numb. Also, be sure you take the pain medicines
as soon as your knee begins to hurt.
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Ice and elevation are important
for the first 48 hours after surgery. Be sure to elevate the ankle higher
than the knee, and keep the knee higher than the heart. Keep ice applied.
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Crutches are provided, but you
may put weight on your affected knee as tolerated unless you are told differently
by your surgeon.
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You may shower as long as the
dressing is kept clean and dry.
Day
One After Surgery
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You should begin your exercises
which consist of range of motion exercises, and extension and strengthening
exercises for the knee. Your doctor should have already reviewed these
exercises with you and provided a handout illustrating these exercises.
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Over the next one to two days,
you should start weaning off of the crutches. Once again, put only as much
weight as you can tolerate on the affected knee.
-
Continue ice, elevation, and
pain medicines as needed, or as directed by your doctor.
Day
Two After Surgery
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The dressing covering your incision
will be changed today. First, remove the outer wrap and cotton wrap from
around the knee. Directly over the incisions are stitches or small pieces
of paper tape, called steri-strips. Be sure to leave these in place as
the dressing is removed. Bandages may be applied over these stitches or
steri-strips. A knee sleeve may be worn if needed, or an elastic bandage
may be used to apply some pressure,which may help limit swelling. You need
to keep your knee clean and dry when bathing for at least two weeks after
the surgery.
Two
Weeks After Surgery
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You will need to schedule an
appointment to see your doctor two weeks after your surgery. At this appointment,
you should be walking without crutches and should have between 0 to 120
degrees range of motion in the knee. You should also be working on regaining
strength in the quadriceps.
Call
Your Physician If:
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Your temperature is greater
than 101.5 degrees, or you experience persistent chills.
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There is persistent numbness
and tingling in the foot. The dressing may need to be loosened. This may
be done by unwrapping the dressing, or by splitting the dressing down the
side with a pair of scissors. If the numbness and tingling does not improve
after this, you need to talk to your doctor.
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You experience bleeding greater
than 6 inches in diameter. Bleeding that spreads less than 6 inches in
diameter may be treated by reinforcing the dressing, ice, and elevation.
-
You have constant severe pain
which is unrelieved with medications, elevation, and ice.
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