Had an appointment with a specialist yesterday regarding my knee. He is arranging an arthroscopy to assess the full extent of the damage and whether or not it can be repaired. It has been scheduled for 8-12 weeks time apparently.

Apparently test are showing some problems with my femur and complications regarding my previous ACL repair and damage to the bone so this needs to be assessed too.

Anyone here had one of these arthroscopy things? Was it a one day job at the hospital? How long before you were back to normal again?

i had a couple of these basically they drill a couple of holes in your leg and shove a wee camera in and prod it around and one drain hole ,after three days i was back at work on light duty. if you get done first thing you get out at teatime but if you are late afternoon normally they kept you in till you stop being sick

I had a bilateral hernia done and it was really easy. I was back on my bike in about a week. Also had surgery on plantar fascia that way and recovery again was less than a week. I would opt for it anytime it can be effectively done that way—so much less intrusive.

Nothing to it. Had 3, which is more than one op per knee (in case you were wondering whether I was some sort of freak of nature. I am, but not in the knee area). Usually been back on the bike within a fortnight

It all depends what they do when in surgery. If it is purely an assessment then you should recover fast, a week or two. However if they start cutting and trimming it could take much longer. I had a partial trimming of my lateral meniscus which was damaged in November 09 and can still not walk or ride my bike without pain now.

The specialist said something about it being for assessment purposes however if he feels he can repair the ligament while assessing then he will do.

Im hoping it can be sorted quickly and easily, although the specialist was banding around phrases such as "long term care", "ongoing treatment" and "major complications". Im hoping he was just arse covering and presenting me with a worst case scenario 😯

I had an assessment arthroscopy a couple of years ago. I went into theatre about 9.30 and was back at home by teatime. FWIR, I had an 'ice cuff/collar' type thing on it and was laid up in bed a lot for about 2 or 3 days. (I was hobbling about for a few more days – but some of that was put on for the wife, so that she'd bring me food 😀 ) Stitches out a week after op and gentle towpath/disused railway rides soon after that. Had to have quite a lot of physio, but I think that was partly due to dislocated kneecap, rather than arthroscopy.

Good luck with it.

Repairing a torn cartilage for me. Under GA for just under an hour. No ill effects afterwards. In and out in 4 hours with no pain. First few days off work and kept leg elevated to prevent any swelling. Following surgeon's instructions I did easy walking to start with then build up the mileage. Started third week doing easy canal or road riding working up to 20 miles. Saw surgeon during 4th week and he gave me the go ahead to start off-road cycling again. The delay was to ensure I didn't fall off onto the knee. Been fine ever since.

Hope it works out ok for you

It all depends what they do when in surgery. If it is purely an assessment then you should recover fast, a week or two. However if they start cutting and trimming it could take much longer. I had a partial trimming of my lateral meniscus which was damaged in November 09 and can still not walk or ride my bike without pain now.

shaun20…that is a long time..personally i'd get back to physio and speak to them, even ask the surgeon what he/she thinks as that is not normal..not being able to walk without pain almost a year on?

After each of my 4 Arthroscopies (each with lots of trimming and the last even with the ligaments needing fixed) i was walking and cycling pain free weeks after..

Had one way back, miniscus trimmed, and a lateral release, that was in January (95) competed in the World Long Course Tri Champs that Oct.
Just follow your Physio advice, and also look at other specialists advice as well

I had one, no further work was carried out. I was in and out of hospital in a day. It was fine for walking, no pain what so ever post op. Riding gently on road a few weeks in, just a few miles, skin felt tight around the knee.

The knee felt a bit weak and vulnerable for a while, whilst mtb'ing. I didn't get back to my pre-op fitness for a couple of years if at all.

In retrospect, I wish I'd pushed for an MRI scan, but the consultant was adament he knew what was wrong, but he was wrong.

scotia – I have been back several times to the specialist, in the end they told me to "just get on with it" the exact words. After seeking a second opinion and MRI they discovered a small tear still in my meniscus which should have been trimmed first time round. Now I do not know what to do? 🙁

3 here, over a 2 yr period around 06 – 08. Hobbled out without crutches same day (2nd time has both knees done at once, with a bit of trimming). Back on bike within a month. Knees still hurt but contollable through stretching/strengtheing exercises etc

HI,

I am a physical therapist. Generally arthroscopic surgery is an outpatient procedure. You might be on crutches for a couple of days. Back to walking 'normally' within a week. Use ice, easy range of motion, and strengthening exercises to get back on track. If you're not sure what to do, visit a PT. For some exercises you can visit:

http://www.joint-pain-solutions.com/meniscus-tear-exercises.html

Hopefully they will not find much other than some meniscus involvement. Good luck.

~JTrempe PT, ATC

had mine done 5 month ago its worse than it was before in one part of the knee and better in the other part 🙁 after folowing every peace of advice from phisio etc i am back to hospital in sept

I've had arthroscopies on my hips, I'd avoid that if you can…..

The patient's leg is strapped into a traction table that gives distraction of the hip joint

😯