Everything you need to be ready

The answer is not universal, since each person is a unique individual with varying degrees of severity of their condition and each person responds differently to treatment. If you have a high demand job, you may require a longer recovery period. During your first post-operative visit, your return to your full activities will be discussed.

Once again, this is not a universal answer, and each person recovers at different rates. However, most of our patients can drive within one week from the surgery. We do not recommend that you attempt to drive while under the influence of narcotic medication or during the first 72 hours when you have the large bulky dressing on your leg. Once this is removed, you can take a short test drive with someone else by your side. It is recommended you have someone drive you to an empty parking lot and take a short test drive to determine if it is safe for you to drive. Remember, that your decision not only affects your safety, but the safety of your passengers, and the other people on the road.

If you had a normal arthroscopic procedure, crutches are optional. Unless you are instructed otherwise, you may only need to use the crutches or a cane until your muscle strength is strong enough to safely ambulate. For most of our patients this is within the first 24 hours. We have provided you with a prescription for a pair of crutches and, if needed, crutch training. We suggest you use them for your own safety and wean yourself off them when you feel confident and safe in your ambulation.

• Your appetite may be poor. Drink plenty of fluids to keep from getting dehydrated. Your desire for solid food will return.
• You may have difficulty sleeping. This is normal. Try not to sleep or nap too much during the day.
• Pain medication contains narcotics, which promote constipation. Use stool softeners or laxatives if absolutely necessary.

• Take your pain medicine every 4-6 hours for the first day or two
• Gradually wean yourself from prescription medication to Tylenol. You may take two extra strength Tylenol in place of your prescription medication up to four times per day.
• Change your position every 45 minutes throughout the day.
• Use ice to assist in pain control. Do not use more than 20 minutes at a time each hour.
• If swelling in the operative leg is bothersome, elevate the leg for short periods of time throughout the day. After surgery, it is very normal for the extremity to swell. Gravity is a great way to reduce this swelling since all fluids tend to move to seek the lowest force of gravity. This means your legs have to be higher than your heart.  It is normally recommended that your legs have to at least 10 cm with the hip bent no more than 45 degrees and the knee bent at 20 degrees. This can be accomplished with the use of a large couch cushion and a smaller bed pillow. Place the larger couch cushion on your bed followed by a standard pillow from your bed on top of the cushion. You should elevate your leg at least twice a day while awake. And during most of the night for the first 2 weeks after surgery. Some patients require more, but this is a bare minimum. Simple ankle pump exercises and calf stretching exercises can help mobilize excessive fluid and stagnant blood in your legs to reduce the chance of a blood clot. These should be done at least 10 times every hour while awake until you are able to walk normally.

• Sudden chest pain
• Difficult and/or rapid breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Excessive sweating
• Confusion
• Two readings of temperature over 101
• Pain not controlled with other measures such as elevation and icing
• Excessive swelling causing extreme tightness and pain
• Sudden change in color, although minor color changes are normal