Rehabilitation after knee arthroscopy: aftercare, exercises and when to call

Arthroscopy is a way of looking into and working on a joint through small cuts, so it is used for quite different jobs. Smoothing a frayed edge of cartilage is a lighter procedure than repairing a torn structure, and the recovery follows the job rather than the technique. The NHS captures this by saying full recovery can take from around 1 week to several months.

The practical consequence is that a friend who was back at work in days and your own slower progress are not comparable unless you had the same procedure. Ask the surgeon before you leave what was actually done, because that determines how you should rehabilitate.

The NHS gives a short list of things to do early on. Apply an ice pack, or a bag of frozen peas, wrapped in a tea towel for 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Keep the leg raised when sitting, to help reduce swelling. Wear a compression stocking if you were given one, and keep the dressings as dry as possible.

Pain and stiffness are expected at first, and the NHS notes that painkillers such as paracetamol can help. If your discharge sheet recommends other pain relief, follow that, and read the packaging for any medicine you take.

The NHS says you will usually be given a written recovery plan before the operation, covering when you can return to work, exercise and driving. If you have not been given one, ask for it at the pre-operative assessment, since it is much easier to plan time off before surgery than after.

You may also be given exercises and be referred to a physiotherapist for a few weeks. The exercises matter because the muscles around the knee, especially at the front of the thigh, tend to weaken quickly after any knee surgery. Doing the exercises gently and regularly is usually better than an occasional hard session that leaves the knee swollen the next day.

The NHS wording is worth reading closely. You should be able to drive again when you have fully recovered and can do an emergency stop, and that will usually be at least 2 weeks after the operation. You must not drive straight after a general anaesthetic.

In other words, two weeks is the earliest point, not a promise. The safe test is whether you can press the brake pedal hard and quickly without pain or hesitation. Your insurer may expect you to follow your surgeon's advice, so it is sensible to keep a note of what you were told.

A knee that is still swollen after activity several weeks on is common after procedures that involve repair or trimming of tissue. It does not automatically mean something has gone wrong. The pattern to note is direction: improving, stuck, or worsening.

• If swelling flares after every walk, reduce the load and tell your physiotherapist, who can adjust the plan.

• If the knee feels as if it is catching or giving way in the same way as before the operation, mention it at your follow-up.

• If you are unsure whether pain is normal, ask for advice rather than pushing through.

The NHS lists complications of arthroscopy as rare, and includes a reaction to the anaesthetic, joint pain, numbness or tingling, blood clots and infection. It advises contacting NHS 111, or the hospital where you had the procedure, if you have the following.

• A high temperature.

• Severe pain in the joint.

• Discharge from the wound that looks infected.

• Severe swelling or redness.

• Numbness or tingling after the operation.

The NHS meniscus guidance notes that in many areas you can reach community musculoskeletal physiotherapy without a GP referral. If your hospital does not arrange physiotherapy and you are struggling to regain movement or strength, it is reasonable to ask your GP or local service what is available, and to take your operation note with you so the physiotherapist knows what was done.