Recovery after an arthroscopy depends on what you had done and your general health.
Some people feel better after a few days. Others may not fully recover for months.
After the operation
If you had a general anaesthetic, you need to stay in the recovery room for a few hours. Depending on what time you had the operation, you may need to stay at the hospital over night.
Tell the nurse if you have pain. They can give you painkillers.
Before you leave, you may see a physiotherapist. They will show you exercises to do at home.
You may have a sling, splint or crutches to support and protect the joint while you recover. Some people have a pump or compression bandage to help improve their blood flow.
Recovery advice
You'll probably feel tired and light-headed after having a general anaesthetic. You will need someone to take you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery. Most people will recover from the effects of the anaesthetic within 48 hours.
Make sure you raise the joint and apply ice packs. This will help reduce the swelling when you get home. Do any exercises you were advised to do.
Cover dressings with a plastic bag when having a bath or shower. This will help keep them dry. If your dressings get wet or fall off, they'll need to be replaced. You can usually remove dressings after 5 to 10 days.
Your wounds should start to heal within a few days. If you have stitches that do not dissolve, you will need to have these removed in 1 to 2 weeks. You can usually go to your GP for this.
You'll have a follow-up appointment a few weeks after the surgery. Your surgeon will talk to you about the operation, recovery and any other treatment you may need.
Returning to normal activity
Your surgeon will talk to you about your recovery and returning to normal activity.
They may tell you:
- how long they expect your recovery to take
- what light activities and exercises you can do
- when you can go back to strenuous physical activity, such as sport and heavy lifting - this can take up to 6 months
- how much time you are likely to need off work - depending on how physical your job is
- when you can drive again
Generally, you are ready to drive again when you can:
- drive without pain
- safely make an emergency stop
This can take a few weeks or months after surgery.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP or the clinic where you had surgery if you have:
- a high temperature (fever)
- severe or increasing pain
- severe or increasing redness or swelling
- discoloured or foul-smelling discharge from your wounds
- numbness or tingling
These problems could be a sign of a complication of surgery, such as an infection or nerve damage.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
