I would like to get some opinions from others on recovery time from knee arthoscopy. Ive got a partial meniscal tear that will be worked on later this week. I’m wondering how long until resuming swimming, then riding then running. Im not too worried as Im really focussed on IMC in August, and will try to be somewhat ready for Buffalo springs in late JUne. Otherwise Im game for a slow easy recovery and not rushing things.
Anyone…?
Hazy on the memory as had knee arthroscopy back in jan 1992 when I used to run, swim, gym. I followed the physio instructions and did all the exercises/hydrotherapy that was assigned. Wasn’t allowed to run for 12 weeks. After 6 months I was fitter than ever before. Was only allowed to do frontcrawl. Going on the exercise bike was part of the recovery process.
I’ve read articles on professional atheletes having a much quicker recovery btw.
I had arthroscopic surgery for a meniscal tear on 11/3/03 and am currently recovering on schedule (according to my PT and OS). Recovery time for a meniscal tear depends most on what is done once the doc gets inside the knee and can range from 3 weeks to 4+ months.
If you have trimming or removal of the meniscus you should be on your feet in a few days and start PT in a week. You should be able to swim and bike (on trainer) in a week or so, running a little after that. A fit person should have a full recovery in 3-6 weeks.
If you have meniscal repair, where they suture the torn pieces back together, recovery time is much longer, I had this in November. The meniscus heals very slowly so I was in a leg immobilizer for 4 weeks, no bending at the knee. When I got out of the immobilizer my left quad was a few inches smaller then my right and I could only bend my leg about 20deg. At about 8 weeks post-op I had enough range-of-motion to spin on a bike and was told I could swim, crawl only and don’t kick to hard. I’m now 10 weeks post-op, I don’t see my self running for 3-4 more weeks and that will be on a treadmill only. I was told I should be able to return to all activity about 4-4.5 months post-op.
The surgeon most likely won’t know what procedure will be performed until he is inside the knee. I am told that the long recovery time for the repair is worth it in the long run because I will have my meniscus. A repair can only be performed on some types of tears and is the less common of the two procedures. If you have meniscal repair I don’t think IMC will be possiblem but with removal you shlould have no problems.
Good luck and let is know what is done.
Andrew
What NJBiker said is exactly correct. You will not know the extent of the tear and following recovery protocol until you get in there.
I had arthroscopy on a meniscus tear in May 02. I had no formal PT. I was able to ride my mountain bike (with very elevated seat) 5 days later and was completely back on the road bike within nine days. Running was a bit slower to recover but was running within two and a half - three weeks. I completed IMC in August 02 with no detrimental affects whatsoever.
Best of luck with your procedure.
Thanks for the replys, from the MRI, the surgeon thought it was a minor tear, and has me scheduled for PT onthe second day, so maybe he’s optimistic. Sounds like racing in the summer will be no problem, though spring races may be pushing it a bit. Maybe Il keep some of the pain meds around for the last 10 K of IMC later this summer. 
Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure in which the inside of the joint can be evaluated and treated using surgical instruments placed into the joint through small incisions (portals) measuring one centimeter or less (less than half an inch). The arthroscopic equipment consists of the scope and small surgical instruments which allow the surgeon to probe, cut, or shave tissues inside the knee. The scope itself is a small tube 4-5 millimeters in diameter (smaller than a pencil) which has a fiberoptic light source and a magnifying lens. Attached to this is a camera and cable which projects the image from inside the knee onto a television screen or monitor.
Knee arthroscopy, Cartilage procedures
I had a partial meniscus tear in 2007. Had approx 30% of meniscus removed in Dec 2007 and was up walking around right after surgery, it never hindered any of my day to day activities. Did about 1 month of physical therapy gradually increasing strength and range of motion. For me personally it seemed to take almost 4 months until my range of motion was back to normal and was able to do any hard runs and feel as it had before. The only effects I notice now is that it will swell up if i do any runs longer than about 10 miles, but with a little ice it goes down and is fine the next day.
Depends on a lot of stuff–even if all they are doing is a clip. How much they take, where it is, what else is going on in there, and then…you. Seriously. Everyone recovers differently–even from teh exact same procedure/amount/area/etc… Some people are running again in a few weeks, others longer. I’ve had quite a few scopes, and the follow up has varied wildly on each.
This thread is almost 8yrs old, people. The spammer just bumped it.
What the hell… Those spamming bitches. Jut in case everyone was wondering…the knees are great! Its been 7years now. thanks for pulling mynthread back up,makes me feel wanted and loved.
Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure in which the inside of the joint can be evaluated and treated using surgical instruments placed into the joint through small incisions (portals) measuring one centimeter or less (less than half an inch). The arthroscopic equipment consists of the scope and small surgical instruments which allow the surgeon to probe, cut, or shave tissues inside the knee. The scope itself is a small tube 4-5 millimeters in diameter (smaller than a pencil) which has a fiberoptic light source and a magnifying lens. Attached to this is a camera and cable which projects the image from inside the knee onto a television screen or monitor. The knee joint is filled with Sterile fluid and the scope is moved around the inside of the knee joint by the surgeon so that various areas and structures can be seen and evaluated on the monitor.
Cruciate ligament reconstruction, Meniscus surgery