+ What do I do with my dressing?

• Cover it when you shower for the first 3 days and change it if it gets wet or dirty. You can remove the dressing after day 3.

+ What are my restrictions?

• You can put your full weight on your leg
• Use crutches for balance
• No high impact exercise for at least 6 weeks

+ Do I have stitches? When do they come out??

• You have 2 stitches that will be taken out at your first post-operative visit. Don’t worry, they don’t hurt when they come out!

+ Can I put lotions or anything on my incisions?

• No. Please do not put any lotions, creams, oils, antibiotic ointments or anything on the incisions until they are perfectly healed and the scab is gone.

+ When can I shower?

• You can shower immediately if you cover the dressing for the first 3 days.
• After 3 days, you can remove the dressing and let the water run down over the incisions.
• DO NOT scrub the incisions or submerge them underwater.

+ Will I have a brace?

• No, not typically for a standard knee arthroscopy.

+ What do I take for pain?

• You will be given a prescription for narcotic pain medication after surgery (usually Norco/Hydrocodone).
• However, Ibuprofen and Tylenol work great. You can take start taking Ibuprofen every 8 hours starting immediately after surgery to minimize the amount of narcotic you will need to take as long as you have no stomach ulcer issues, kidney issues, and you are not on any blood thinners. We have patients who do not need any of the narcotic, but everybody reacts differently to surgery.
• The Norco has 325 mg of Tylenol in it already, so if you are taking Tylenol, just be sure that you do not exceed 3000 mg of it in a 24 h period.

+ What medications will I be on?

• Aspirin - to prevent blood clots. Take daily for about 2-4 weeks
• An opioid for pain, usually Norco (Hydrocodone)
• Zofran - for nausea
• Colace - stool softener

+ Will I have a nerve block?

• No

+ Will I have an ice machine after surgery?

• Insurance typically will not pay for an ice machine for a knee arthroscopy. You will be sent home with a cold gel pad, and you can ask the surgery center about renting an ice machine. However, ice packs or bags of frozen peas work great for this operation.

+ When do I follow up after my surgery?

• Between 7-14 days afterwards. This appointment should already be made for you, but you can adjust it if needed.

+ When should I start going to physical therapy?

• Not everybody needs to go to physical therapy following a knee scope.
• It can be helpful, and if you choose to go, then you can start immediately, the sooner the better. You will have all the paperwork you need for PT when you leave the hospital.

+ How long will I be going to physical therapy?

• For the next month or so.

+ How frequently do I need to go to physical therapy?

• 1-2 times/week initially, but this will be spaced out over time as you progress.

+ What are some red flags after my surgery that I should be looking for?

• Fever over 101.4 F
• Calf swelling or severe calf pain
• Increasing redness around the incision
• Pus draining from the incision. It is normal for some drainage from the incisions for a few days after surgery.
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing

+ How long is the recovery?

• As a general rule, you will be feeling good at the 6 week mark and really good at the 3 month mark. You can improve from this surgery for up to 6 months.

+ When can I sleep on my side?

• You can sleep on your side as soon as it feels comfortable to do so, you won’t damage anything

+ When can I swim?

• You CANNOT get into a pool or hot tub until your incisions are perfectly healed, usually around 4 weeks. After that, you may get into a pool and swim

+ When can I run?

• Usually around 6 weeks

+ When can I return to sports?

• You will work with us and your physical therapist to determine this, but it’s usually around 2-3 months. You might be asked to complete a functional sport test in PT before returning to sports

+ Will I play sports in a brace?

• Not usually.

+ When can I drive?

• When you can fully weight bear and are not on any pain medication. Be sure to practice before driving again.

+ When can I go back to work?

• Depends on your job. If you can perform your job while abiding by the restrictions, you can go back as soon as you feel able to.
• We recommend not making any important decisions while on the pain medication.