What is Recovery like After Knee Surgery?

Many patients have questions about the typical recovery after knee surgery, when they’ll be able to complete daily tasks on their own, and when they’ll be exercising again.

What Type of Knee Surgeries are There?

Surgery may be needed to repair a knee injury to the ACL, MCL, PCL, LCL, or meniscus. Or you may be undergoing knee surgery to repair damage caused by arthritis if nonsurgical treatments have not been effective. Your treatment may include cartilage restoration, or a partial or full knee replacement procedure.

Read more about treatments for knee pain and injury.

How Long is the Hospital Stay?

The majority of patients who undergo a knee procedure performed by Dr. Fuchs can go home the same day, even for a knee replacement. Occasionally knee replacement patients will spend a night in the hospital and may need assistance moving their feet, standing up and sitting down, walking, going to the bathroom, or showering. They’ll be sent home with either a walker or crutches to help you move around.

How Should I Recover at Home?

You’ll be able to move around, so it’s important your home is easy to navigate. It’s best to move around every couple of hours during the day and do physical therapy to regain strength and mobility after surgery, and it’s recommended to continue outpatient therapy for at least a couple of months.

You’ll have a post-operative appointment with Dr. Fuchs about a week after your procedure, as well as 6 weeks later.

When Can I Get Back to an Active Lifestyle?

Your physical therapist may recommend a combination of stretching and strengthening exercises to do a few times a day to get back to the level of activity you were at before surgery. It’s important to warm up before exercising, stretch before any other exercises, and stop if you’re feeling pain.

After three to six weeks you may be able to do low impact activities, including walking, swimming, cycling, golf, or yoga. You may not be able to resume higher impact sports like running or tennis until six months after your knee surgery.