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I'm booked in for knee surgery over the summer, it's an uncommon procedure involving patella realignment.
The consultant seems to think I can get away with 2.5 weeks off work, then return (I work mainly from home, just need a laptop and phone).
However, reading some blogs, some people highlight that you also need "mental" recovery, so shouldn't rush back, especially as there is quite a lot of pain to deal with to start with.
Obviously every case is different, but did you find that your surgeon's advice for time off work matched the reality?
Yes
3 weeks
Patella realignment? Sounds horrible. I had mine nailed in place to stop it dislocating many years ago. Was on crutches for about 6 weeks. If you work at home crutches shouldnt be too much of an issue but sitting upright for long periods could be. I was off for about 3 weeks following acl but my work needed me hoto be mobile.
What sort of mental recovery do you need from knee surgery?
I took the recommended 2 weeks after an arthroscopy but could have gone back earlier but was told I wasn’t insured to drive.
I had 4 off after an athroscopy many years ago, needed it too, was only just able to drive again at the 4 weeks mark for work.
Re mental recovery, just the fact that you are in a good deal of pain for the first week apparently, and also your sleeping patterns can be affected, so to include a week of just being off and recalibrating before jumping back into phone calls with clients.
I'm thinking it has to be three weeks.
@anagellis, it's to do with a similar condition, due to dislocations and growing pain. They basically cut the bone connected to the tendon connected to the patella and screw it in a cm downloads so the patella tracks better.
They basically cut the bone connected to the tendon connected to the patella and screw it in a cm downloads so the patella tracks better.
Sounds similar, mine was in 1994 ish so I'm sure its improved but it was ****ing horrible. I've had a knee arthroscopy, acl repair and 3 hip arthroscopies and that one certainly hurt the most. Keep saying 10 till you get the good stuff 😉
Wait and see - you might just need the rest. Things might be different if you don't have sick pay.
If worried, you could just respond to urgent emails only. Been off a few times with surgery, just don't rush it going back.
Not at all the same, but after my partial knee replacement last summer sleep was a total nightmare even with the meds. so there was definitely a period of 'mental' recovery just from the lack of sleep and overall stress from the op and recovery process, not just the knee. Was off 16 weeks, but had a setback at 10weeks.
Had an arthroscopy maybe 10years ago and was off 4 weeks and still limited in activity for a bit longer, but was on my feet working in a school with stairs etc then. Don't remember that being such an issue other than the actual knee recovery.
I was bed bound for 3 months after an abscess near my spine, the frustration of daily pain took a toll mentally. Try and focus on maintaining a healthy diet (very easy to fall into the trap of snacking), putting on weight through lack of movement and comfort eating exacerbates the frustration further.
No booze, healthy eating, get outside in the fresh air and try reading over trawling the internet / watching TV.
Getting up earlier than normal, so you’re naturally more tired towards the end of the day helps get a decent healthy sleeping pattern too.
Appreciate the above may seem obvious, but it will aid the recovery and prevent any overspill into your mental well being.
Wish you a speedy recovery pal!
Don't trust the surgeon, mine told me I could walk after an arthroscopy. I could because I was high as a f****** kite (as probably was everyone else he saw walk out). The next two weeks are a codeine induced blur
I'm not a good person to ask either, I drove into work with my (left, so only had to deal with gears) arm in plaster the day after surgery to fix the break!