Scheduled for knee arthroscopy next week

BC_Explorer wrote:
Just had right knee arthroscopic surgery this past Thursday to repair cartilage and also had holes drilled in the bone to improve blood circulation.

Walked out of the hospital the same day with no crutches and did not have to take any meds at all. Sunday afternoon, walked (slowly) 1 km around a local lake (flat, soft trail.) Yesterday, 15 minutes on the bike trainer. Today, 95% of swelling is gone and knee is about 85% functional. Still need to stay away from deep knee bends and going down stairs is a bit slow.

In order to prepare for the surgery, I spent the last 4 months x once per day on the bike trainer in intermediate pedaling (80-90 rpm,) building up the muscles on the lower thighs and around the knee area which I have attributed to the very fast recovery path. As for the bike training, I am a long time cyclist and shifting indoors to a bike trainer was an easy transition. Also age is factor (I am 49 years.) As everyone is different, your post up surgery results will vary as compared to mine or others.

Off to the Orthopedic Surgeon next week for a follow up and will be booking to have the left knee done as soon as possible.

Well, that's encouraging. My ortho says that if it's a simple cleanup and repair i'll be non-weight-bearing for 2 days. But if he has to do that hole puncturing(micro-fracturing, perhaps??) i'll be non-weight-bearing for 2 weeks. He'll probably order PT afterward--he's a big believer in PT and so am I.

I've been going to the YMCA 3-4 times a week and doing the recumbent bike a couple of miles. Walking the treadmill is not working out so well because of the severe arthritis in my foot. I'd love it if e could do something similar in the foot, but what I know of THAT surgery scares the bejeezus out of me. I'd have to be walking on my hands and knees before I'd have the foot done!