Skip to Main Content
Care calculator »  knee arthroscopic drainage and irrigation »

What is the recovery time for arthroscopic knee surgery?

Recovery from an arthroscopy takes time, especially when the procedure is done on a joint such as the knee, which is under high stress. The exact schedule regarding your ability to put weight on the knee will depend on your specific case, but a common return to activity is outlined below:

 

  • 0-2 days: total non-weight bearing with crutches and a knee brace
  • 2-7 days: range of motion exercises with no weight bearing
  • Around 1 week: return to non-physical work with crutches, some weight bearing
  • Around 3 weeks: return to full weight bearing with a knee brace
  • Around 4-6 weeks: removal of knee brace

The recovery from arthroscopy requires you to follow a physical therapy plan and attend follow-up visits. This is critical to make sure that the leg maintains its strength and the knee keeps its full range of motion.

What is knee arthroscopic drainage and irrigation?

How do you drain an infected knee?

How long does a knee washout take?

Do you need crutches after an arthroscopy?

Is arthroscopic knee surgery successful?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.