Knee Arthroscopy

ellie2610

Hi - I am new to this forum but I am due to have a knee arthroscopy in July to see if my kneecap is smashed or not. I was wondering what to expect from this procedure? If it alleviates the pain and movement, or lack of, then great.

joanlawson

Hi Ellie

Welcome to the site. I wish I had found it before I had the operation, because so many kind people offer very good advice.

I had arthroscopy last Dec. It was partly for diagnostic reasons and partly to clean up the knee joint. I had a local anaesthetic which made me numb from the waist down, but I was also given a sedative so I have no recollection of the operation. I think they like to use local because it is safer and the recovery afterwards is quicker. I was treated as a day case, which is usual.

I had two small incisions, one each side of the knee, and they put in a tiny camera to look around. They also washed out the joint to get rid of any debris in it. Afterwards, my knee was all bandaged up and felt a bit painful and stiff for a few days. I was able to walk, but I think I would have been better to use a stick at first. The physio didn't mention anything about that, but I think some people even have crutches for the first week. I was given exercises to do every day, and it is important to do these.

I was told that the arthritis was much worse than they had thought, and that I will need a knee replacement, but I decided to wait a while to see how I progressed. At first, I thought the arthroscopy had possibly made things worse, but after a few weeks, I began to feel the benefits of it. My knee is still a bit painful and swollen, but it is better than before the op. so I am not rushing into having a replacement. My advice would be to take it easy for quite a while afterwards, and don't overdo things as it can take a while to heal.

I'm sure that others on the site will tell you more about arthroscopy. I hope it will be a success for you.

Joan

bailey27

Hi
I jad a knee arthroscopy 3 weeks ago and am almost 100% back to normal. I could walk pretty muich straight afterwards albeit a bit slower. I had a fantatstic recovery considering they repaired the cartidge, removed some of the fat pad (I also had fat pad impingement syndrome) and they also cleaned it out. I am chuffed to bits at how it went. When I came around in recovery I ddint feel unwell as in other surgeries it was more like I had had a good nights sleep.
I hope your goes aswell as mine did. You just have to remember to take it easy afterwards and don't rudh things. I am partial to rushing about and thinking I am ok then setting myself back, I have since learnt the hard way!
Good luck and welcome!

ellie2610

Thank you Joan. As usual, it is the fear of the unknown but your response has been very informative. Will let you know later how I get on.
Ellie

joanlawson wrote:

Hi Ellie

Welcome to the site. I wish I had found it before I had the operation, because so many kind people offer very good advice.

I had arthroscopy last Dec. It was partly for diagnostic reasons and partly to clean up the knee joint. I had a local anaesthetic which made me numb from the waist down, but I was also given a sedative so I have no recollection of the operation. I think they like to use local because it is safer and the recovery afterwards is quicker. I was treated as a day case, which is usual.

I had two small incisions, one each side of the knee, and they put in a tiny camera to look around. They also washed out the joint to get rid of any debris in it. Afterwards, my knee was all bandaged up and felt a bit painful and stiff for a few days. I was able to walk, but I think I would have been better to use a stick at first. The physio didn't mention anything about that, but I think some people even have crutches for the first week. I was given exercises to do every day, and it is important to do these.

I was told that the arthritis was much worse than they had thought, and that I will need a knee replacement, but I decided to wait a while to see how I progressed. At first, I thought the arthroscopy had possibly made things worse, but after a few weeks, I began to feel the benefits of it. My knee is still a bit painful and swollen, but it is better than before the op. so I am not rushing into having a replacement. My advice would be to take it easy for quite a while afterwards, and don't overdo things as it can take a while to heal.

I'm sure that others on the site will tell you more about arthroscopy. I hope it will be a success for you.

Joan

ellie2610

Thank you for the kind advice. Yes I am one of those that thinks I will be ok and start to do things when I should be resting too. I will try and rest.
Ellie

bailey27 wrote:

Hi
I jad a knee arthroscopy 3 weeks ago and am almost 100% back to normal. I could walk pretty muich straight afterwards albeit a bit slower. I had a fantatstic recovery considering they repaired the cartidge, removed some of the fat pad (I also had fat pad impingement syndrome) and they also cleaned it out. I am chuffed to bits at how it went. When I came around in recovery I ddint feel unwell as in other surgeries it was more like I had had a good nights sleep.
I hope your goes aswell as mine did. You just have to remember to take it easy afterwards and don't rudh things. I am partial to rushing about and thinking I am ok then setting myself back, I have since learnt the hard way!
Good luck and welcome!

woodbon

Hello, No helpful advice, I'm afraid, just popped in to say hello and welcome to the site. You'll get a lot of useful advice from people who've been through the same experience. Love Sue

elnafinn

Hi Ellie

Joan and Bailey have come up trumps with information for you about arthroscopies.

I too have had arthroscopies and the ops were straight forward.

I wish you all the very best in July and you know where we are, should you wish to know anything else about this procedure. Please let us know how you go on.

Hope to see you posting more,

Luv
Elna

joanlawson

Hi Ellie
Both Bailey and I have said not to overdo things after the op. I thought I should keep moving about, and probably did too much. The result was that I got Bursitis ( a kind of inflammation ) in my hip, probably caused by limping. I don't know what age you are. I am 65, so probably took longer to heal than a younger person.

Joan

ellie2610

Hi Joan,
I am 59. The Consultant has informed me that I am too young for a knee replacement but that it will be done if necessary after the investigation has been done. Basically the knee problem, like everyone else, is getting in the way of my life. I don't have the strength in my knee to even get up on a chair sometimes and I never know when it will give way when I am walking along. I have always had problems in that knee, but I had a bad fall at work about 18 months ago, and landed heavily on that side and ever since then my knee has got worse - hence maybe the smashed kneecap to be investigated. I had a bad attack of arthritis where I could only walk with the aid of crutches back in January, obviously the cold weather didn't help matters. Now I have told you my life story, I will close as it is getting late.
Best wishes
Ellie

joanlawson wrote:

Hi Ellie
Both Bailey and I have said not to overdo things after the op. I thought I should keep moving about, and probably did too much. The result was that I got Bursitis ( a kind of inflammation ) in my hip, probably caused by limping. I don't know what age you are. I am 65, so probably took longer to heal than a younger person.

Joan

greyheron

Hi Ellie

You have already had great advice and info from Elna and Joan.

I have had two arthroscopies and have nothing to add to what they have said except to wish you very good luck and keep us posted on how you get on.

The arthroscopies (one on each knee) were helpful diagnostically and in both instances bought me time in terms of pain relief etc. But eventually I had a left knee replacement (TKR) last November (at the age of 63), the knee having been 'rotten' since a bad fall in my teens. I have no regrets, my right knee will probably need doing in a few years and I will definitely have it done.

If your consultant does decide you need a TKR, there are lots of people on this site who can help with info and support so don't hold back!

Take care

Wendy

ellie2610

Thanks Wendy. I am so glad I joined this site because I feel I am amongst friends who will support me through this.
Ellie

greyheron wrote:

Hi Ellie

You have already had great advice and info from Elna and Joan.

I have had two arthroscopies and have nothing to add to what they have said except to wish you very good luck and keep us posted on how you get on.

The arthroscopies (one on each knee) were helpful diagnostically and in both instances bought me time in terms of pain relief etc. But eventually I had a left knee replacement (TKR) last November (at the age of 63), the knee having been 'rotten' since a bad fall in my teens. I have no regrets, my right knee will probably need doing in a few years and I will definitely have it done.

If your consultant does decide you need a TKR, there are lots of people on this site who can help with info and support so don't hold back!

Take care

Wendy

tamnwill

ellie2610 wrote:

Hi - I am new to this forum but I am due to have a knee arthroscopy in July to see if my kneecap is smashed or not. I was wondering what to expect from this procedure? If it alleviates the pain and movement, or lack of, then great.

Me too, due for one in a few weeks as knee had carta' damage and fluid has burst through into my calf ( for about 6 months now), so will watch your messages of your op with great interest, thank for asking about it, saved me doing it. Good luck, Tam xxx

ellie2610

Thanks Tam and good luck to you too.

tamnwill wrote:

ellie2610 wrote:

Hi - I am new to this forum but I am due to have a knee arthroscopy in July to see if my kneecap is smashed or not. I was wondering what to expect from this procedure? If it alleviates the pain and movement, or lack of, then great.

Me too, due for one in a few weeks as knee had carta' damage and fluid has burst through into my calf ( for about 6 months now), so will watch your messages of your op with great interest, thank for asking about it, saved me doing it. Good luck, Tam xxx

markc1

I had a double arthroscopy in Feb,i must be the odd one out here 'cos i had to use crutches for nearly a month and my knees have remained very painful.
In fact my left knee which had started to improve after the op is just as bad.Looking back i wish i had just had one knee done.
My specialist says my oa is mild but why am i in such pain and still walking with a slight limp!

Just as a matter of interest Bailey how long were you off work? i was off(and still am) 8 weeks

joanlawson

markc1 wrote:

I had a double arthroscopy in Feb,i must be the odd one out here 'cos i had to use crutches for nearly a month and my knees have remained very painful.
In fact my left knee which had started to improve after the op is just as bad.Looking back i wish i had just had one knee done.
My specialist says my oa is mild but why am i in such pain and still walking with a slight limp!

Just as a matter of interest Bailey how long were you off work? i was off(and still am) 8 weeks

Hi Mark

I'm sorry to hear that you are in pain still after your arthroscopies. My doctor told me that there is a wide variation of opinion among consultants as to the value of arthroscopy operations. Some believe they are not effective, and others think they are. I thought it was worth trying, and so did my consultant. But he led me to believe that my recovery would be very quick, which in fact it wasn't. I think it must vary from person to person,according to age and general level of fitness. Having both knees done at the same time is probably bound to take longer to recover from.

Have you been back to see the surgeon since you had the op? I wonder what advice you have been given about the pain, and what medication you are taking. I take Diclofenac, with Omeprazole to protect my stomach. However, I am hoping to stop taking them if I can manage without. Patacetamol works quite well too.

My OA has been classed as severe, but at the moment I am managing fairly well,although I will probably need a knee replacement at some point. As your OA is mild, it is surprising that your recovery is so slow, but just persevere, and you will probably notice an improvement in time. I was convinced that the arthroscopy had made matters worse, and regretted having it to begin with, but now my pain levels are definitely reduced. Keep doing your exercises, as that will help too.

Joan

elnafinn

Hi Mark

I am surprised your specialist says you have mild OA if he performs a double arthro on you!! That does not quite make sense to me!

Sorry to hear you are feeling negative about the ops. It is bound to take much longer to be back to normal, both knees being done at the same time.

I must admit that although the ops (I had 3 arthros - lucky me!!) and recovery went well, there was no lasting pain relief from the ops. I have since had a total knee replacement and the time draws nearer, I fear, for another TKR.

Hope you see a good improvement soon,

Elna