Is it possible to go home the same day after arthroscopic knee surgery?

Question

I am having arthroscopic knee surgery. According to the MRI, I have a "grade 3 rupture" in the inner side meniscus. Is it possible to go home the same day, or is it necessary to spend a day or two in the hospital? I really don't want to spend even one night in the hospital. I would feel much, much better at home.

If the hospital stay is for legal reasons (such as lawsuit if patient gets worse or dies of complications), can I sign a waiver to let me leave the hospital?

My choice of anesthesia is general (gas) or spinal injection to numb the leg. I am opting for the injection because general anesthesia makes me uncontrollably nervous afterwards, and it's torture just sitting still.

How long after surgery are you typically allowed to start walking? How much pain should I expect afterwards? Any recommendations?

Answer 1

Hi, my daughter just had the scope done on her knee 6 weeks ago. It is day surgery. In at 11 a.m. and home around 4p.m. Surgery 1 1/2 hrs
As far as weight bearing goes, is the meniscus getting repaired or removed? There's a huge difference in the recovery time depending on what the OS is doing.
My daughter had hers repaired. She had 3 tears on the medial meniscus (inside one) She was non weight bearing for 6 weeks, and just started 50% weight bearing for another 3 weeks. After that she can go to FWB. She has been going to physio twice a week. She started one week after the surgery.Also she was in a G11 brace, that was locked at 30 degrees for 2 weeks, 60 degrees for 2 weeks etc etc.
If the meniscus is not repairable the surgery is much easier with removal. My husband walked the next day with one crutch, and was off work a couple of days. This option is not very good in the long run though. Most removals will end up years down the road in arthiritis. You really need the meniscus to act as a cushion between the bones. If it gets removed you get bone rubbing on bone. My husband is now looking at TKR

Answer 2

Most insurance companies require that you go home. They will not pay for hospital admission unless there are complications.

A common side effect of spinal injections are severe headaches later on. Think of having a migraine that last a few days. Plus, some patients are not good candidates for spinals. No matter what you think, listening to the actual surgical process may be more traumatic than you think. A surgeon would rather have a patient be asleep rather than have the patient go into shock.

Walking is going to be determined by the actual surgery and by what the surgeon finds. A meniscus repair will require you to be non-weight bearing on that leg for some time (about 6 weeks). Just trimming out the torn part will put you on your feet sooner. However a repair may be better for your knee in the long run. A MRI is only an image. Your surgeon may see other factors during surgery, such as degenerative changes. Go by what your doctor tells you and not by us guessing on the internet.

Answer 3

I have had arthoscoptic knee surgery because my knee was in bad shape. I couldn't even move it for 3 weeks until the doctor told me that he could try arthoscoptic surgery. You can go home the same day. Prior to the day before surgery they the nurses have you drink only liquids just water but don't eat anything. Also they have you come in for a blood test a day of 2 before the surgery. The day of the surgery, they have you stay in a small room with a nurse that takes your information and takes your vital signs. Then the anesthesiologist comes in to answer any questions you might have. Then the doctor meets with you one last time to make sure that you are OK. Then after the surgery they put you in a recovery room to monitor you because you will be in pain. The nurses can give you pain medications and they evaluate you for an hour or two. Then the nurses put you back in the same room where you first were after they feel you can move from recovery. After they put you back in your original room, the nurse helps you get dressed and everything an that's it. They let you go home. That is how it was for me when I had arthoscoptic surgery on my knee. So, good luck and get well soon. When you leave the hospital, the put you in a wheel chair because of hospital regulations but after that with a days rest you will be able to walk but with difficultly from the soreness and the crutches. At the hospital the nurses will teach you how to use the crutches before the surgery and the nurse will help you afte the surgery. They might give you a perscription for the pain and they will suggest ice packs to keep the swelling down. Mainly they always want their patients to have tylenol or ibprofeen. Typically it is 3 weeks on crutches because by that time you will need to have the stitches taken out.

prior experience

Answer 4

This is from someone who has had 4 arthroscopic knee surgeries on the same knee for torn meniscus and other problems. You will need crutches for about a couple of weeks afterward depending on what he finds when or if he goes in and looks around. The pain is bad for about the first week but he will give you meds to help control it and then it eases off. You will have to go through physical therapy for about 4 weeks maybe longer to get your knee strong again. I wish you the best of luck and if you do have surgery I wish you a speedy recovery. Good Luck

Answer 5

Yes...but why risk infection...and why bypass rehab at the hospital. You can always leave the hospital AMA, which means Against Medical Advice. Your insurance might not cover you further however....and if you got worse at home you'd be in a real mess trying to get recovered by insurance. If I were you I'd opt for the gas nap and stay till the Doctor said you can go. The pain by the way would be more managed in the hospital, whereas at home you'd have percacet or some other drug to control the pain. You should be able to walk almost right away with moderate problems if you follow procedure's Good Luck!

Answer 6

I had a knee arthroscopy about a year and a half ago. For knee surgery typically these days (unless it's a complete replacement) it is outpatient. The hospital wouldn't make you stay for legal reasons- they would keep you if you felt like you needed care that required a hospital stay. Your choice of anesthesia is up to you, and sounds fine either way to me (I did it under general because it just made me feel a little more comfortable). I would talk to your doctor about when you are allowed to start walking again...it varies from doctor to doctor, but I would assume that you would start weaning off the crutches and starting physical therapy after about a week after surgery. You will be in a fair amount of pain after wards and depending on your pain tolerance it may be the worst in your life or pretty minimal (for me it was moderate, and now I consider it nothing after I got complex regional pain syndrome after the surgery). I would just suggest talking to your doctor about any concerns or questions before and after surgery, and try not to get too nervous! Good luck!

Answer 7

I've have both knees done, general anaethesic each time. Home 3 hours after waking up post-surgery.

I had to use crutches for a few days, then was allowed to start putting some weight on the leg. Back to running about 6-8 weeks post surgery (can't remember exactly)

Painwise, your surgeon should inject the knee with local anaesthetic after closing....then you'll have little to no discomfort. If (s)he doesn't do that, then expect some pain the first 24 hours, should be relieved by strong over-the-counter painkillers, you shouldn't need prescription pain meds

Your knee will feel swollen inside for up to a few months, as if some cotton wool got left inside. This will go over time, but you'll be frustrated with it as you recover.

Go to physiotherapy and DO the exercises they give you. They really help.

Good luck :-)

Answer 8

It depends on your dr. Yes USUALLY its a smae day surgery where you go in have the surgery and in a few hours your at home, But it depends on what you want, how you feel and what the dr wants. I do not know, I'd ask that of the Dr or Hospital admin. It depends on what the dr does ansd what he wants you to do. if the medial meniscus is being repaired (dr stitches the tear together), You'll MOSTLIKELY be on crutches for 4 to 6 weeks, with maybe partial weight bearing and If its where the dr removes the torn part of the meniscus, You may be allowed to walk on it when you go home or a few days later. both options of surgery, depends ont he dr. He'll let you know when he wants you to start walking or not

Answer 9

My friend's hubby just had that same surgery on his meniscus. He went with the general anesthesia and was back home within a few hours of the surgery. He was up on crutches the next day. Best of luck!

Answer 10

Yes it's done all the time. Just don't try to drive, and take it easy for awhile