The person can usually go home within a few hours. Recovery time depends on what is found during the procedure and what was done. Most people go home the same day as their surgery. Crutches may be needed for a while to take weight and pressure off the knee joint. The leg should be kept elevated and ice applied for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Activity is increased according to the amount of pain and swelling present in the knee.
Pain can be managed with pain medication. Sometimes physical therapy is needed after knee arthroscopy if extensive repair was done. There are potential problems with any surgery or anesthesia. This includes infection, bleeding, and reaction to the medicine used. Nerve injury, causing numbness around the small incisions, may also occur.