You will be back up and walking with the assistance of a walker or crutches immediately following your surgery. In the first few weeks you will go to rehab to strengthen your knee and get greater range of motion. By week four you should be walking on your own. During the first 3 to six months you might still have some swelling, and possibly some mild pain. Total recovery can take up to one year. Of course, this depends upon the amount of effort you put into your rehab exercises.