When can I drive, pray and go back to work after knee arthroscopy?

Driving

You should not drive on the day of surgery because of the anaesthetic. After that, the test is not a fixed date but whether you can brake hard in an emergency without hesitating because of pain, and whether you have stopped strong painkillers that cause drowsiness.

• Left knee in an automatic car: often within about a week after a simple arthroscopy
• Right knee: usually one to two weeks, sometimes longer
• After meniscus repair or ligament reconstruction, or while in a brace: usually several weeks

Practise in a parked car first, pressing the brake firmly. It is also wise to check with your insurer, as policies differ about driving after surgery.

Prayer, kneeling and sitting on the floor

In the first weeks most patients pray seated on a chair; if you have questions about the religious ruling, a scholar can advise you. Avoid kneeling directly on the incisions until they have healed, usually around two weeks.

After a simple arthroscopy, deep bending and sujood usually return gradually over three to six weeks, as swelling settles and the knee regains full bend. Use a soft prayer mat or cushion at first. Sitting cross-legged or on the floor in a majlis puts the knee into deep flexion with twisting, so build up to it slowly.

After a meniscus repair, deep squatting and full kneeling are often restricted for around three to four months, because deep bending loads the back of the meniscus where most repairs sit.

Returning to work

• Desk or office work: often about one week after a simple arthroscopy, with the leg raised when possible
• Jobs with long standing or walking, such as retail or teaching: usually two to three weeks
• Heavy manual, site or industrial work, climbing ladders or kneeling: often four to six weeks or more

Dr. Gelber can provide a medical report for your employer, and a phased return with lighter duties helps many patients in Qatar's industrial and construction sectors.