How soon can I walk after knee arthroscopy?

It depends on what was done inside the knee

Walking is not limited by the small incisions but by the tissue that was treated. When torn tissue is simply trimmed away or a loose fragment is removed, there is nothing that needs to be protected while it heals, so you are usually allowed to put full weight on the leg straight away and use crutches only for comfort and balance.

When something has been repaired or reconstructed, the plan changes. A stitched meniscus can be pulled apart by loading a bent knee, so you may be asked to keep weight off, or to walk only with the knee locked straight in a brace, for around four to six weeks. Ligament reconstruction usually allows early weight-bearing in a brace, with crutches for the first couple of weeks. Your discharge instructions will say exactly which plan applies to you.

A typical first two weeks after a simple arthroscopy

• Day of surgery: walking short distances at home with crutches
• First few days: rest with the leg raised, ice for swelling, gentle bending and thigh-tightening exercises
• Within one to two weeks: most people walk without crutches indoors and outdoors, with a mild limp that settles
• Around two weeks: wound check and stitch removal if needed

Stairs are easier if you lead with the good leg going up and the operated leg going down.

Signs you are doing too much

Some swelling and aching after walking is normal for several weeks. If the knee swells noticeably more each evening, you need to slow down, raise the leg and return to crutches for a day or two. Let your surgeon know if you cannot straighten the knee fully, as early loss of extension is easier to correct than late.

Seek urgent review for fever, a red hot knee or wound discharge, which can signal infection, or for calf pain and swelling, or sudden breathlessness, which can signal a blood clot.