How can I prevent blood clots, stiffness and swelling after knee arthroscopy?

Lowering the risk of blood clots

• Pump your ankles up and down for a minute or two every hour while awake
• Walk short distances around the house several times a day, as your weight-bearing allows
• Drink enough water, which matters more in Qatar's heat
• Avoid sitting still for hours, including long car journeys and flights in the early weeks
• Take any blood-thinning medicine or wear stockings exactly as prescribed

People with a previous clot, a family history, hormone treatment, cancer, obesity or limited mobility may be given extra protection.

Lowering the risk of stiffness

Getting the knee fully straight early is especially important, because a knee that stays slightly bent is hard to correct later. Rest the heel on a rolled towel with nothing under the knee for a few minutes several times a day. Tighten the thigh muscle and lift the straight leg. Bend the knee gently within the limits you were given; after a meniscus repair or cartilage procedure, those limits are stricter.

Controlling swelling

Raise the leg above heart level for periods during the day, use ice wrapped in a cloth for around fifteen to twenty minutes at a time, and increase activity gradually. A big jump in walking or standing often brings swelling back the next day, which is a sign to ease off slightly.

Warning signs

A painful, swollen or tight calf, chest pain or sudden breathlessness need urgent medical attention. A knee that becomes hot, red and increasingly painful, or fever, should be reported to Dr. Gelber's team at Aman Hospital in Doha the same day.