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It can take from around 1 week to several months to recover fully from an arthroscopy.

This can depend on a number of factors, such as:

• what joint was affected – for example, a knee arthroscopy tends to have a longer recovery period than a wrist arthroscopy
• whether you had any treatment, such as joint repair, during your arthroscopy
• your general state of health

The staff at the arthroscopy unit will be able to give you more detailed information.

Your recovery plan

You’ll usually get a written recovery plan before having an arthroscopy.

You may also have a follow-up appointment with the surgeon after your arthroscopy, where they can make changes to the plan if needed.

The plan will cover when it is safe for you to:

• return to work
• resume daily activities
• exercise
• lift heavy objects
• drive

Generally, you are ready to drive again if you can safely perform an emergency stop and your arms are strong enough to control the steering wheel.

You may need to tell your insurance company about your surgery.

Exercise

Exercise is an important part of your recovery plan.

You may get an information sheet with a series of daily exercises to do at home.

In some cases you may also be referred to a physiotherapist for a few weeks, for further help and support with exercise.