Blog

Recent News

About Us

OrthoArizona has 70 premier musculoskeletal specialists. The orthopedic surgeons and primary care physicians specialize in all areas of orthopedic care including sports, medicine, spine, shoulder and elbow, hand and wrist, hip and knee, foot and ankle, podiatry, trauma, industrial injuries and workers’ compensation.

How Soon Can I Return to Work After Meniscus Surgery?

The recovery time for meniscus surgery depends largely on what type of surgery you have. How soon you can get back to work will also depend on the type of work you do—you might miss a week of work or as much as three to six months.

Tears in the meniscus—the cartilage between the thigh and shin bones—are common. Sometimes doctors will recommend meniscus repair surgery, in which the torn edges are sutured back together. This is more commonly used in people under age 30.

For people over age 30, repair is often not possible because of age-related deterioration of the cartilage. In that case, the surgical approach will be removal of the damaged portions of the meniscus, a procedure called meniscectomy.

You’re likely to have better long-term results with a meniscus repair, but the healing time is longer.

Meniscus repair recovery

While everyone’s recovery is different, here’s what you can typically expect with a repair surgery:

  • You may be on crutches for four to six weeks.
  • If your job mostly involves sitting at a desk, you may be able to get back to work in a week or two.
  • If your job requires being on your feet, you could be off work four to six weeks.
  • For a very physically active job or a return to sports, plan on a three- to six-month recovery period.

Meniscectomy

With a meniscectomy, you’ll be back in action more quickly. Here’s what you may expect:

  • You could be off crunches within a couple of days to a week and back at work if your job is sedentary.
  • You can start driving again in a week or two if you have regained motion in the leg without too much pain and you aren’t taking opioid pain relievers.
  • You will probably be able to return to a physically active job in four to six weeks.

How to heal faster

You will recover more quickly if you carefully follow all your doctor’s instructions. In your first days after surgery, you will need apply ice frequently and elevate your knee above your heart to help relieve swelling. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, to help your body heal.

Your doctor will give you specific instructions on exercises you should do on your own at home and when you should see a physical therapist. Faithfully following your physical therapist’s directions, including “homework,” will help you regain strength and stability in your leg as quickly as possible.

The medical professionals at OrthoArizona are happy to help you recover from a knee injury. We can diagnose a meniscus tear and advise you on what treatment option is best for your injury.

Speak with an Orthopedic Specialist Today

Are you suffering from knee pain? Make an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists today to start your healing journey. OrthoArizona has nearly two dozen offices throughout the Valley, each focused on quality care, compassion, and excellent customer service. Since 1994, OrthoArizona has been dedicated to compassionate care of the highest quality.

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and are not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

InstantOrtho

Notice to Patients

We are experiencing a high call volume and longer than normal wait times due to a companywide system outage we experienced this morning. Connectivity has since been restored and we are doing our best to answer all calls in a timely manner.
We apologize for any inconvenience.

Competitive Pricing

These sessions are not covered by insurance and will be an out-of-pocket expense. However, with the level of attention and training that everyone receives, & the education & quality of the coaches in the program it is well worth the investment.

 

Individual (Private) Training

Fee

Private coaching

$85.00

Private coaching, 10 sessions

$750 ($75/session)

Private coaching, 30 sessions

$2100 ($70/session)

Small Group w/ Individual Programming

 

Small Group Training, 1 Session

$40.00

Small Group Training, 10 Sessions

$360 ($36/session)

Small Group Training, 30 Sessions

$900 ($30/session)

Team/Club Training

 

Per Player or Team Trainings without contract

Contact us for info!

We have very competitive pricing compared to similar programs around the valley and across the nation! “Small Group Training” provides one of the best deals; you can sign yourself up and we will place you into a group. If you are interested to learn more about the Team/Club Training, please fill out our contact form below or email performance@orthoarizona.org