Prognosis
In the case of pure partial meniscus removal, the patient usually quickly (after 3 – 6 weeks) regains his former ability to work and play sports. After meniscal suturing, the patient is not able to start sports until 12 – 16 weeks postoperatively, better 6 months. The ability to work depends on the demands of the job.
Also the healing after meniscus surgery depends on many factors. In this context, the extent of the injury and the selected surgical procedure play a decisive role. In general, however, it can be assumed that healing after a successful meniscus operation will be trouble-free.
Affected patients should expect to be severely restricted over a period of several weeks. With a pure partial meniscus removal, healing is usually completed after three to six weeks. After about three weeks, the affected knee can be moderately loaded again.Six weeks after meniscus surgery with partial meniscus removal, the patient should be fully fit for work and sports again.
If so-called meniscal sutures have to be placed during the meniscus surgery, the healing process requires a significantly longer period of time. In these cases, it can be assumed that the load-bearing capacity of the knee joint is restored after 12 weeks at the earliest. However, healing can also take up to 16 weeks after the meniscal sutures have been placed. In general, healing after a meniscus operation is usually trouble-free and no consequential damage is to be expected.
How long after meniscus surgery are you sick?
Knee injuries that require meniscus surgery can take a very long time to heal. For this reason, many of the affected patients ask themselves how long they are ill after a meniscus operation and after which period of time they can resume their professional activities without restrictions. How long people who work in a profession with high knee load are written off sick has to be decided by the treating physician in each individual case.
How long a person is ill after meniscus surgery depends on various factors: The type and extent of the knee injury as well as the profession of the person concerned play a decisive role in this context. If only a small part of the meniscus was removed during the meniscus operation, an office worker, for example, can go back to work just one to two weeks after the operation. In general, however, it can be assumed that such occupational groups will be on sick leave for at least two to three weeks.
If parts of the meniscus were refixed during the meniscus surgery, the affected knee must be spared for a longer period of time. In this case it should be assumed that an office worker (or members of other occupational groups with low knee load) will be put on sick leave for at least two to three weeks. Patients who put more stress on their knee due to their job should wait at least six to eight weeks before resuming work. Although the healing phase is a long one, the knee should not be put under excessive strain too soon. Otherwise, serious complications can occur, which may require the person concerned to take sick leave for even longer.
