Managing pain after arthroscopic surgery usually begins with painkilling medication, which is often prescribed immediately after the operation. When the patient arrives home, he or she should try to keep the joint elevated as this can reduce swelling. Ice is also used for the same purpose. All these tips and techniques are used to reduce pain to a manageable level, but there will always be some pain present for the first few weeks after the procedure. As soon as possible, the patient will progress to physical therapy with the aim of decreasing inflammation and soreness through specific exercises.
Immediately after the operation has taken place, the pain may gradually start to increase as the medication used during surgery wears off. Pain after arthroscopic surgery, whether it’s in the knee, shoulder or any other joint of the body, is usually managed using medication to begin with. In most cases, this medicine will be prescribed in pill form, so the patient isn’t required to stay in the hospital. Sometimes a mixture of painkilling and anti-inflammatory medicine will be prescribed, as this helps to reduce inflammation around the joint.
For the first few weeks, pain after arthroscopic surgery can be reduced through elevation and ice. Elevating the joint will help to reduce swelling in the area, which is important to minimize post surgery discomfort. Ice will also help to reduce inflammation, but will also numb the area and reduce the level of pain. It’s important for the patient to only use ice for short periods at a time to avoid burns.
Some exercises may be recommended by the surgeon to be performed immediately after surgery, but this depends on which joint is involved. Exercises may help to reduce pain after arthroscopic surgery and may also decrease the overall recovery time. In most cases, the patient should visit the surgeon several times during the recovery period to check that the joint is healing correctly.
Physical therapy is one of the most important parts of managing pain after arthroscopic surgery. Therapy usually begins relatively quickly after the procedure, although it’s critical to avoid causing more swelling before the joint has time to heal. Physical therapy will usually focus on strengthening the muscles that attach to the injured joint, as these are important for support and control. The chance of successfully recovering from an arthroscopy is greatly increased if the patient follows the rehabilitation routine fully.
