After your meniscal repair

On discharge, you will have an appointment for outpatient physiotherapy. Please follow these guidelines until you attend:

• Use the crutches at all times. Weight bearing as instructed by your therapist.
• Wear your splint at all times. Only remove to apply ice.

1. With your legs out straight, and your back fully supported. Tighten the muscles in your thigh and hold x 5 seconds x 30
2. As above, but lift the leg up straight up so that the heel is 2 inches off the floor, hold for a count of 5, then slowly lower x 15*
3. Lie on your side with your bad leg uppermost. Keeping your leg straight, raise the leg up sideways from the hip, so that your foot is parallel with floor and 15 inches from it x 20*
4. Lie on your stomach or stand up. Raise the leg up straight behind you so that you feel the pull in your bottom x 15*

*  Exercises should be done twice a day, unless advised otherwise by your Physiotherapist. The numbers of exercises are just a guideline. You should start off with just a few of each exercise, and gradually build up to the suggested number. Do not push into any pain.

Ice reduces pain by decreasing:

• muscle spasm
• swelling
• joint stiffness

How does ice work?

If ice is applied for 10 to 15 minutes, it increases the blood flow to the area and the skin will turn pink.

Important: Ice, if used incorrectly, may burn. Please follow the instructions carefully.

How to treat pain using ice

1. Fill a cold damp towel with ice cubes (alternatively use a bag of frozen peas, etc.)
2. Position yourself with the limb to be treated fully supported.
3. Place a piece of polythene over the area to be treated, to prevent your wound sites getting wet.
4. Place the ice cubes or frozen peas, wrapped in the damp towel, on top of the polythene. Leave this until the skin becomes pink (10 to 15 minutes). Exercise should not be done after the ice treatment. Ice can be repeated every 2 hours if you have a lot of pain or swelling, and twice a day if less painful or swollen.

If you have any heart problems,  do not put ice on your left shoulder, or the left side of your neck. If you have any queries or questions - please ask your Physiotherapist.

After 24 hours, you can remove the bulky bandages from your knee, leaving the small adhesive dressing in place until your follow-up appointment. You will be given an elasticated bandage (tubigrip) to use instead. You should remove this at night. You can begin to use ice when the bandages have been removed.

The Physiotherapist will measure the crutches for you. Do not alter them.

If it is essential to use the stairs, and you have not been advised otherwise, try to have someone with you until you feel safe. Hold onto at least one handrail, if possible. Hold the spare crutch, together with the handle of the remaining crutch. The crutch(es) go on the same step as the affected leg.

Going up stairs

The unaffected leg goes first, followed by the crutches and affected leg being placed on the same step. The procedure is repeated.

Going down stairs

The affected leg goes first, with the crutches, being followed by the unaffected leg onto the same step. The procedure is repeated. When using crutches, avoid wet floors. Always wear flat supportive shoes.