Recovery after orthopedic surgery, week by week
Post Op Physio Recovery Jumper’s knee is an overloaded patellar tendon that hurts just below the kneecap. It gets better with the right load, steady holds then heavy slow strength work, not rest or injections, and often takes 3 months or more.
Most AC joint separations heal without surgery: about 2 weeks for a mild one, 6 for a moderate one and up to 3 months for a complete tear. The bump on top of the shoulder often stays, but strength and movement usually come back fully.
A Baker’s cyst is a pocket of joint fluid behind the knee, usually caused by arthritis or a meniscus tear, so treatment targets the knee itself. A suddenly swollen, painful calf needs checking the same day, because a burst cyst can look just like a blood clot.
Calcific tendinitis is a calcium deposit in a rotator cuff tendon. The sudden, severe pain usually means your body is clearing it, and it tends to settle within 1 to 2 weeks. Most people get better without surgery, with needling, shockwave or an injection if it lingers.
Before orthopedic surgery, ask what the operation will do for you, what happens if you wait, and what recovery really involves. Here are the questions worth taking to your appointment.
A flat foot that develops in adulthood is usually caused by a weakened posterior tibial tendon on the inside of the ankle. Caught early, insoles, a brace and strengthening usually manage it; surgery is kept for feet that stay painful or have become stiff.
Degenerative disc disease isn’t really a disease. It’s the normal disc wear that shows up on most adults’ scans, often with no pain, and staying active and exercising help most people more than surgery does.
A stress fracture in the foot usually heals in 6 to 8 weeks in a boot or stiff shoe, with running rebuilt gradually after that. A Jones fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal heals more slowly and needs stricter treatment.
A spinal compression fracture from osteoporosis often causes sudden back pain after a minor strain or fall. Most people feel better within about three months without surgery, and treating the weak bone is the key to preventing the next one.
Biceps tendinitis causes a deep ache at the front of the shoulder, worse lifting and reaching overhead. It usually comes with a rotator cuff problem, and most people get better with a few months of exercise, sometimes helped by an injection.