Recovery after orthopedic surgery, week by week
Post Op Physio Recovery Most broken shoulders heal in a sling in about 6 to 12 weeks, and for many older adults surgery gives no better result. Here is what recovery looks like week by week, how to beat stiffness, and when you can drive and work again.
IT band syndrome causes outer knee pain that builds during runs, and stretching the band won’t fix it. Cutting back the load that flares it and strengthening the hip helps most people improve within about 4 to 8 weeks.
Most first-time kneecap dislocations are treated with physio and people are back to normal activities in about 1 to 3 months. About 1 in 3 dislocate again, and repeated dislocations are when MPFL reconstruction is usually considered.
Most MCL injuries heal without surgery: about 1 to 3 weeks for grade 1, 4 to 6 weeks for grade 2 and 6 weeks or more for grade 3. Surgery is mainly for tears that come with other knee injuries, such as an ACL tear.
Most slipped discs in the lower back heal without surgery, and most people are free of symptoms within 3 to 4 months. The pushed-out part of the disc often shrinks back on its own, and surgery is only needed for a small group.
Most broken collarbones heal in a sling in about 6 to 12 weeks, and plate surgery is kept for breaks that are badly out of place. Here is what each path looks like week by week, and when you can drive, lift and play sport again.
After ankle fracture surgery the bone heals in about 10 to 12 weeks and most people are back to normal activities in 3 to 4 months. Swelling and stiffness last much longer, often 6 months to a year.
Most people manage everyday tasks within about two weeks of a total shoulder replacement, and the shoulder keeps improving for a year or more. Here is the timeline week by week, the six-week rules that protect the front tendon, and when to call your surgeon.
After ACDF neck surgery, arm pain often eases quickly, most people return to a desk job within a few weeks, and full activities usually return by three to four months. Swallowing trouble and a hoarse voice are common early and usually settle within weeks.
After lumbar spinal fusion, most people go home in two to three days, return to desk work at around four to six weeks, and take six months to a year to feel fully recovered while the bone knits. Many surgeons limit bending, lifting and twisting for about three months.