Rehabilitation requires a slow pace. After repairing the meniscus, doctors usually limit how much weight you can place on your foot and the amount of bend in the knee for at least six weeks. Patients are often able to resume normal activity by three months. Athletes in cutting and pivoting sports may need four to six months before resuming their sport.
Most connective tissue (such as the meniscus) takes a year to 18 months for full healing to occur. By one year, everything generally seems fine and there is no evidence of continued healing. Symptoms of any kind that are present for more than one year are not likely to go away on their own. This situation represents failure of repair. Further surgery may be needed to stabilize the meniscus.