If the surgery is only to remove loose bodies, the recovery in theory shouldn't be bad at all. However, keep in mind everyone is different as well as every doctor with their post op instructions. I had microfracture and ligament/tendon reconstruction done (one with an arthroscope, one with open incision) and I was back to work using a knee scooter 10 days later. It could have been 7 days but the doc was booked.
Ankles and knees are different, but a friend of mine is having loose cartilage removed from his knee and will be up and in therapy the next day...
