He had me walking on it (using a walker and with a physical therapy tech on each side of me holding a belt that was around my waist) the day after surgery. In the neutral position (slightly bent) I could put weight on it pretty much right away. My problem was that the range of pain free motion after the surgery was nil. For a month or so after the surgery, he had me using a device for as many hours a day as I could tolerate that would slowly bend my knee back and forth a programmable amount. Knowing that we were leaving to go cruising (had to get sailing in this post somehow), I used it a LOT and would keep the programming set so that it would just work into the pain region. I even got so that I could sleep with the thing going. He said that it would reduce the development of scar tissue that could permanently limit the range of motion.

The physical therapy sessions were pretty much all about increasing the range of motion I had in the knee. They were painful and I was exhausted after every session, but I kept pushing hard and did all the exercises I was supposed to at home and then some.

It wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done, but as I've said before, my outcome was great. The only problem (and a very minor one at that) is that when walking down hill, it will sometimes develop a "click" in it. Nothing painful, just not normal. It doesn't stop me from going on my exercise walks which amount to walking 3 miles up a steep hill, gaining about 1500 feet in elevation, then turning around and walking down the same hill.

Best of luck!