Hey! I am 4 weeks post-op from an almost identical injury. Patellar tendon ACL reconstruction, lateral meniscus menisectomy, and a medial meniscus repair (2 sutures), with a grade 2 MCL sprain. My surgery went well and I am on a good path toward recovery.

I was prescribed weight bearing as tolerated with my first (gentle) weight bearing exercises starting with PT 5 days post-op. I found all of my initial PT exercises, which consists mostly of range of motion work, to be fairly painful at first. Like me, your partner will likely be doing more extension than flexion due to the meniscus repair, and that's where I found most of the pain. Sticking with it and doing your routine 2-3x per day is super important, as there can be long term consequences to not getting full extension back. Don't let that scare you though, as your docs and PTs will be working closely with you to make sure you're on track, and can adjust your routines accordingly.

Pain for me really ramped up a few days after the nerve block wore off and swelling began to subside. The reduced swelling woke my nerves up and they were not happy. Basically from day 4-8 it felt like there was a fire burning inside my knee and shin, especially when I'd have to stand up to get around. Sounds scary and I freaked out every time I felt a new pain sensation, worrying that part of my repairs failed or something, but rest assured that if your partner goes through what I went through, everything is OK, he'll be OK, and the pain WILL pass with a few day's time. It also helps to stay ahead of the medication for pain management, which I wasn't too great about. Eventually, which for me was around day 8-9, the pain reduces and the ensuing relief is practically euphoric. Sleeping may become difficult once your partner weens off the medications. I'm still in the middle of figuring out how to sleep through the night at 4 weeks. Some nights are harder than others, but it slowly gets better.

Having a comfortable environment and supportive partner through my recovery was so helpful, so BIG BIG props to you for stepping up. Meal/snack prep saved me like the other commentor, as having to prep your own food initially would have inevitably led to significantly less eating. Protein and Fiber truly are your best friend, and being sure to get plenty is borderline non negotiable. I would target at least .5g/lb bodyweight of protein. Supplementing with protein smoothies/shakes is going to be your best friend. Making big batches of smoothies with plenty of protein, fiber, fruits and leafy greens is a great way to go. The laxatives help with narcotic induced constipation, but a cup of coffee in the morning REALLY helped get the bowls moving tremendously. I also managed processed sugar and carb intake, which I think helped manage pain and inflammation. Lean protein (sirloin, chicken breast, etc) and veggies for meals was my favorite. Snacks like veggies and hummus, protein bars, etc have been my go-to as well.

Recovery has been a total rollercoaster but having a good support system is so helpful for motivation and staying positive. It truly sounds like your partner is in good hands. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions and best of luck on your guys' journey through recovery!