The 101 On Knee Replacement Recovery

Blog

From a sports-related injury to severe osteoarthritis, there are numerous causes of knee pain. While medication may relieve the pain, you may require knee replacement surgery to treat the cause of your pain. Although this is a minimally invasive procedure, knee replacement surgery offers dramatic relief in 9 out of 10 patients. Of course, proper wound care and recovery steps are essential after surgery. Using this guide, you will understand the best recovery techniques to use in the hospital and at home after your knee replacement surgery.

In the Hospital

Your surgeon will suggest light walking with a walker the day after your knee replacement surgery. While moving this quickly after a surgical procedure may seem surprising, your doctors will administer medication to manage any pain and discomfort.

Physical therapists will design a series of exercises to complete each day while in the hospital after your surgery. Exercises may include walking with and without the walker aid and various leg and knee stretches.

In addition, CPM, or Continuous Passive Motion, will be necessary while in the hospital. The CPM device moves the leg muscles, increasing blood circulation to reduce swelling after the surgery.

At Home

Once your surgeon discharges you from the hospital, proper care of your wound and ongoing physical therapy will be essential for an effective recovery. Here are a few tips to use while recovering at home:

• Wound Care – Be sure to keep your incision site wrapped, reducing the risk of an infection. Cover the incision site in waterproof bandages or plastic wrap before bathing and showering.
• Clotting – Blood clots are common after surgery, so use precaution when you arrive home. Your doctor may prescribe blood-thinning medication, but wearing compression socks at night is also smart for increasing blood circulation.
• Physical Therapy – Avoid strenuous activity for a few days after the knee replacement surgery. Walk with a cane or walker, increasing speed and distance a little more each day. Continue visiting your physical therapist to increase strength, endurance, range of motion, and stability. While each patient is different, the average time for a complete recovery after a knee replacement surgery is between 3 and 12 months.

Knee replacement surgery offers an effective treatment for knee pain due to arthritis and injuries. To ensure your surgery is a success, proper recovery steps are imperative. Using this guide, you will understand the importance of recovery in the hospital and at home. For more about this topic, contact your doctor.   

Share

4 February 2016