Steps in Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery

Knee replacement surgery is a fairly common procedure that is used to replace a worn out knee. This is something that can happen to anyone because joints wear down over time, even with regular routine activity. As people get older, all those years of walking, climbing stairs and bending can catch up with them. The joint gets worn, which causes pain and issues with walking and bending. This leads to the need for surgery.

When you are getting ready to have surgery, your knee replacement surgeon will likely give you information about your recovery process. Typically, you will go through stages of recovery before you can get back to feeling like your old self.

Right After Surgery

Immediately after surgery, your recovery will begin. You may be in recovery for a couple hours before you are moved to your hospital room. Usually, you will stay in the hospital for a couple days. You will typically be given pain medication to help with any pain. While you are in the hospital, you will start some exercises involving movements with your foot and ankle to help keep the blood flowing in your leg, which will help to reduce the likelihood of blood clots and swelling.

Short Term

After you leave the hospital, you will enter the phase called short term recovery. This part of recovery will be about managing pain and starting physical therapy. You will need to do exercises that will help to increase the range of motion in your new joint and help you get back to normal daily activities. Physical therapy also helps with healing.

Typically, you will start therapy by walking indoors and then outdoors. You will be encouraged to walk up and down stairs and to conduct strengthening activities that your therapist will assign to you. You should find that as you progress, the pain lessens and you are able to begin walking without any help or aides. Short term recovery usually lasts up to 12 weeks after surgery.

Long Term

Long-term recovery starts after short-term recovery is over, which is usually three to six months after your surgery. During this period of recovery, your body will completely heal. You will be able to return to work. You will probably be able to resume all normal activities but you will still need to be cautious about infections and high impact activities. If you are an athlete, you may have to undergo further therapy to strengthen the muscles and support structure of the new joint. You may also be limited in what activities you can resume. There are varying opinions about how much activity should be allowed after replacement surgery, so talk to your knee replacement surgeon about this before your surgery so you know what to expect.

When you meet with your knee replacement surgeon to discuss your surgery, it can be helpful to get more information on what to expect afterward. Your recovery will take time and will go through stages, so it helps to understand what will happen so you can stay on track towards a full recovery.

Weston Barnes is a write and an avid reader. When he's not writing about business, marketing, health, pets, or relationships, he's immersed in his latest book.