What to Expect After Partial or Full Knee Replacement Surgery
Posted on: 2 April 2020
If you have had enough of dealing with the pain, inconvenience and poor quality-of-life that come with bad knees, then you may have taken the decision to have a full or partial knee replacement. Some people may opt to do both knees at the same time to get it over with in one go or, of course, if they have an equal amount of pain in each one. You may be wondering how long it will take you to get back to normal, what you need to do after the operation and just how much difficulty you will have to deal with. What do you need to know?
Standing Up
Most people believe that you should rest as much as possible following an operation of any kind as, surely, this is the best approach. Yet this is not the case when it comes to a knee replacement as it is a good idea to place some weight onto the legs as soon as is reasonably possible. Therefore, the surgeon may ask you to stand and even to take several steps in the bedroom the day after the surgery itself. Certainly, you will be provided with a walker and the help of a therapist, and you will, of course, have a certain amount of pain medication to assist you.
Out-Of-Hospital
Other than that, the aim is to get you out of the hospital as soon as possible. Ideally, this will take place within no more than two days after the surgery itself. Everything is assessed on a case-by-case basis, however, under the supervision of a doctor.
Getting Home
If you live with somebody else and they are able to assist you in those early days, then you can certainly return to your home at that time. You need to take it steadily and follow the instructions given to you, but should rest as much as possible and perform a variety of different exercises as you go. This will help you to restore a normal range of motion and to build up strength in your legs once again, as you take any pain medicine you may require.
Physical Therapy
Most medical facilities will draw up a physical therapy plan based on the needs of the individual patient. This will vary based on the age and weight of the patient, their general standard of mobility and any other factors. However, in every case, the therapist will aim to restore normal movement and flexibility as soon as possible.
Back to Normal
Talk with your adviser to ask them how long it may take before you can return to work. Expect this to vary based on your job, but if you typically sit behind a desk, then you may be back there a couple of weeks before a job that may require you to be more labour-intensive.
To learn more, contact a knee rehabilitation clinic in your area.
Share