Recovery and Prevention After Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery is one of the most popular operations performed across the world.

After undergoing surgery, you can expect the lifestyle to be almost the same as it was when you were perfect fit.

Though you can resume most of the daily chores, avoid doing things that place stress on the 'new' knee. Avoid sports like jogging that that cause a high impact.

This blog talks about recovery and prevention after undergoing knee replacement surgery.

Pain management

There is some pain after the surgery, but it is far less than what you had experienced earlier. Doctors prescribe medicines to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

Usually, multiple pain management approach is followed. If the pain is beyond tolerable limits, then it has to be reported to the surgeon immediately.

Activities

The primary purpose of performing knee replacement surgery is to regain the activity level to normal. Hence, doctors insist on resuming normal life as early as possible.

Physiotherapist teaches particular exercises to restore the knee movement and strengthen the leg. Sometimes, knee support is given initially so that the knee joint doesn’t get exerted.

Preventing blood clot

The surgeons prescribe several measures to prevent blood clots and reduce the swelling in the leg. A few actions are:

·         Compression boots

·         Special support hose

·         Blood thinners

Apart from it, doctors tell to move ankles and feet immediately after surgery so that more blood flows to the legs. It is the best method to prevent blood clotting.

Prevention of possible complications

Medical statistics prove that the rate of complexity in the total knee replacement procedure is low. The percentage of patients who develop serious complications post-surgery is as small as two percent.

Prevention of blood clots

The doctor outlines a personal prevention program to avoid blood clots.  It includes periodic elevation of legs, support stockings, and medication to thin the blood.

Lower leg exercises are also recommended to increase blood flow.

Prevention of implant problems

Though doctors take utmost care while using implant material or design, and the surgical methods are also quite optimized, loosening of component or wear of the bearing surface occurs in some cases.

Prevention of limited motion

Doctors say that in most of the cases around 105 degrees of movement can be anticipated, but in some cases, it is limited because of scars.

Patients who have limited motion prior to the surgery experience a limited motion afterward as well.

Recovery after knee replacement surgery

Patients who follow the instructions well take lesser time to recover. Particularly, the first two weeks are critical after surgery.

Since staples and stitches are running around the wound, patients must take care of it. These stitches are removed between 10 to 15 days after surgery.

If there are sutures beneath the skin, then there is no need to remove it. Exposure to the water should be avoided until the wounds get sealed thoroughly.

The best way is to cover the wound with a bandage.

As such there are no dietary restrictions after surgery. Patients are instructed to take a balanced diet with a lot of iron supplement to restore muscle strength and tissue healing.

As far as exercises are concerned, the first few weeks after surgery are essential. Patients are not allowed to engage in heavy activities.

After three to six weeks of the surgery, patients can start resuming the usual activities. Driving is allowed after three weeks and the majority of activities start after six weeks.

Pain relieving medicines are prescribed for a few weeks.

A graduated exercise routine is designed for the patient. It begins with a low level and slowly moves to the moderate and high level. Normal household activities like standing, walking and climbing stairs start after a few days.

Thus, it is possible to live life normal after the knee replacement surgery if one follows the instructions for recovery and prevention of complications.