There are several things after a Knee replacement surgery that a person must know. When the operation is successful, you should know about the post-surgery recovery time and the recovery process. Knowledge is a must for the best possible results and outcomes after knee replacement surgery. This surgery can provide a quality of life to millions, and it can improve your mobility if you are already struggling with broken joints or knee pain. The guide below will give you an idea about the different stages of the recovery and help you to understand the things better that you must know.
What is Knee Replacement Surgery?
Knee replacement surgery is an orthopedic procedure that is generally performed on a broken knee, people with mobility issues, or knee pain. There are some natural home remedies for knee pain to heal the minor pain, but in extreme cases the surgery is the only option left. Also known as Arthroplasty, depends on the level of surgery you are looking for. Sometimes only a part of the knee is operated on, or sometimes the whole knee is to be operated on and replaced.
Immediate Post Surgery-Period (0-4 days after Surgery)
The first few days after knee replacement surgery are very crucial because the foundation of the recovery of the knee is formed in the early days after surgery. You will mostly wake up in the room where multiple equipment are attached to you for monitoring your signs and mobility.
- Managing the Pain: An extreme pain just after the surgery is very obvious to feel as soon as the effect of Anesthesia is over. Your medical team will infuse some pain relief medications for immediate relief, but there is also a limit to those. Anyhow, you must prepare yourself to bear some pain after surgery.
- Mobility in Early Days: You will be surprised to know the fact that you are supposed to move your knee a little just a couple of hours after the surgery. For gentle exercise, a physiotherapist will visit you often in the early days. The early steps of yours will be under the supervision of a physiotherapist. It is very necessary to move a little in the early days to avoid blood clots and to keep the joints mobile.
- Care of Wound: The nursing staff will take care of your wound, and they will ensure that there is no sign of infection or blood clot. A surgical dressing includes bandages that are changed from time to time for a moisture-free spot.
Stay at the Hospital After Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Surgery (1-5 days)
The number of days a patient spends in hospital is completely reliant on the fact of how patient’s mobility and recovery graph. Usually, a patient spends near1 to 5 days. During this period, your care team will look after so many things as below:
- Physiotherapy: After the surgery, you will immediately start getting the sessions of physiotherapy. You have to learn and practice how to get in and out of bed easily. Sessions of walking with the help of walkers. These tasks could be challenging for you in the early days, but they will help you in the long term.
- Medical Monitoring of Knee: A Blood test will be taken to identify the signs of any complications or infection. The healthcare team will keep their eye on your vital signs, mobility, the healing phase of the wound, and other recovery things.
- Planning for Discharge: When you are about to leave the hospital, you will be provided with a detailed guide of your surgery, how to care for it at home, and emergency contacts. Most of the activities will be restricted in the early days. Make sure that you have proper medication or a plan with a timetable. Although there will be follow-up appointments too, many patients arrange house care services for themselves.
Recovery at Home: Early Phase (1-7 weeks)
Once you leave the hospital and its care team behind, you are the one who is mostly responsible for your care at home. You have to be independent for various activities, but for some activities and tasks. Also, you might take help from family members or friends. You can resume the job if it is a desk job or you are working a home. But you still need to follow the guidelines provided by your healthcare.
Restriction on Activity
Your healthcare provider will provide you with a guide that informs you about the restricted activities in the early days. You are not supposed to do high-impact activities or activities that put pressure on the knee. Gyms were restricted in the early days as there was a chance of injury to the knee again. Some people support themself by using walkers.
Regular Sessions of Physiotherapy
Generally, physiotherapy sessions are given within four to five days post-surgery. For strengthening your muscles and enhancing your mobility, these sessions are essential. It helps you to feel normal & improves your walking, which eventually uplifts your confidence and quality of life.
Care of Wound
During the healing phase, you have to take care of your wound so that it does not get wet. It should be clean and hygienic in all aspects. Your healthcare provider must advise you about when and how to take showers. If you are having any signs of bleeding or infection, inform your healthcare team immediately.
Management of Swelling and Pain
Swelling around the knee and pain will reduce after a week of surgery. You still have to continue your medications related to pain as prescribed by the doctors. Many patients experience the ups and downs in the graph of pain throughout the day. Most of them experience extreme pain just after any activity or in the morning when blood flow is highest in the body.
Intermediate Recovery (7-13 weeks)
As you keep your pace to the end of the second month after the surgery, you will start noticing some changes in mobility and a reduction in pain. You will feel a lot better than in comparison with the first month of recovery.
- Independent: Now this is the time when you walk for the first time after surgery without using any walker. However, this time period varies from person to person as on the condition of the neck and wound. You can return to your regular activities gradually and independently. Still, some activities are restricted, like those activity include jumping or sudden stops.
- Progress of Physiotherapy Sessions: Once you are in the 3rd month after the surgery, your physiotherapy sessions will be more challenging and crucial. Your therapist may introduce you to the cycling bike. It is necessary for regaining the muscle strength around your knee and joint.
- Return to Work: As we discussed earlier, many people return to their desk jobs in the early days of discharge or work from home. But those with physically challenging jobs must return in around 11-13weeks, or sometimes longer. Your employer must support you in these crucial days.
Long Term Recovery (3-15 Months)
The final part of recovery primarily focuses on achieving your maximum potential so that you can return to your activities.
- Healing Completely: You can notice a number of improvements throughout your recovery period, but complete healing of a joint may take around a year or more.
- Progress of Activities: As the months pass by, you will desire more normal activities like swimming, walking, and running. Still, there are some sports and high-impact activities that are still restricted.
- Monitoring over the long term: Follow-ups with your orthopedic surgeon and regular X-rays of your knee. These tests are done by an expert service provider to track your recovery. Medications will be given according to the report, and the position of the implant will also be tracked with the help of this.
Conclusion
Recovery after knee replacement surgery requires consistency in following various guidelines. You have to take all the medications properly, attend physiotherapy. Ensure that you have a positive attitude for a long time during the recovery. Don’t be shy to ask something to your healthcare providers if needed. Remember, every patient experiences different levels of pain and time of recovery. But your will is most important to conquer the pain to regain all the ability to perform regular as well as desired activities.