The Three Stages of Knee Replacement Recovery
Knee replacement surgery is usually performed to help alleviate the pain and stiffness of knee arthritis. In most cases, surgery can bring about a massive difference in your quality of life – knee pain is greatly reduced and you are able to return to doing the things that you love. Getting the right help and support from an experienced team, such as the Manchester knee specialists at My Knee Doc can lessen the stress and anxiety of your surgery and recovery process.
You can expect to see improvements in your symptoms after only a few weeks. Many patients will still notice gradual improvements in mobility, flexibility, and confidence up to 2 years after their surgery. It is important to follow the advice and instructions given by your surgeon and physiotherapy team.
Manchester knee specialist, Mr. Gareth Stables, and the My Knee Doc team let you know what to expect following knee replacement surgery. This hopefully, can help you in setting realistic targets for your recovery.
Initial In-Hospital Recovery Phase
Once you recover from your anaesthetic and the effects of the anaesthesia begin to wear off (usually a good few hours after your surgery), you might start to experience discomfort or moderate pain in your knee and thigh.
Your surgeon or anaethetist will prescribe pain relief medications to help manage the initial post-surgery symptoms.
You will usually have some cryotherapy or have regular ice packs applied to your knee - to help you control the swelling and pain. Physiotherapy is a crucial aspect of this phase, and is initiated soon after surgery, often on the day of surgery. You will be shown exercises aimed at making your leg stronger, and enabling increased knee movements, and getting you walking again.
Managing pain during this stage is important because within a day or two you’ll be walking and moving your knees. As you manage your pain, you’ll be able to handle more tasks.
At-Home Recovery Phase
Following your surgeons advice and listening to the great advice from the nursing and physiotherapy staff can help make for a speedy and safe recovery.
• Allow the surgical wound to heal - Keep it dry by preventing exposure to water.
• Eat a well-balanced diet - include iron-rich foods. Do not letthe loss of appetite (a common after-surgery effect) keep you away from healthy meals essential to build your strength.
• Exercise as per your physiotherapy chart. You should be able to sit, stand, walk, climb stairs, and drive 6 weeks after surgery.
Preventing Complications
Accidental falls can open wounds and even necessitate further surgeries. Avoid falls by using supportive devices such as crutches.
Blood clots and infections may arise during initial weeks of surgery. You will be prescribed Blood-thinning medications to prevent blood clots.
At My Knee Doc, our professional knee specialists have your best interests in mind. We will provide you with expert information so you understand your condition and we'll help you make the right decision about your treatment plan.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Manchester private knee doctor, Mr. Gareth Stables.
Call 0161 464 6399 now to get started.