If you struggle with chronic knee pain and knee mobility, your doctor may recommend total knee replacement surgery once conservative treatment options are exhausted. Knowing what to expect after a total knee replacement can help you regain knee strength and mobility so that you can resume independent living more quickly.
Total knee replacement surgery can take anywhere from one to three hours. Once the procedure is complete, your knee will be wrapped in a sterile bandage, and you’ll be taken to the recovery room.
Most patients want to know how long it takes to recover from total knee replacement. Typically, the rehabilitation process begins the day following your surgery and lasts roughly 12 weeks.
A physical therapist will have you up and walking using a walker, crutches or cane within 24 hours of surgery, as long as your pain is under control. With each passing day, you should be able to gradually increase your activity level.
Most patients stay in the hospital for one to three days after surgery, but some patients need to stay a bit longer. You will be discharged once your pain level is manageable and you can:
At discharge, you will be given directions from your orthopedic surgeon to aid your recovery process.
Within 10 days following your discharge, you should be able to:
At the two to three-week mark, your knee may be strong enough to carry more weight. Most people are either using a cane or nothing at all by this point.
By week six, you should notice a dramatic improvement if you’ve followed your exercise and rehabilitation schedule. Swelling and inflammation should decrease, and you should have increased strength and mobility. Many patients can take care of themselves and resume most activities at this point.
Three months after surgery, the majority of patients are 90% recovered. After six months, most patients feel 100% recovered.
To ensure your recovery process is as successful as possible, it’s important to follow your orthopedic surgeon’s directions as closely as possible. After discharge from the hospital, you will need to:
Here’s a general guide on when you can expect to resume everyday activities:
Generalized pain can last several weeks following knee replacement surgery. However, you can expect much less pain within a month. Pain medication and specialized exercises for total knee replacement can help you manage pain.
The best way to sleep following knee replacement surgery is on your back. This position maintains proper blood flow to the surgical site and allows your leg to stay as straight as possible to avoid hypertension of the knee.
If you believe that you are a candidate for total knee replacement, we invite you to reach out to us online to schedule an appointment at OrthoBethesda.
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