If you are suffering from severe pain and disability in the knee and you’ve tried everything else but not getting relief from the condition, knee replacement surgery is the right choice for you. It can help you get your activity back and enjoy your life fully.
After having the surgery, your rehabilitation period starts in which it is extremely important to take care of yourself. Complete knee replacement recovery takes six to twelve months. You’ll get back on your feet and resume an active lifestyle during this phase. In this blog, I am going to tell you about what you can expect in the first week after surgery.
Within 24 hours after surgery, you will be helped to stand up and walk using an assistive device by a physical therapist (PT). For example, crutches, canes, and walkers are used as assistive devices. You will receive help changing the bandage, dressing, bathing, and using the toilet from a nurse or occupational therapist.
The medical staff’s main concerns during your hospital stay will be:
- Treatment of pain
- Tracking and avoiding issues
- To prepare you for discharge. Medical staff provide assistance in using assistive walking devices and performing basic tasks
Patients are often discharged one to two days after surgery, except in situations where there is a medical risk. Before releasing you, your surgeon will want to make sure that your pain is under control and that you can perform simple tasks without much problem.
On the day after discharge, you might be able to stand up and leave your hospital room on your own, or you could use assistance, which is perfectly normal. Each case is different. In order to help you recover as soon as possible, your surgeon and physical therapist will work together.
Physical therapy usually begins two to three days After leaving the hospital or surgery centre. To decrease pain and improve motion, the therapist will measure your range of motion (ROM) and massage your body. When you get out of the house and go to therapy, you will be forced to walk, interact, and receive some guidance which will help you recover.
As week one comes to an end, you start to see some improvement, but you still feel like much work needs to be done. Most patients began to move around tight spaces without the walker towards the end of the week.
When can I start walking again after a knee replacement?
After surgery, the majority of patients progress to straight canes, walkers, or crutches within a few days. You will start walking longer and more frequent as the days go on.
Within three to six weeks after surgery, most patients can drive a car again and resume several other normal activities.
A month after a knee replacement, patients are usually much more mobile than they used to before surgery.
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