Most people can leave hospital 1 to 3 days after the operation. Before you leave, a physiotherapist or occupational therapist will talk to you about managing daily activities and home exercise programmes. Following the exercises early on in your recovery will help with the long-term strength and movement in your knee.
You will stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days after having hip or knee joint replacement surgery. During that time you will recover from your anesthesia and the surgery.
TKA patients begin rehabilitation during the seven-day bedrest period, with the goals of decreasing swelling, increasing ROM, promoting normal leg control and promoting normal gait with an assistive device.
On average after a knee replacement you should be ready to transfer to rehab or go home after 4 to 5 days. At the Mater Hospital, the ward doctors, nurses and physiotherapists will take good care of you.
In most cases, patients can walk without help from assistive devices like crutches or a walker within six weeks after knee replacement surgery. That said, physical therapy continues after this time to help your knee and the surrounding muscles grow stronger and more flexible.
Most patients, even if they live alone, can safely go directly home from the hospital after hip or knee replacement surgery, according to a recent study.
Pain is to be expected after the initial knee replacement, but it should not be severe. The first few days after surgery should include the highest level of pain, but your doctor will send you home with pain medication adequate for your pain level.
Patients will develop swelling in the leg, and there may be some bruising or redness around the incision area one week after surgery. “These are normal findings,” Dr. Lyon assures. “There might be slight drainage from the incision, but resolving.”
As knee arthritis progresses, the knee becomes much looser and more unstable. In some cases, this is mild. In other cases, it is substantial enough that cause the patient to fall. Patients who have bone-on-bone arthritis and are starting to fall because of it should strongly consider surgery.
You may go home with a waterproof dressing covering your incision. You can shower with this dressing on if the edges are not peeling back. If you do not have a waterproof dressing and you still have sutures, staples or stitches, you can cover your incision with plastic to keep it dry while taking a shower.
The biggest challenge in the early recovery of a TKR (up to 3 months postoperative) is the regaining of knee motion. We will send a physical therapist to your house to help you with the walking, knee exercises, and gentle manipulation of the knee.
Many patients ask this question when considering TKR and the consensus is that the spring and early fall are the best seasons. You'll want to wear as little clothing as possible during your recovery because it makes cleaning the wound and moving around easier.
The average recovery time from knee replacement surgery is approximately six months, but it can take roughly 12 months to fully return to physically demanding activities. Though the recovery process can be long, there are steps you can take to heal well and enhance your recovery speed.
The operation usually takes about 1 to 2 hours. The type of surgery you have depends on things like how damaged your knee is, your age and your general health.
The surgery itself depends on the type of knee operation. A total knee replacement, for example, will likely take between 2-3 hours. Whereas a partial knee replacement normally takes around an hour. Most knee surgeries take between 1-3 hours.
One of the most common problems people experience after knee replacement is a stiff knee joint. 1 This can cause difficulty with activities that require a lot of bending, including going down stairs, sitting in a chair, or getting out of a car.
Daily Plan of Care: Day Two
You will continue with incentive spirometer to exercise your lungs. Pain medicines will continue, as you need them. The PCA device is usually stopped on this day and oral medicines for pain are used. A blood thinning (anticoagulant) medication will continue.
You'll want to sleep so that your operating side faces the ceiling, meaning that you do not want to lay on it. That will keep the pressure off the knee you had surgery on. It's also a better idea to place a pillow or a few between your knees to provide greater support and comfort.
Think about the basic everyday tasks you need to do and consider how you would manage if you were unable to bend your knee eg. getting in and out of a chair or even going to the toilet. And don't forget you won't be able to drive for a while. Try to put your pride aside and make sure you have help on hand.
Effectiveness of total knee replacement
Many studies show that 90-95 percent of total knee replacements are still functioning well 10 years after surgery.
A shower bench is also recommended, so that you do not submerge the wounds in water. To learn more about wound care after your surgery check out this blog.
Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes that are easy to put on. If you have crutches at home that you will be using after your surgery, bring them to the hospital with you.