Typically, knee replacement patients are able to leave the hospital within 1 to 5 days (often 2 or 3), and they can take care of themselves and resume most activities 6 weeks after surgery. The majority of patients are 90% recovered after 3 months, though it can take 6 months or longer before they are 100% recovered.
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.
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.
Knee replacement patients are typically placed in the supine position, with arms on armboards and the operative knee propped or flexed. Be sure these areas are padded and protected when patients are in supine position: Occiput. Many anesthesia providers prefer to use a foam "donut" to stabilize the head.
You will usually be in hospital for 3 to 5 days, depending on what progress you make and what type of knee replacement you have. Patients who have a half knee replacement usually have a shorter hospital stay.
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.
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.
You will not be awake during surgery. Spinal anesthesia provides surgical anesthesia and you will be given sedatives to help you relax and put you in a light sleep. The level of your sleepiness can be adjusted and you can be easily awakened, if needed. In other words, you will be sleepy but not completely out.
Because you remain conscious (awake), you will be given sedatives to relax and put you in a light sleep. The three types of regional anesthesia used most often in joint replacement surgery are spinal blocks, epidural blocks, and peripheral nerve blocks.
The typical hospital stay after knee replacement is one night, but some patients stay longer, while others go home on their surgery day.
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.
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.”
The first two to three weeks post-op is generally the time patients feel most discouraged due to the pain. It's hard to get up from a chair, it's difficult going up and down stairs, you're moving slowly and you have to use a walker because you have no strength or balance.
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.
Place your surgical leg forward. Reach back for the bed surface, lowering yourself slowly to the edge. Scoot back on the bed in a diagonal direction until your knees feel supported. As you turn your body to get into bed, you may need to use a leg lifter or someone to help lift your surgical leg.
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.
Sit in a firm chair with a straight back and armrests. After your surgery, avoid stools, sofas, soft chairs, rocking chairs, and chairs that are too low. When getting up from a chair, slide toward the edge of the chair, and use the arms of the chair, your walker, or crutches for support to get up.
Seven days before surgery: Stop taking all NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and aspirin. They interfere with blood clotting, which can increase blood loss during surgery.
Most surgeons prefer to carry out knee replacement surgery with the aid of a tourniquet ‐ a tight band placed around the thigh that restricts blood flow to the knee.
The best sleeping position just after your surgery is sleeping on your back. You should make sure that your operative leg stays as straight as possible to avoid hypertension of the knee and keep proper blood flow to the surgery site. If you are sleeping on your back, put the pillow under your calf and knee.
In general, avoid sports that require jerking, twisting, pulling, or running. You should be able to do lower-impact activities, such as hiking, gardening, swimming, playing tennis, and golfing.
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.
Most people can return to driving a car by 4 weeks following knee replacement, and scientific studies looking at reflexes and response times have confirmed this. It really comes down to reacting safely to a situation on the road; braking or accelerating.