For most patients, they will be on regular Panadol Osteo three times a day, an anti-inflammatory called Celebrex for anywhere between six weeks and three months, a nerve tablet (Lyrica) which reduces nerve pain, and also long acting pain tablets (eg Targin or Oxycontin) especially at night.
Anti-inflammatory medicines help with healing by reducing swelling and pain. If you will be continuing an anti-inflammatory medicine after leaving the hospital, be aware that these medicines may cause stomach upset for some people. Take the medicine as directed on your prescription.
Routine discharge medicines after joint replacements (hips and knees): Paracetamol for as long as necessary (e.g. PanadolOsteo, Panamax). NSAIDS for minimum of six weeks (e.g. meloxicam, Celebrex, ibuprofen (Nurofen)).
Icing and elevation
Continue using ice packs or some form of cold therapy to help reduce swelling. For knee replacement, you will need to elevate the leg to help reduce swelling. It is important to elevate the entire leg, down to the ankle. When elevating, your feet should be above the level of your heart.
Inflammation and swelling: Walking increases blood flow to the tissues, which can help reduce knee inflammation and swelling. Joint stiffness and weakness: Low impact activity helps build muscle strength and joint mobility.
After your knee replacement, it's important to stick with the recommended physical therapy plan and continue challenging yourself without overexerting your healing knee. Following an exercise regime can also reduce swelling, increase your range of motion and strengthen your body.
The knee can remain swollen for a long time (several weeks or months) after a replacement without it being a sign of a problem. Swelling is a common and normal part of the healing process after knee surgery.
Balancing movement with getting enough rest is necessary to heal from knee replacement surgery. For the first few months, you may have some mild-to-moderate swelling of the affected knee. Getting the appropriate rest and keeping your leg elevated, as well as applying ice, can help boost healing time.
Ibuprofen, the most frequently prescribed NSAID, is effective in reducing acute postoperative pain. However, ibuprofen may be associated with various serious adverse events, including death, cardiovascular morbidity, gastrointestinal ulcer, and renal impairment.
Patients are often instructed not to take ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before or after surgery because of increased bleeding risk.
NSAIDs alone, however, will not relieve the moderate to severe pain you may have after surgery. Traditional NSAIDs block the actions of both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, which is why they can cause stomach upset and bleeding, and are associated with ulcers.
It's important not to overextend yourself during the recovery process. If you experience persistent or increased knee pain, discomfort or swelling while doing any physical activity, it's best to ease off and seek medical advice. Walking is a relatively safe and accessible exercise during your recovery period.
Knee stiffness is a complication that may occur. Treatment options include aggressive physical therapy, manipulation under anesthesia, surgical removal of scar tissue, and revision knee replacement. Your surgeon will decide which treatment is best for your unique needs.
Swelling and pain are the most common complaints after knee replacement. The swelling is normal and is usually moderate to severe in the first week but gradually decreases for the next weeks and months. Mild swelling may persist normally as long as six months post-surgery.
Around the 6 week mark, once your physician gives you the greenlight, you may be able to return to sleeping in your preferred position (such as on your stomach or surgical side). Until then, stick to these positions.
By: Sunil Jani, MD, MS, Orthopedic Surgeon
A full recovery can take 6 months to 1 year or longer. After surgery, efforts are devoted to controlling post-surgical pain, establishing good range of motion, and increasing muscle strength. Once fully recovered, a person typically has less knee pain and better knee function.
Walking. Proper walking is the best way to help your knee recover. At first, you will walk with a walker or crutches. Your surgeon or therapist will tell you how much weight to put on your leg.
Once a knee has been replaced, the soft tissue around the joint will have a lot of adjusting to, to 'relearn' how to work properly. Massage can help increase blood flow around the body and circulate everything to help speed this process up.
Can you sleep on your side after knee replacement surgery? You can, but it's wise not to do so until at least a few weeks after surgery, when you can start bending your knee. Make sure you lay on your non-operative side. Sleeping this way makes sure no pressure falls on the knee you had surgery on.
Barring any complications, most patients are able to return to most normal activities and walk without the need of assistive devices between three to six weeks after surgery. Overall, it usually takes two to three months to make a complete recovery from a minimally invasive knee replacement.
What can I drink to help recover from an injury or surgery? Water is usually the best option for rehydrating. You should limit caffeinated beverages and avoid sports drinks because the sodium in them can cause water retention which makes it difficult to reduce swelling.
Within 2-3 weeks post surgery, you should be able to walk a short distance – or for around 10 minutes – without depending on a mobility aid.
The goal after knee replacement is to get the knee to at least 120 degrees of flexion or bending motion. You need at least 110 degrees to enter and exit a car and most people need 110 to 120 degrees to ride a bike.