Knee Surgery Recovery Tips
Congratulation on your successful knee surgery! However, the battle is not over yet. Our knee is a complex joint, so it is going to take time to recover.
There is a lot of information about knee surgery, but it can be hard to know what is true and what is not. So, in this article, we will walk you through some knee recovery tips to help you get back on your feet in no time!
How Long Is The Recovery
All patients heal from surgery at their own pace. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to go back to your normal activities. Here are some guidelines:
- Household chores: 3-6 weeks
- Work: 4 weeks or more- depending on your job requirements
- Swimming: 6-8 weeks
- Driving: Before you can drive, will need to be off pain medicine and be abele to get in and out of the car. You may be able to start driving within 2 to 6 weeks–even if your driving leg was operated on.
How Long Does It Take To Walk Or Work After Meniscus Repair Surgery
10/10/2019
Meniscus tears of the knee are one of the most common problems seen by orthopedic surgeons. The meniscus is a c-shaped pad of cartilage that acts as the shock absorber of the knee and lower stress on the bones and cartilage. It can be pretty painful when damaged.
All patients and meniscus tears are different, and there are many variables when deciding how to treat these tears. The treatment of meniscus tears usually falls into one of two categories:
- A true repair that involves sowing the tissue back together with stitches
- Damage that is not repairable, treated with partial meniscectomy, or trimming out the torn portion of the meniscus
The treatment approach for a particular meniscus tear depends on many factors. For one, there are many different types of meniscus tears large or small, simple or complex, acute or chronic, associated with arthritis or not, and more. In addition, we have to take into account the location of the tear with regard to its blood supply. If there is no blood supply it may have a hard time healing or scarring back together. As you can see, there are many variables to consider and it would be impossible to apply a one size fits all type of approach to the treatment of meniscus tears. This is where physician expertise and experience becomes important.
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What Not To Do After Knee Replacement
These are some of the preventative measures that you should follow after your knee surgery:
1) Dont bend your knee more than 90 degrees in the first two weeks after knee replacement
2) Dont crawl around on all fours due to the risk of infection and dislodging your knee prosthesis
3) Do not skip your blood thinners before having knee replacement surgery because they prevent the clotting of blood inside joints
4) Be extra careful when walking or using stairs because they can put too much pressure on the joint and cause pain. Even though you’ll probably get a knee scooter from hospital staff after knee replacement surgery, try not to rely on them for long!
5) Dont sit for more than 30 minutes at a time. If you try sitting longer than what your doctor recommends post-surgery, your knee could swell up as a result of excessive pressure on it from being immobile
6) Do not put the full weight down when standing after surgery, at least just after your surgery. You can take help of walking aid devices like crutches and canes
7) Do not engage in strenuous sporting activities, including jogging, for four months post knee surgery
What Is A Total Knee Replacement
A total knee replacement is a cartilage replacement with an artificial surface. The knee itself is not replaced. However, an artificial substitute for the cartilage is inserted on the end of the bones. This is done with a metal alloy on the femur and plastic spacer on the tibia and kneecap . This creates a new smooth cushion and a functioning joint that does not hurt.
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Do Inversion Tables Hurt Your Knee Joints
Related
In pursuit of relief from back pain, many people try inversion tables. Theoretically, hanging upside down releases pressure from the nerve roots and creates space between vertebrae. Itâs a form of spinal traction, or spinal stretching, that may provide short-term relief for back pain, according to Mayo Clinic. However, the clinic warns that itâs not safe for people with high blood pressure, heart disease or glaucoma. In addition, hanging upside down could hurt your knees.
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Can You Sit Cross
If you are considering knee replacement surgery you likely have a lot of questions. Most questions have to do with post-surgery activities and range of motion. In this article I answer a question I received from a reader:
Will I be able to sit cross-legged after knee replacement surgery?
When I first read this question I wondered if it meant sitting on the floor cross-legged or sitting in a chair cross-legged. Ive decided to answer both and share my thoughts.
Remember, we all have knee surgery for different reasons so your ability to sit cross-legged might be easier, or more challenging, than my experience.
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Outlook For Knee Replacement
While some activities are off-limits after a knee replacement, you still have plenty of others to choose from. Unlimited walking, golf, light hiking, cycling, ballroom dancing, and swimming are all safe for most people with knee implants. By following your doctor’s guidelines, you can expect long-lasting results — about 85% of knee replacements will last 20 years.
Knee Replacement Recovery Timeline
Most patients are discharged one day after surgery. On your discharge day, you may be able to stand and walk out of your hospital room, or you may need assistance with walking, which is completely normal. In the weeks following, most patients gradually expand their physical abilities. Every case is unique. Your surgeon and your physical therapist will coordinate to progress you as quickly as possible. Although everyone progressed at a different pace based on numerous factors, some common timeframes are:
- 3 weeks after surgery: At this point, you should be able to walk for more than 10 minutes at a time, without a walker or crutches. Your physical therapist may challenge you to go on longer walks and stop using an assistive device like a cane.
- 6 weeks after surgery: Between weeks 4 and 6, you may be able to start driving again, if your doctor clears you.
- 12 weeks after surgery: Typical physical therapy programs last for up to 12 weeks. At this point, you should be able to walk for several blocks at a time and may even be able to pick up hobbies like swimming and cycling. As your therapy program ends around the 12-week mark, stick with your walking schedule and gradually challenge yourself to walk further and longer.
- One year after surgery: You will continue to make progress for an entire year after knee replacement. By this time, your knee should reach its full strength and you should be able to return to most activities.
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Taking Care Of Your New Knee Joint
After you have knee replacement surgery, you will need to be careful about how you move your knee, especially for the first few months after surgery.
In time, you should be able to return to your previous level of activity. But even then, you will need to move carefully so that you do not injure your new knee replacement. Be sure to get your home ready for when you return, so you can move more easily and prevent falls.
How Long Does Pain Last After Knee Replacement
It is usually normal to have some pain after surgery, but this pain generally improves with time. However, doctors can provide some pain relief until this happens.
In rare cases, pain may persist longer. Therefore, people who have ongoing or worsening pain should seek advice from their doctor, as there may be a complication.
The most common complication is that people dont like the way their knee works or they continue to have pain or stiffness.
Refer this if you are considering surgery for Joint Replacement Patna
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Nerve And Other Tissue Damage
There’s a small risk that the ligaments, arteries or nerves will be damaged during surgery.
- Fewer than 1 in 100 patients have nerve damage and this usually improves gradually in time.
- About 1 in 100 have some ligament damage this is either repaired during the operation or protected by a brace while it heals.
- About 1 in 1,000 suffer damage to arteries that usually needs further surgery to repair.
- In about 1 in 5,000 cases blood flow in the muscles around the new joint is reduced . This usually also needs surgery to correct the problem.
Pain After A Knee Replacement
When you bend, does your knee pop? Do you have arthritis pain that you cant seem to get rid of? Then youve most likely been referred to a knee surgeon and told that you need a knee replacement. After a knee replacement, the discomfort may become worse than it was before the surgery.
Pain following a knee replacement could be caused by the surgery itself, complications, or even a malfunctioning implant. Pain is the most common complication following knee surgery, and it can necessitate revision surgery.
If youve had a knee replacement and are being advised that surgery is your only choice for relieving chronic knee pain, go no further we are here to help.
At Integra Medical, we encourage you to explore different options for chronic knee pain and learn about the pain risks associated with knee replacement surgery.
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How Long Will The New Knee Joint Last
For 8090% of people who have total knee replacement, the new joint should last about 20 years, and it may well last longer.
If you’ve had a partial knee replacement, you’re more likely to need a repeat operation about 1 person in 10 needs further surgery after 10 years.
The chances of needing another operation is greater if you’re overweight and/or involved in heavy manual work.
Injections For Knee Pain
Valaik says theres good science behind cortisone shots and other injections, such as hyaluronic acid injections, that lubricate the inner workings of the knee and help relieve arthritis pain.
According to Valaik, there is less evidence supporting the benefits of other injectable substances, including platelet-rich plasma and concentrated bone marrow or stem cells, but further studies will reveal more about their efficacy in treating knee arthritis.
Injections can provide temporary relief typically a few months which can help you stay on your feet and postpone surgery, he says.
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Fear Of Harming The Prosthesis
The limited research available on this topic suggests a real difference between perceived and actual ability to kneeland for those who don’t think they can kneel, fear of harming the prosthesis is the motivating factor.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, kneeling is not harmful to your knee after a total knee replacement, although it may be uncomfortable.
Any difficulty in kneeling should become easier with time, but people generally always have the sensation that the knee is artificial and not “normal.”
Overall, it’s important to remember that the goal of a total knee replacement is an improvement in knee motion, but regaining full knee motion is unlikely.
Also, if you undergo a total knee replacement because of arthritis, it’s important to remember that surgery is not going to allow you to do things that you couldn’t do prior to the surgery.
Even If It Is Helpful The Effects Of Inversion Therapy Wont Be Long
Inversion therapy is supposed to stretch the spine, increasing the space between the vertebrae and relieving pressure on the spinal nerves. You may temporarily feel better while you are upside-down, but once you are upright again, your spine will go back to the way it was before. No reputable studies have indicated long-term effectiveness of inversion therapy.
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How Can I Ease Arthritis Pain
If you are looking for ways to reduce arthritis pain or maintain your knee surgery results, there are a number of things you can do to help alleviate pain. While there is no true cure for arthritis, there are many things you can do to help reduce arthritis pain. Some of those things include:
- Maintain a healthy weight
Whats An Inversion Table
An inversion table is a device that allows the user to suspend his body upside down or at an acute angle. Doing so shifts gravitational forces so pressure on the body is reversed from its habitual position. There are many purported benefits of inversion, including relief from lower back pain, sciatica, poor circulation and scoliosis. However, these are largely anecdotal, and there is little research to support any of these effects.
Dr. Celeste Robb-Nicholson of Harvard Womenâs Health Watch reports that, at best, inverting may stretch the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine, which could relieve muscle spasms. This is the reason why some people report relief after using an inversion table, although the relief is short-lived.
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Patients May Not Need To Wait Two Weeks To Shower Following Knee Replacement Surgery
- Date:
- Loyola University Health System
- Summary:
- It may not be necessary for knee replacement patients to wait up to two weeks after surgery before showering, as many surgeons now require, new research indicates.
A Loyola Medicine study suggests it may not be necessary for knee replacement patients to wait up to two weeks after surgery before showering, as many surgeons now require.
The study compared patients who were allowed to shower two days after surgery with patients who had to wait 10 to 14 days. Researchers performed bacterial culture swabs of skin next to incisions, and no differences were found between the early-shower and delayed-shower groups. No patient in either group experienced an infection. As expected, patients overwhelmingly preferred being allowed to shower early.
The study is published in the Journal of Arthroplasty. Corresponding author is Harold Rees, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Loyola University Medical Center who specializes in knee and hip replacements. Dr. Rees is an assistant professor in the department of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
There have been extensive studies on how to prepare orthopaedic surgical sites to reduce the risk of infections, but relatively little research on post-operative wound care regimens. With little evidence-based guidance, individual surgeons base their showering guidelines on anecdote rather than scientific evidence.
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Taking Precautions After Knee Replacement
You may have to make adjustments to your lifestyle while your knee heals. Some of these changes might seem obvious, but they make a difference in the long-term use of your knee. Here are three important precautions to take after knee replacement:
- Start with a cane or walker: While you ease back into walking without help, use a cane or walker to prevent falls. Accidents can damage your knee, disrupting healing or requiring another surgery.
- Make your environment accessible: If possible, prepare your home before your surgery. Plan where youll be spending time so you can skip unnecessary trips on the stairs. Consider what youll need and keep essential items nearby.
- Do your physical therapy exercises: Physical therapy strengthens the muscles around your artificial joint. That support is necessary for functionality and long-term use. Physical therapy teaches you how to restore your knee without causing damage.
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Dangers Of Doing Certain Exercises Too Soon
Performing movements or exercises that are too intense can increase the chances of loosening or fracturing the bones around the implant.
Pushing too much can also lead to increased pain and swelling around the knee, slowing down the rehabilitation process and making it more difficult to exercise.
Symptoms of pushing too hard during the recovery program might include:
- increased pain
- swelling of the knee or lower leg
- warmth around your knee
If you experience any of these symptoms, its best to back off of the activity and ice your knee for 15 to 20 minutes.
If the symptom persists, call your healthcare provider.
Looking For Alternatives To Total Knee Replacements
We’re also funding research which is investigating alternative approaches to total knee replacement. For example, total knee replacement is not recommended for many young people. This study aims to develop a new method called ToKa®, which uses images of the patient’s joint and specially designed software to design a patient specific implant that will be made via 3D printing. If successful, this technique could prevent osteoarthritis patients from needing total joint replacement.
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So Can We Do Anything About It When It Is A Problem With The Other Knee
Clearly knee weakness and instability in the other knee, will present problems in kneeling. If your knee is not bad enough for another knee replacement and you would like to explore other options please consider a review of the following information:
In this article, we are updating research and clinical observations in the use of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. We will also explain why PRP may not work and how getting a single PRP injection is NOT PRP Therapy and will usually lead to unsatisfying long-term results.