Prolotherapy And Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
We are going to briefly address two treatment options that we offer here at Caring Medical. These are non-surgical, injections. These treatments may help the patient who has difficulty kneeling by restoring stability in a loose and wobbly knee following knee replacement.
Prolotherapy is an injection technique utilizing simple sugar or dextrose which causes a small controlled inflammation at weakened tissue. This triggers the immune system to initiate repair of the injured tendons and ligaments. Blood supply dramatically increases at the injured area. The body is alerted that healing needs to take place and reparative cells are sent to the treated area of the knee that needs healing. The body also lays down new collagen in the treated areas, thereby strengthening the weakened structures. Once the tendons and ligaments are strengthened, the knee, even one that has been replaced, stabilizes.
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is the use of a patients blood platelets and healing factors to stimulate repair of a tendon it is considered when tendon damage is more severe.
When the patients have already had a joint replacement, we will do a physical examination of the knee to assess how we may be able to help.
- Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy fix soft tissue, it cannot fix hardware failure,
- Prolotherapy
- and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy works by stabilizes the knee by strengthening the natural muscle and bone attachments, ligaments, and tendons.
Sports After A Knee Replacement
Our duty is to educate patients regarding risks associated with higher levels of activity after total knee replacement: implant loosening, accelerated wear of the articulating surfaces and injuries. We advise our patients to avoid recreational and athletic activities until their quadriceps and hamstring muscles are sufficiently rehabilitated. After muscle strength has been recovered, we try to help our patients to make reasonable choices regarding athletic activities. In general, we support and encourage low-impact activities: cycling, golf, dancing, riding, walking , swimming and tennis . Please see The Knee Society recommendations for more information:
Orthopaedic articles on athletic activities after knee replacement:
The orthopaedic literature on athletic activity after total joint arthroplasty is limited to small retrospective studies with short-term follow-up:
- Healy WL, et al.: Athletic Activity After Total Joint Arthroplasty. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery . 2008 90:2245-2252.
- Mont MA, et al.: Tennis after Total Knee Arthroplasty. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 30:163-166 .
Further information on athletic activities after knee replacement:
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What About Traveling By Car
The risk of developing DVT comes from lack of movement, whether youre traveling by air, rail, or road. Youre also at an increased risk for DVT if you go home and spend too much time in bed.
You can lower your risk for DVT by moving your legs whenever possible. If youre traveling by car, plan to stop and stretch your legs every hour. Once youre home, avoid sitting for more than 4 hours at a time.
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Booking A Cruise And Knee Replacement Surgery In Advance
My wife had planned a cruise a year in advance and we were going with 7 other couples. When the cruise was booked I had no idea that I would be having knee replacement surgery. Later in the year, after multiple visits to doctors and knee surgeons, I made a decision to have a total knee replacement.
I wanted to have the TKR has soon as possible so Id have plenty of time to recover before going on the cruise. Unfortunately, we had made other family commitments so that the earliest I could have it was the end of May.
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That would only give me 10 weeks of rehabilitation and I wasnt sure if that was enough time. I didnt want to continue to put off the surgery and I also thought about waiting until after the cruise to have the surgery.
My surgeon assured me that without complications I would be recovered and ready to go. I had the surgery May 23rd and flew to Seattle on July 31st . I spent a few days seeing the sights in Seattle before we embarked on our cruise.
Despite my doubts, I was able to do all the excursions and activities that we had signed up for. Overall, I had an enjoyable experience and Im glad I didnt cancel the trip.
Flying After Knee Surgery
How soon after Knee replacement can I fly with Monarch from Uk to Majorca
Best person to ask is your surgeon not strangers on the Internet .
ditto
but as you will not be plastered the airline will not be concerned.Many airlines have strict rules about flying with a fresh plaster and may require a “fit to travel” letter from a doctor.
This can vary from three months onward but the person to ask is your surgeon. The chances of a DVT are extremely high after la leg operation, and the tiny amount of leg room with a charter flight may make this worse.
Good luck
When I had my knee operated on I was told to keep the knee as high as possible – so I figured 39,000′ would be high enough
British humour at its best
Ask your doctor. Even a medical professional TA poster wouldn’t take the responsibility to tell you without having seen your medical history.
Maybe this will help. You certainly want to go by what your doctor says. but I personally would not do it til after you’ve had physical therapy.
Years ago i flew about 6 weeks after arthroscopic surgery on knee…but that is NOT major, like your surgery .
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Showering After Knee Replacement Surgery
One very popular myth about showering after knee replacement surgery is the belief that you need to avoid taking a bath for the short-term after replacement surgery. For decades, patients who underwent knee replacement surgery were under the impression that they could not submerge the healing area for at least 14 days or at least until after the skin staples were removed to avoid accidental loss of sutures.
For most patients, this rule was unpleasant. The majority of patients want to go home, bathe and get rid of all the tape marks, and feel clean. Well, now a study shows that this time-honored advice is unnecessary in most patients.
Research at Loyola School
Researchers at Loyola School of medicine recently conducted a study about showering after knee replacement surgery. This study was done by comparing the bacterial skin counts of patients who shower 48 hours after knee arthroplasty to patients who waited between 10-14 days.
Once researchers swabbed the skin near the incision of the patients who had just bathed. They analyzed microscopic skin cells to see if there was a difference in the bacterial count in the patients who had showered 48-hours after surgery versus the patients who delayed bathing for 10-14 days. Upon reviewing the data, they found there was no patient in either group developed any signs of infection and, therefore, that there was no reason to wait two-weeks before showering after knee replacement surgery.
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When And How I Showered After Knee Replacement
On the 12th day post-surgery, my home physical therapist removed my staples and said that I could take a shower the next day. She advised me not to let the shower water directly hit my incision.
On her initial visit, she checked my bathrooms and shower to make sure I could maneuver in and out of each. She mentioned getting a non-slip pad so I wouldnt slip while getting into the shower or standing up.Many showers have non-slip grips so you might be prepared already. If you dont have one, its wise to take extra precautions on wet surfaces.
If you fall it could damage the wound and create more problems for you . If youre living on your own I recommend being extra careful when it comes to safety .
She liked that I had a built in tile bench in my shower and a showerhead that I can remove and use by hand. These were two big advantages for me.
My shower does not have built in handrails. Handrails would have helped a lot!
A handle can help you get in and out of the shower. It will also help with standing up. I didnt want to damage my tile in the shower so I didnt install a permanent handle, but I found another option that uses suction on the tile . They can easily be attached and released and wont damage the tile. Plus it looks nice.
I like the Vaunn Tool-Free Shower Chair because the height is adjustable and you dont need tools to assemble it . Its listed as a chair for seniors, people with balance issues, or people recovering from surgery.
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When Can You Drive After Surgery
You should not drive on the day of your outpatient surgical procedure. Most hospitals will require that a family member or friend is present at discharge to drive you home. Studies have shown that a person usually has some form of motor deficit following general anaesthesia for 24 hours following a procedure driving should therefore not be undertaken until at least this time. Furthermore, some strong pain relieving medications can remain in the body for extended time periods and most people should not return to driving until at least 24 hours after this pain relieving medication has stopped.
Most patients do not drive until after their first post-operative visit , although some patients may return to driving before this point. When considering a return to driving, it is important to consider the following points:
- Coordination and reflexes may be slightly impaired for several weeks after surgery.
- You must recover adequate muscle control for braking and accelerating before you try to drive.
Listed below are typical times after surgery when patients resume driving. Please note that this is a rough guide only, as each patient is different.
- Simple knee arthroscopy 1 week
- ACL reconstruction 4-6 weeks
- Periacetabular osteotomy 8-12 weeks
How Long Does It Take To Get Full Range Of Motion After Knee Replacement
Most of your improvement after a knee replacement will take time. However, the one thing that you must feel some urgency to accomplish is getting good range of motion of your knee . Within 7 to 10 days after your knee replacement, you should be able to get your knee entirely straight/full extension (Fig.
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When Can I Resume To My Normal Leisure Activities
During the first six weeks after your surgery, we recommend limiting your activities to walking with support, gentle swimming in the shallow end once you have been given permission to get the wound wet. We recommend you refrain from exercises such as pilates, golf and social tennis until three months after the date of your surgery. If you are enthusiastic about a particular sport, please seek instructions from A/Prof Walter.
When Is It Safe To Travel After Joint Replacement Surgery
It is highly recommended you wait a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks post-surgery before traveling. However, this will also depend on a combination of factors, such as the type of joint replacement procedure you get done, the length of time you will be travelling, and the mode of transportation you will use. Moreover, your level of comfort also plays a vital role in determining whether you are ready to travel.
You can expect the location of the surgery to be painful, sensitive, and swollen for a few weeks after the operation, and this can be uncomfortable even when you are resting at home, let alone when youre traveling. As such, assess your pain and mobility with your surgeon prior to making travel plans. Finally, even if you are doing well in your recovery, using a cane or crutches will most likely be necessary as you will not have recovered until after completing several weeks or months of physical therapy following your procedure.
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Benefits Of A Knee Replacement
Once your new joint has completely healed you should experience following benefits of the surgery: significantly reduced or no joint pain, increased movement and mobility, correction of angular leg deformity, increased leg strength , improved quality of life and the ability to return to most normal activities and pastimes.
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Knee Replacement Surgery Aftercare In Missouri
The experts at Advanced Bone & Joint have been taking care of musculoskeletal needs of patients since the 1980s. Our services include pain management, joint replacement procedures, sports medicine, general orthopedics, and much more. If you do need surgery, we will support you until you have completely recovered.
You may contact us at 229-4222 for your inquiries or to schedule an appointment. You may also request an appointment through our secure online form.
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Riding In A Car Home From The Hospital
One of my first big challenges after TKR was getting into a car for the ride home from the hospital. I was wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair.
My son was waiting with his compact car . A larger car like our SUV would have made things much easier.
Our first idea was for to me to sit in the back with my leg outstretched on the seat. Getting from the wheelchair, standing up and then getting in the car was harder than I had thought.
I tried several times to get in the back seat from both doors but I could not get in easily because I could not bend my knee. After several attempts, I gave up.
I was able to get in the front seat passenger seat without much trouble but I was afraid that it would be painful because I could not elevate the knee. The twenty-minute ride home was actually pretty comfortable probably due to the pain medication I had recently taken.
Once I arrived home it took a few minutes to get out of the car and up with my walker. My son parked in the garage so that I had a short walk into the house with no stairs .
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Flying After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
While keyhole surgery is often considered a minor procedure, it is generally agreed that patients recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery should wait at least two weeks before flying. Some patients may have difficulty walking for the first week after their arthroscopy and may want to wait until their mobility returns before flying.
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Getting Into And Riding In A Car
When getting into a car:
- Get into the car from street level, not from a curb or doorstep. Have the front seat moved back as far as possible.
- Car seats shouldn’t be too low. Sit on a pillow if you need to. Before you get into a car, make sure you can slide easily on the seat material.
- Turn around so the back of your knee is touching the seat and sit down. As you turn, have someone help lift your legs into the car.
When riding in a car:
- Break up long car rides. Stop, get out, and walk around every 45 to 60 minutes.
- Do some of the simple exercises, like ankle pumps, while riding in the car. This helps reduce the risks of blood clots.
- Take pain medicines before your first ride home.
When getting out of the car:
- Turn your body as someone helps you lift your legs out of the car.
- Scoot and lean forward.
- Standing on both legs, use your crutches or walker to help you stand up.
Ask your health care provider when you can drive. You may need to wait up to 4 weeks after surgery. Do not drive until your provider says it is OK.
Will My Implant Set Off The Metal Detector At The Airport
Medical alert cards are available upon request. Whether or not you have a card to alert the security personnel, they may have you step aside for further screening. To help you on your way, wear clothes that allow you to easily reveal your surgical scar . Alert the security staff that you have a knee replacement.You will likely be screened with a metal detecting wand, but security sees many patients with implants, and you should not be delayed.
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Flying After Knee Replacement
christine83627
Just wondering when it is safe to fly again after knee replacement. I did mention it to my surgeon and I thought that he said 6 weeks but this seems to contradict information I have read on the internet and I was just wondering how long other people waited until they ventured on their first aeroplane and what advice they had been given by their surgeon.
I am craving sunshine at the moment but do not wish to cause problems by pushing things too soon.
I am only just over six weeks at the moment but things have gone fairly well and I am just thinking about planning a winter holiday.
The flight time would be about 4 hours so not too long a flight.
0 likes, 6 replies
When Can I Drive
You may be able to drive about 4 weeks after your operation or even earlier, depending on your general health, which knee has been replaced and whether you drive a manual or automatic car. It should be remembered that some people become drowsy with painkillers. You should be able to do an emergency stop before attempting to drive. Your surgeon and physiotherapist will be able to offer advice.
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