How Long Do You Have Pain After Knee Replacement Surgery
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.
Keeping The Legs Completely Straight
You may have seen some other brands of leg elevation pillows that feature a completely straight incline, with no bend for the knee. Theres also a good chance you have elevated your legs without bending the knee if you have ever put your feet up on a wall or the arm of a couch. However, keeping the legs completely straight puts a lot of strain on the muscles and tendons of the knee and can cause significant pain. Gently bending the knees is not only more comfortable, its also less likely to result in further injury.
You May Like: Is Cycling Good For Arthritic Knees
What Is The Outlook For People With Leg Length Discrepancy
The long-term outlook for people with leg length discrepancies can vary.
If the leg-length discrepancy is corrected, the leg length discrepancy should improve.
However, leg length discrepancies are often corrected within a few weeks.
The most common cause of leg length discrepancy is the knee replacement surgery.
If you have a leg-length discrepancy and are using a walker, walker can help you get around.
However, you may need a wheelchair if you have a leg length discrepancy and cannot walk without pain.
You May Like: Knee Brace Support Meniscus
How To Prevent Swelling After Knee Replacement
May 11, 2021 by Herman Botero, MD
Swelling is one of the most common side effects that sets in after a knee replacement procedure, and rightfully so. Swelling is your bodys natural response to trauma as fluids and white blood cells are sent to the area to help protect it and give it time to heal. However, too much swelling and inflammation can actually be a bad thing by inhibiting the healthy flow of blood and fluids in and out of the area. In todays blog, we share some tips for managing and decreasing swelling in your knee following joint replacement surgery.
Millard Foam Leg Elevator W/ Washable Cover
This is a unique leg wedge that will actually hold your leg in place. I like the structure of this leg elevator and the fact that it is specialized for 1 leg.
Sometimes its nice to have both legs raised but this takes up less space and is perfect for a single leg. If you have 2 TKRs you can buy 2.
Millard the leg elevator also has a washable velour cover . Inside the foam is polyurethane with a 45 degree angled thigh ramp.
It measures 32 x 13 x 9.5 inches and weighs 4.3 pounds, making it wide and sturdy enough to hold the largest of legs.
Customers commented that it worked great for post-operations and solid for people over 6 feet tall. The reviews are superb and I like that it holds the leg in place.
When I was using regular pillows my leg often fell off the pillows. I was constantly readjusting pillows to keep my leg on top.
This is the one Id get if I had surgery again.
Also Check: Inversion Table Knee Pain
How Long Should You Keep Your Leg Elevated After Knee Surgery
Prop your leg on cushions or pillows so your knee is at least 12 inches above your heart for the first three to five days after surgery. Keep your leg elevated if your knee swells or throbs when you are up and about on crutches. Dont put pillows behind your knee because this limits motion of the knee.
Dont Miss: How To Shower After Knee Surgery
Keep A Snack Handy By The Bedside
Blood sugar dysregulation a fancy name for glucose levels that are out of wack post surgically is common. It is possible that you are walking up because your blood sugar is dropping. When that happens cortisol is secreted to bring it back up. Cortisol is the hormone that wakes you up in the morning. Melatonin helps you go to sleep, they work in opposite cycles.
Having a snack will get the blood sugar back where it should be and reduce the cortisol letting you fall back asleep. It is worth a try if you are staying at the ceiling tiles at 2 am in the morning.
You could also try taking melatonin tablets as a sleep aid before you go to bed. Melatonin is a better option than a sleeping pill.
Don’t Miss: Inversion Table Knees
Where Do You Put A Pillow After Total Knee Replacement Knee Surgery
There are two main ways to position a pillow after total knee replacement surgery.
To maximize knee extension range of motion the pillow or stack of pillows would be placed under the patients ankle. The back of the knee would not contact the pillow or bed surface.
A far more comfortable way to place a pillow under you leg while sleeping is to turn the pillow parallel with your leg and have the full surface of the pillow support the full backside of your leg.
What Is The Proper Way To Elevate Your Legs
There are two very easy ways to elevate your legs:
Also Check: Best Knee Walker 2016
Sports With High Impact Or Quickly Changing Directions
While recovering from knee replacement surgery, avoid participating in contact sports or sports that may lead to a sudden twisting or jerking of the knee. Some examples include:
- soccer
. Its important to work with your orthopedic surgeon after surgery to build the best program possible.
Here are some examples of exercises that surgeons recommend at different stages of recovery.
How Do You Sleep After A Knee Replacement
Not well is the most common answer I hear in the clinic. Some clients will sleep in short episodes of 1-2 hours while others sleep in blocks of 4 hours. The best advice is to find a position of comfort and sleep as long as the position will allow. If you are unable to sleep in a bed, it is common to sleep in a recliner or on a couch for the first couple days or couple weeks. Some patients find sleeping in a recliner or couch allows them to maintain the best knee position while not worrying about waking a spouse.
You May Like: How Much Does Aflac Pay For Knee Surgery
Those Whove Had A Hip Replacement
For hip replacement recipients, you will want to elevate your leg slightly and lay with your surgery side up to ice. This reduces swelling and will likely be a more comfortable position.
- Once elevated, ice you 15-20 minutes at a time.
- Wrap ice in a tea towel, t-shirt, or thin cloth. DO NOT apply directly to skin.
- Repeat icing at least 3-4 times a day. If you think you would benefit from icing more frequently, ask your doctor if this is a good idea.
Tip: Remember, icing to reduce pain and speed up recovery is apart of a triple approach : pain medication, elevation and icing. Doing all 3 will keep pain down and allow you to recover safely, with a lessened chance of complications due to excessive swelling, bruising or inflammation.
Why Elevating Legs Above Your Heart Is Important
People often say the level to elevate your legs should be above the heart. But what does this mean?
If youre laying flat on your back you dont need to raise your legs very high to be above your heart . However, if youre sitting upright, your legs will also need to be high to be level with your heart .
Simply put, raising your legs above heart level makes it easier for blood to exit your legs and return to your heart which helps filter toxins. Whether it be working all day on our feet or exercising, blood and fluid can build up in our legs and cause swelling .
At night we typically sleep horizontal which makes it easy on our heart to flush out blood and fluid from our limbs. If youve recently had an injury, or surgery, elevating our legs more frequently can be healthy.
According to Livestrong, to improve circulation, elevate legs above the heart level to promote venous drainage and reduce swelling. Furthermore, in excess of 45 degrees is not recommended.
Keep leg elevated for twenty minutes.
To improve circulation while legs are elevated, move your feet in a circular motion to get blood moving.
You May Like: What Is Nano Knee Replacement
Those Whove Had A Knee Replacement
With a knee replacement, you will want to be sure to elevate your leg while icing. This helps cut down swelling and inflammation, which speeds up healing. While icing, lay on your back and prop your surgical leg with 3 or more pillows. DO NOT put pillows directly under your knee as this cause stiffness . Pillows should prop your heel. When icing, keep your knee as straight as possible. Your surgical leg must be elevated higher than your heart.
- Once elevated, ice you 15-20 minutes at a time.
- Wrap ice in a tea towel, t-shirt, or thin cloth. DO NOT apply directly to skin .
- Repeat icing at least 3-4 times a day. If you think you would benefit from icing more frequently, ask your doctor if this is a good idea.
How long to ice a knee after knee replacement surgery? Its important to keep icing daily in the first 90 days of surgery and beyond. As long as you have pain and swelling, icing is a great tool to overcome these recovery setbacks.
Is It Ok To Sleep In A Recliner After Knee Replacement
If you are unable to sleep in a bed due to back pain or other complicating factors, sleeping in a recliner may be your second best option.
It is important to keep in mind that even while sleeping in a recliner you should consider elevating your leg above the level of your heart with a wedge pillow or normal pillows.
Thin wedge pillows like the one shown below work great in a recliner. They allow you to elevate the surgical leg without interfering with the non-surgical leg.
Read Also: Knee Walker Mobility Scooter
Restorology Elevating Leg Rest Pillow
The Restorology pillow wedge is a customer favorite and works perfectly for people recovering from knee replacement surgery. Its marketed as a way to reduce discomfort from leg and back pain, restless leg syndrome, and injuries or surgeries.
This knee replacement wedge pillow uses memory foam that keeps its shape under the heaviest of loads. Because it uses foam it wont wear out for a long time.
The leg pillow for TKR has a microfiber cover that can be washed if your wound leaks or if theres excessive sweating.
The leg wedge pillow measures 24 x 16 x 8 inches and weighs 7.5 pounds. The slope stops at 12 inches. It can be used to support 1 leg or both while sleeping
They offer a money back guarantee for 30-days. Try it out and if its not up to your expectations then send it back.
Most reviewers like the product for its effect on the legs. Whether after surgery or for just resting the feet and legs after a long day of work, people are using it for various reasons.
There is some confusion with this product on the word memory foam. While its advertised as memory foam, some customers think its just common foam filler.
Either way, the majority of customers like it and I really like the price .
Lay Down And Elevate The Leg Above The Level Of The Heart
Elevating the surgical leg above the level of the heart contributes to reducing the swollen foot after surgery. As a rule, legs should be elevated while seated or reclining, so excess fluid does not collect around the damaged area.
After a leg injury, you are more likely to develop a dangerous blood clot if you dont elevate your leg, particularly if you spend most of your time sitting or lying in bed. Prop up injured areas while sleeping with soft pillows.
Recommended Reading: Inversion Table For Knee Pain
Strategies To Optimize Recovery After Knee Surgery
By Joon Nah– Certified Vestibular Physiotherapist and Founder, Therapia Posted on December 15, 2016
Whether you are having a knee replacement, knee arthroscopy, or anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, here are some tips that will make your recovery easier and faster.
1. Prepare!
Anticipate that your mobility will be challenged in the days following surgery. Get your home ready and ask a physiotherapist to teach you how to navigate stairs, bathe while keeping your leg dry, and create a list of post-operative equipment to have in place before your arrival home.
2. Stay ahead of the pain.
Your physician will prescribe a narcotic medication and possibly an anti-inflammatory. Taking the medications as prescribed will help prevent unanticipated pain in the early days following your knee surgery.
3. Calf pumps.
Move your foot up and down to stretch and contract your calf muscles. The reason for this is to keep the blood flowing in your legs and as a result diminish the chances of a blood clot.
4. Quads sets.
It is important to do quadricep contractions . Contract both thighs at the same time. Exercising the opposite leg improves performance on the operative leg because of cross-innervation of the quadriceps muscle by the femoral nerve.
5. Keep your leg elevated.
Place pillows or a wedge underneath your heel . This allows you to elevate your leg above your heart which in turn decreases swelling and helps keep your knee straight.
6. Cryotherapy.
7. Early physiotherapy.
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.
Read Also: Can You Use An Inversion Table After Knee Replacement
Recommended Reading: Does Aflac Cover Hysterectomy
How Long Does It Take For Swelling To Go Down After Knee Surgery
Recovery from knee replacement surgery is gradual, but it is well worth the effort, as it helps to improve mobility. Aside from that, you will not experience stiffness, pain, or swelling.
However, after a knee operation, you might be concerned about a swollen foot. Dont fret its just a recovery sign and will disappear within 2 to 3 weeks. Withal, swelling can last from 3 to 6 months in cases of fluid retention.
Therefore, it is recommended to visit your physician, or a rehabilitation center, frequently to prevent future complications. An experienced physiotherapist can also help you to recover faster from symptoms.
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.
Also Check: Inversion Table After Hip Replacement
How Is A Leg
In most cases, leg length discrepancies do not require treatment.
However, if the leg length discrepancy is severe, surgery may be required to correct it.
Surgery may include:
- Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- Reconstruction of the medial collateral ligament
- Reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligament
What Should I Expect After My Total Hip Or Total Knee Replacement
NOTE: The following is a general guide to care following your procedure. Your healthcare provider may have somewhat different instructions for you. Please follow those.
After total knee or total hip replacement surgery you can expect gradual improvement over the coming months. You should gradually expect less pain, stiffness and swelling, and a more independent lifestyle. Returning to work depends on how quickly you heal and how demanding your job may be on a new joint.
After you are discharged from the hospital or rehabilitation facility, there will be a few weeks before you return for a follow-up visit with your surgeon. This period of time is critical in your rehabilitation and you may require outpatient therapy services for positive long-term results from your surgery.
In general, patients do very well after discharge. However, its important that you contact the surgeons office if any of these occur:
- You have increasing pain in the operative site.
- There is new or increased redness or warmth since discharge.
- There is new or increased drainage from your incision.
- The operative site is increasingly swollen.
- Your calf becomes swollen, tender, warm or reddened.
- You have a temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours.
- For total knee replacement, your ability to flex has decreased or remains the same as when you were discharged from the hospital.
Read Also: What Rebuilds Cartilage
While Also Keeping The Knee/ Leg Elevated On A Intevision Foam Wedge Pillow While You Sleep To Help Keep Swelling Down And Also To Keep Your Leg In A Straight Angle To Help With
How to sleep after acl knee surgery. Try icing before you go to bed not just because it is a highly effective method for decreasing knee swelling but also because icing takes the heat out of the knee and can assist with subsiding pain and discomfort caused by throbbing and heat within the knee. A sore throat may occur. Place the leg over the edge of a bed or chair for knee flexion.
Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Exercise, physical stress, aging, and the overall health of a person affect postsurgical fatigue. Try breathing exercises to help relax.
So if after an acl reconstruction, there is numbness or tingling in this area of the knee and/or shin, it is most likely due to damage to the saphenous nerve. Reasons for fatigue after surgery are numerous. You can achieve this elevation by using a pillow.
Read the blog here to know about pain management after acl surgery. Thus staying still as you sleep especially matters after acl surgery. For some people, the area of skin that feels numb is in the shape of a circle, close to the incision site.
Acl surgery is an invasive knee reconstruction process. 6 steps to sleep after knee replacement surgery no. Discomfort and pain may affect your sleep after a knee replacement.
Typically after acl surgery is complete youll be sent home the same day. How long after acl surgery can you sleep without the brace? In the first week after the orthopedic surgeon sends you home, your knee may be swollen and inflamed.