If you or someone you know has a knee replacement surgery scheduled for the near future, it is obvious to feel a little anxious. It is better to have information about knee replacement surgery and the recovery phase so that you can stay prepared for what to expect. The surgery helps in restoring mobility in the patients. The surgery helps in getting rid of pain and confined mobility which is caused by aging and arthritis. Before the knee replacement surgery is done, you should be aware of the recovery process.
Here’s a look at the stages of the recovery process after knee replacement surgery is done:
- Post-surgery in the hospital
Many people are not aware of the fact that recovery after the surgery begins at the hospital only. The patients are asked to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days after the surgery. The hospital staff offers medicines for easing the pain. They want to get your knee joint moving again. This begins with the simple moving of your leg from the bed. This small movement helps in beginning the recovery process.
- Recovery at home post-surgery
With a short stay in the hospital after you have had a major surgery such as knee replacement, a lot of recoveries will take place at your home. When you start returning to your normal routine, you need to practice balance and stability. The recovery process will consist of tasks such as moving between the rooms, standing, sitting, and using the bathroom on your own.
- Physical therapy
Many a time, doctors prescribe physical therapy for rehabilitation of the knee joint. The therapist will work with patients to increase the mobility over a period of time. Sometimes, you are also asked to perform these exercises at home with an assistant therapist’s help. However, this happens only when you have significant progress with outpatient physical therapy so that you can perform rigorous movements at home on your own.
- Exercise and physical activity
The last stage of recovery is all about getting into a normal exercise routine and engaging in normal physical activities. The routine is advised after 8-12 weeks after the knee replacement surgery is performed. One needs to wait for that long to know if the knee has recovered completely. Even though you get approval to exercise after 8-12 weeks, it actually takes almost a year for full recovery after the surgery. You should take precautions for many months post-surgery.
These are the main stages of the recovery process after the knee replacement. If your orthopaedic doctor suggests you get surgery done, you should definitely consider it. Surgery is one of the sure-shot ways of getting rid of knee pain in elderly patients. If you are looking for a sports medicine physiotherapist for rehabilitation post-surgery, you can get in touch with Haar Orthopaedic. We have a team of specialists for physiotherapy who can help in restoring the function and mobility of your knee post-surgery.
