If you have significant joint damage and pain from knee arthritis or a knee injury, your doctor may have suggested a total knee replacement surgery to reduce pain and restore functional mobility. During a replacement surgery, your surgeon will replace the damaged joint surfaces with prosthetic implants.
If you’re considering surgery, you may be wondering what to expect after knee replacement surgery. A complete recovery after knee surgery takes several months. Choosing to undergo a total replacement procedure is a life-changing decision that requires significant time, energy, and financial investments on your end. You’ll likely have to pay for a hospitalization, the procedure itself, and post-surgical physical therapy. You’ll have limited mobility for several months while you regain strength and range of motion in the affected knee. Most people are out of work for at least 4-6 weeks post-procedure.
If you’d like to explore other options first, consider checking to see if you qualify for the iO-Core™ procedure. iO-Core™ is a minimally invasive procedure that treats the source of joint pain. There are no implants required. Many patients experience minimal downtime and pain relief within one week. Call our office to learn more about the procedure and see if you qualify.
If you’re keeping all your options open right now, know what to expect after knee replacement surgery by reading our blog below.
Hospitalization and Discharge
Your hospitalization period will depend on the type of surgery you undergo. You may spend anywhere from one to five days in the hospital after knee replacement surgery. Some procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you’ll return home the same day as surgery.
Your care team will want to get you up and moving a few hours after the procedure. Early movement improves range of motion, decreases stiffness and pain, and reduces the risk of blood clots. If you’re in the hospital, you’ll spend your hospitalization working on range of motion exercises with a physical therapist before discharging home and starting outpatient PT. If you undergo surgery on an outpatient basis, you’ll start physical therapy within a day or two after returning home.
Pain Management
You’ll likely experience some pain, discomfort, and swelling after surgery — that’s normal and expected. There are several treatments available for managing post-op pain.
- Medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen or ibuprofen, and pain relievers like acetaminophen, can help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Your doctor might prescribe prescription-strength NSAIDs for short-term pain relief. As pain begins improving, you can switch over to over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Opioids. You may be prescribed a course of opioids for short-term pain relief post-surgery. While opioids are an effective pain reliever, they are also a highly addictive narcotic. If you’re on opioids, it’s important that you take them only as directed by your physician and remain on them for no longer than necessary.
- Ice. Icing your knee several times a day can help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
- Rest. While it’s important to start moving as soon as possible after surgery, it’s also crucial to rest as needed when you’re tired or in pain. Sitting and elevating your knee on a footstool or table can help.
Your pain should begin improving after a few days, although swelling might linger for longer. Let your doctor know if your pain doesn’t feel better or if it worsens.
Clotting Prevention
Blood clot formation is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication that can occur after total knee replacement surgery. Your doctor may prescribe compression boots, support hose, or blood thinners to reduce the risk of clotting. You’ll also be encouraged to perform foot and ankle movements to increase blood flow in the lower extremity.
Wound Care
Post-surgery, your wound will be closed with surgical staples or stitches and a dressing. Keep the wound clean and dry once you return home. Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions for bathing and showering. The staples or stitches will be removed at a follow-up appointment several weeks following your surgery.
Contact your doctor if you notice signs of infection at the wound site — these signs include redness, warmth, tenderness, bleeding or drainage, increased pain, and fever.
Mobility and Home Life
You’ll have reduced mobility for several weeks following knee surgery. At home, you’ll have an assistive device like a walker or cane to help you get around. You may need supervision and assistance with activities like bathing, dressing, toileting, and performing other daily tasks for the first few weeks. As the weeks go on, you’ll get stronger and be able to do more independently.
There are ways to prepare your home that reduce your risk of accidents and make it easier to get around.
- Move everything you need to the ground floor. If your home has stairs, create a living and sleeping space on the bottom floor so that you don’t need to climb the stairs every day during recovery.
- Clear your living areas of potential tripping hazards like rugs and loose cords.
- Install safety devices like a grab bar, shower seat and toilet raiser in the bathroom.
- Enlist the help of neighbors, family and friends to help you run errands, pick up prescriptions, do yard work, perform chores and laundry, cook, and provide transportation while you regain full mobility.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is the most important part of the recovery process. Many people remain in physical therapy for approximately three months to regain strength, range of motion, flexibility, balance, and endurance in the knee joint. Along with regular in-person sessions, your therapist will also give you exercises to complete at home. Working hard in physical therapy and remaining as active as you can at home are the components most likely to determine how successful your surgery is.
Returning to Activities
Every person heals on a different timeline. Many people start to experience noticeable improvements in strength and mobility around the 4-6 weeks mark. At this point, you may be able to return to a desk job and driving if your doctor approves. By 12 weeks, many people are able to return to most of their normal activities, including recreational exercise. Pain should be almost or entirely gone by this point. At six months to one year, your new knee should be at full strength and range of motion. Your artificial knee can last for 10-15 years with proper care.
Are You a Candidate for the iO-Core™ Procedure?
Choosing to undergo total knee replacement surgery is a life-changing decision. If you’d like to explore other options before moving ahead with surgery, find out if you’re a candidate for the iO-Core™ procedure. Many people who were told they needed a total joint replacement surgery have found long-term pain relief and greater mobility from iO-Core™ instead. Contact our team today to learn more and see if you qualify.