With 600,000 total knee replacement surgeries performed in the United States each year, it’s fair to say that the procedure is in the mainstream. Knee replacements relieve pain and restore freedom of mobility for most of those patients. About 90% report a significant reduction in pain after their surgery.
It’s a dependable procedure, too, with prosthetic implants lasting longer than ever, many beyond 25 years. Knee replacement is a resounding success story for those with degenerative knee conditions.
As knee replacement specialists, the Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team sees the positive effects of joint replacements on the faces of our patients daily. We use robotic-assisted joint replacement techniques to minimize the impact of surgery on healthy surrounding tissue. This helps to get you on your feet more quickly after your procedure.
Once you make the decision for a surgical solution, planning for recovery is the best way to prepare. We’ve created this brief primer to help you know what to expect after knee replacement surgery.
Don’t be surprised if your rehabilitation starts soon after you wake up from your anesthetic. Knee replacements are often outpatient procedures, meaning there’s no overnight hospital stay except for patients who have other health conditions needing observation after the operating room.
A physical therapist shows you how to get out of bed and move around with the assistance of a cane, crutches, or a walker. Your recovery goes better when you start working the joint immediately. You take a few steps, transfer yourself on and off of a bed, and practice sitting down, and getting up, when using the toilet.
Your therapist also describes the exercises you perform at home. Unless otherwise directed, you should start these exercises within the first 24 hours after surgery. Stick to your surgeon’s plan regarding exercise, pain relief, and bathing through this period.
You see improvements in flexibility and range of motion by the third week after surgery, and if you’re still using a device to aid walking, it’s a cane by this point. You can stand and walk easily for about 10 minutes at a time, and you probably don’t need prescription pain medication.
Swelling from surgery subsides dramatically by week six, and your knee feels stronger and more capable. Use a cane for as long as you feel the need — even though by now you can likely walk well without it.
Your standing endurance allows you to perform tasks like cooking and cleaning that require longer times on your feet. Office workers may return to desk jobs after four to six weeks.
Physical therapy may expand to include stationary bicycling and more strenuous exercises like heel and toe raises and step-ups. You should have little, if any, pain, and your knee loses its stiffness. Your progress continues for months, but by week 12, you should be well on the way to a return to normal.
Learn more about knee replacement surgery and recovering from it in consultation with your surgeon at Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. You can book an appointment at the nearest of our three New York locations by calling directly or through the online link at the top of this page. Schedule your visit today.
