Knee replacement recovery - Must know facts!

After the knee replacement is performed, the patient is shifted to the recovery room to be monitored for a couple of days. It is during the recovery phase at the hospital stay that the patients are advised to move their ankle and foot as it helps in increasing the blood flow to their leg muscles and preventing blood clots and swelling from forming. Depending upon the condition of the patient the recovery instructions offered by the orthopedic may vary.

From getting out of your bed on your own to being able to walk with the help of a walker and sleeping without having any painkillers fall under the short term recovery at the hospital after having a knee replacement surgery. Once the patient is discharged, this short-term recovery phase continues till he or she becomes able to walk around the house without any discomfort and walking aid. For a complete knee replacement, the average short time recovery time as around 12 weeks.

Once a patient is discharged from the hospital, the long-term recovery plan starts. It focuses on the complete healing of the internal soft tissues and the surgical wounds. And along with healing from the inside, achieving long-term recovery means the patients being able to resume their daily activities and feel normal again. Painkillers would be prescribed to manage pain so that the progress can be achieved in the best possible manner.

Six weeks after the surgery, the patient is encouraged to walk without any walking frame or crutches. And often, swelling and bruises around the knee area become evident which are very normal and go away with time. While swelling is normal for around six months after the surgery and can be dealt with the regular application of ice; bruises caused due to blood accumulation vanish with regular exercising. For the best recovery, carefully follow your orthopaedics instructions regarding diet, exercise and wound care.