Waking Up After Surgery
Total knee replacement surgery can relieve knee pain and help you regain joint mobility. After surgery, your knee will gradually heal so you can return to a more normal and pain-free life. Recovery from the surgery begins when you first wake up in a recovery room. The recovery room is the place where the doctors and nurses can keep a close eye on you to make sure you do not have any complications from the surgery. Patients who have undergone total knee replacement surgery usually stay in the recovery room for two hours. If there are no surgery complications, you will be brought to your regular hospital room to continue healing.
Pain Management
To help control pain, you will have a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) machine connected to you through an IV. The PCA is a machine that contains pain control medication. You will be given a remote control that allows you to activate the PCA to release a dose of pain medication into your system. The nurse or doctor might give you additional pain medication if the medication in the PCA is not effectively controlling your pain.
Medications
You will be given other medications in addition to pain medications. Antibiotics are administered to reduce the likelihood of an infection developing from the surgery. You will also be given stool softeners to combat constipation. Anti-nausea medication and sleep medication are given as needed. Some doctors prescribe blood thinner medications to prevent blood clots.
Urinary Catheter
Some patients have difficulty urinating after surgery. To prevent the chance of urinary problems, the doctor inserts a urinary catheter into your bladder during surgery. The catheter is removed one to two days after surgery.
Drainage Tubes
During the surgery, the surgeon places a drainage tube in the wound to allow the buildup of fluid to exit the wound site. The drainage tube typically remains in place for two days before it is removed by the doctor.
Wound Care
The surgical wound is covered with a dressing to absorb fluids and to protect the wound from bacteria. The wound dressing is changed after the drainage tube is removed, and must be regularly changed for the next two weeks. Your doctor provides directions on how often to change the dressing.
Compression Stockings
Compression stockings are often used after total knee replacement surgeries. The stockings are worn on the legs. They are attached to a device that circulates air into the stockings to massage the legs to reduce the likelihood of blood clots forming. The compression stockings are usually worn for two days to three days after surgery.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an essential component for gaining and maintaining mobility in the knee joint. A physical therapist will visit you at your hospital room a day or two after surgery. The physical therapist will show you how to do exercises to increase joint mobility. The therapist might fit a continuous passive motion exercise machine to your leg. A continuous passive motion exercise machine gently bends the knee to exercise the joint. The physical therapist will give you instructions on how to control the settings of the machine and will instruct you on how often you should use it.
Home Care
In five days to seven days after the surgery, you will be discharged from the hospital. Before you are discharged you have to meet a few criteria. You must be able to have a bowel movement on your own, be able to get in and out of bed unassisted, walk with a walker or crutches, be able to fully bend and straighten your knee and have a thorough understanding of your physical therapy exercises.
You will continue to take pain medication and antibiotics at home, as prescribed by your doctor. The surgical site of your wound should be kept dry until the staples are removed by your doctor (in about 10 days). If your job is not physically demanding, you will be able to return to work in one month to two months after your surgery. For the next six months to one year, your knee will gradually regain mobility. Regular visits with your doctor and physical therapist will gauge your progress. A year after your surgery, upon your doctor's approval, you will be able to return to most normal activities.
