A procedure during which the knee joint is replaced with synthetic materials, total knee replacement surgery has the potential to reduce chronic knee pain as well as improve quality of life, according to the MayoClinic.com. However--as with any invasive surgery--total knee replacement involves a crucial period of recovery. Following some specific guidelines can ease the process of recovery from total knee surgery.
Step 1
Fill your prescription for pain medication as soon as you head home from the hospital and take it as directed. When leaving the hospital, you may feel that you can handle the pain, this may be due to lingering effects of drugs administered during your stay. Pain medication will help you through the worst post-surgical discomfort as well as help you handle recovery activities.
Step 2
Use your walker or crutches to get around, according to your doctor's advice. These devices keep pressure off your newly-placed knee and allow it to heal properly. Stay mobile during your recovery. Do not sit in one place for more than 45 minutes at a time.
Step 3
Sleep on the first floor of your home, even if this involves setting up a new bed downstairs. Climbing and descending staircases puts too much stress on your knee after the surgery and poses a dangerous risk for falling.
Step 4
Place a non-slip mat in your bathtub or shower. You may not be able to shower for a few days after you are released from the hospital, when your doctor allows it you will be far less prone to slipping with a mat in place.
Step 5
Change the dressing over your surgical wound only if your doctor has advised you to. When you do change your dressing, soak sterile gauze in saline solution and wipe the incision gently from one end to another in a swiping motion--not back and forth, which can irritate the wound. Dry the surgical incision with sterile gauze and gently wrap it according to your physician's instructions.
Step 6
Perform exercises as directed by a physical therapist, after your doctor has determined you are ready. Physical activity is vital to recovering from a total knee replacement.
Things You'll Need
- Pain medication
- Walker or crutches
- Slip-proof bathroom mat
- Sterile gauze
- Saline solution
