Knee replacement surgery, or knee arthroplasy, is a common procedure performed by orthopedic surgeons to relieve pain and restore range of motion to severely arthritic knee joints. According to the Mayo Clinic, a surgeon will remove damaged bone and cartilage from the knee, and replace it with an artificial joint made of high-grade metal and plastic. These replacements do quite well. In fact, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) reports that 90 to 95 percent of knee replacements last 10 years or more. Following are the positive signs and symptoms of recovery.
Decreased Pain
According to the Mayo Clinic, post-operative pain is usually well controlled by medications and nerve blocks. As a patient continues through the recovery process, the pain levels will decrease if all components of the surgery are healing correctly. The most common cause of increased pain after surgery are blood clots, according to the AAOS. This is usually correlated to an increase in pain in the calf muscle. In addition, infection of the knee joint occurs in fewer than 2 percent of cases, which can also be very painful. A patient is well on the way to recovery if he is experiencing a decrease in knee pain, and are not experiencing any new pain in other parts of the leg.
Decreased Swelling
The knee will be swollen after a knee replacement has been inserted. This occurs because of the damage done to the knee during surgery. A patient should be sure to follow the instructions of his doctor and physical therapist to elevate the knee in your recovery period. This will aid in reducing swelling, which will also help to reduce pain. A decrease in swelling is a positive sign of a healthy recovery.
Increased Range of Motion
Increasing range of motion, or the degree to which a patient can bend and extend the knee is important for proper knee function. Restoring movement in the knee is the first step to being able to walk again. The AAOS states that a doctor may use a device called a continuous passive motion (CPM) exercise machine to help restore the range of motion of a patient's knee. In addition, it is important to follow the exercise recommendations of a physical therapist to quickly recover. Once a patient is home, he should continue to slowly increase mobility by walking around the house and performing the recommended exercises. Once he is not experiencing pain, decreased swelling in the knee, and has increased range of motion, it is safe to say that he has fully recovered from the knee surgery.
