Knee replacement has been used as a standard medical procedure to replace a damaged bone and cartilage with an artificial joint. Gone are the days when people would consider alternatives to total knee replacement because of the complications in the surgery and the long recovery period.
Technological advancements have increased the success rate of this operation and resulted in shorter hospital stays. The knee replacement surgeon in Thane will give you a discharge within 2-3 days of the surgery. The question is what the recovery looks like after a knee replacement surgery, and what precautions should you take in the first week?
Move Your Joints Regularly
Contrary to what people believe, resting your joints won’t help relieve pain. Your recently replaced joints need mild movements regularly, not only to reduce pain but to prevent blood clots. Proper blood circulation from the joint movement will keep the clots and inflammation at bay, thus speeding up your recovery. Movement doesn’t mean you put too much pressure on your artificial joints. You should rather try mild movements every hour to get better.
Focus on Knee Straightening
This is the most crucial joint movement for those whose knee joint was replaced recently. After surgery, your legs will remain in a bent state. You need to practice knee straightening exercises to avoid excess pressure on the ligaments surrounding your knee joints and to boost your knee functionality. Knee straightening exercises also improve your joint stability.
Manage Swelling
Some level of swelling is okay for patients who have had knee replacement surgery, but too much swelling with joint inflammation can lead to pain and joint stiffness. You need to practice the right exercises to manage joint swelling. Your surgeon will prescribe medications to control swelling and improve your joint’s range of motion. When resting your joints, use a cold compress to massage your joints gently. You must also elevate your knees slightly to reduce blood flow to the knee joint, which in turn, prevents swelling.
Nobody likes to use a walker for longer periods. But ditching it too soon can delay your recovery. Leaving the walker early, i.e., before your joints are ready to walk without support, can cause scar tissue formation and damage the surrounding tissues. It’s better to carry the walker a little longer so that you don’t end up with any scarring or damaged tissue.
A surgical procedure will shut your muscles off. So, the patient has to re-activate them by practicing regular joint movements. We’ve already mentioned knee straightening. In addition to that, you must practice squeezing, bending, and knee elevating to keep your muscles working.
Moving them every hour will improve your muscles’ functionality and increase their strength. However, don’t focus on building muscle strength just yet. The first week is a bit challenging. You might experience episodes of pain, swelling, inflammation, and difficulty moving your joints—all of which are absolutely normal. Just give it some time and practice regular movements.
