If you have had a knee replacement recently or are planning to get a TKR to get relief from knee pain, you must be worried about the bad falls. No matter how careful we are, slips and falls are the worst unexpected accidents that can happen to anyone.
In some cases, a bad fall that involves your surgical knee can lead to excess bleeding. These patients need immediate medical care. But, what’s the first thing you should do if you have a fall after knee replacement surgery? Should you get up immediately or seek someone’s support? Should you contact your doctor? Most importantly, how do you know if your surgical joint is alright? Let’s find out.
Falling a Few Weeks After the Knee Replacement Surgery
The Dr. Shailendra Patil, orthopedic surgeon in Thane recommends bed rest for the first few weeks following your knee replacement surgery. You are advised to rest as much as possible, walk a little every day, and practice light exercises and meditation as recommended by your surgeon.
These physical activities combined with the rest will help speed up your healing procedure. But, what happens when you fall within the first few weeks of your healing? The worst that can happen is the damage to the prosthetic implant. If there is any serious damage to your knee implants, you might have to undergo another surgery.
How to Get up After You Fall?
Since you are still in your recovery phase, you should focus on getting up after a fall as carefully as possible. Mostly, people get so nervous and stressed that they get up instantly after a fall. Suppose you were walking down the stairs with your cane. You missed the last step and fell on the floor. The first thing you should do is check whether the surgical knee is injured or is there any sign of bleeding? If everything looks alright, sit in the same position for a moment, and see if there is any recliner or a chair near you.
Drag yourself to the sofa and get up using your hands and the non-surgical leg. Do not put any pressure on the surgical knee. If you do not have any couch, stairs, or any physical support around or it is too hard for you to drag your legs, you should turn to your non-surgical leg for support.
What to do to Prevent Falls after TKR?
The total knee replacement surgery in Thane is considered one of the most crucial and sensitive invasive procedures. The above technique makes sense for those who take a bad fall after the surgery, but your main goal should be to prevent such accidents. Here are a few tips for avoiding slips and falls after knee replacement.
- Wear flats
- Use a cane and walking support for the first few weeks
- Practice strength exercises
- Keep your legs stable and walk slowly
- Avoid going to places with trip hazards
- Don’t walk on slippery surfaces
Consult a orthopedic surgeon like Dr. Shailendra Patil immediately or call 8369026337 if you notice a severe injury from the fall.