Knee Replacement procedure (arthroplasty) is a normal activity that includes supplanting a damaged, worn or unhealthy knee with a man made artificial joint. Adults of all ages can be considered for a knee substitution, although most are completed on individuals between the ages of 60 and 80. Now a days, more number of people are seeking this operation at young age.
Generally Knee Replacement Surgery will takes place around 2 to 4 hours depending upon the patient’s condition. After completing the surgery, patient is kept under doctor’s observation. Patient will stay at hospitals around three to five days. It varies depending upon the patient’s history and how he/she is responding. Patients are encouraged to walk on the same day itself after knee replacement with the support of walker.
Here is the day to day guidance for the patient who underwent Knee Replacement Surgery.
Within 24 hours from the completion of the surgery, patient is requested to walk slowly with the help of walker, crutches and in the surveillance of Therapist.
Once you get set with your knee replacement, doctor will suggest you to get discharged from the hospital. Patient will be fully guided in how to take care of knee at home. Patient will be suggested with food diet, physical exercises which helps to recover fast from the pain.
It is somewhat difficult for the patient to get up immediately after the surgery. So the therapist will assist the patient in walking. And also they assists you in dressing your bandage, going to washroom etc.
Physical Therapist (PT) will talk to the patient to know the house environment and according to that, PT will guide you in exercising at home.
On day 2, patient is requested to walk in some time intervals using walking assistance. PT will also ask you to use toilets rather than using bedpans. Patient should use Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine to recover fast from the surgery.
Usually after 2 days, patient will be discharged. Unless if he/she is having complication, then they has to continue in the hospital. Doctor will give you all medications list before discharging. Doctor will ask the patient to do some activities like climbing the stairs, going to toilet without assistance, walking in the room and outside of the room etc.
If the patient perform all the activities without any stress, the discharge will be done.
At the time of your rehab at home, pursue these rules to deal with your injury and avert contamination:
Keep the injury area spotless and dry. A dressing will be connected in the medical clinic and ought to be changed as frequently as coordinated by your specialist. Request guidelines on the best way to change the dressing before you leave the clinic.
Obey your specialist’s directions on to what extent to hold up before you shower or wash. Inform your specialist promptly if the injury seems red or starts to deplete. This could be an indication of infection.
By week 3, patient must walk more freely without feeling much pain. Because, rehabilitation was already started from the day you discharge from the hospital. At this time, you should not depend much on supportive devices. You must get ready to do things on your own. Patient should follow the exercises prescribed by the physiotherapist. You should not stop using Continuous Passive Motion Machine.
You should be more confident in walking by this time. Knee Replacement surgery pain must be minimal. Your physiotherapist would recommend you to go for long walks without walker assistance or any other assistive devices. At this time, for women, they can do their household chores easily compared to previous weeks.
One more important thing, you should consult your doctor and also Physiotherapist to know, when you can get back to your regular works. Unless doctor gave permission, don’t go to your daily activities.
By the end of week 6, you can observe some symptoms like,
By this week you can see that, you are back to your normal life by doing all household and daily routines by your own. You can start driving by this week. At this time, your PT will recommend you other different exercises according to your knee condition which make your knee to move more freely.
Exercises at this stage include,
By this time, almost you are ready with your rehab and you can start doing exercises, swimming, golf, dancing, cycling etc. But you should never stop your exercises prescribed your PT. Avoid high stress activities that impacts on your implant. Some of the activities which can damage your knee implant are:
You should see slow and proceeding with progress in your knee amid this period. Over the long haul, pain ought to calm down. Commonly, individuals feel completely recovered or about so following a year.
In any case, it’s essential to keep in contact with your medical group and have intermittent checkups to guarantee that your knee is proceeding to work legitimately. Try not to wait to check with your specialist if anytime you feel pain, swelling, firmness, or irregular development in your knee.
Obviously, every individual is extraordinary and rehab periods can change, contingent upon various elements. An average full recuperation from a TKR is 3 to 12 months.
Remember one thing, the harder you rehab yourself with exercises, the speed you will recover and will start enjoying your previous life.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Reddy holds eminent qualifications, having obtained credentials as MS (Orthopaedics) from AIIMS, and M.Ch.Ortho from University of Dundee, U.K.
LinkedIn Profile of Dr. Sudhir Kumar Reddy.
