What Is the Recovery Process Like After Knee Replacement Surgery?

Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects your joints, and unfortunately, it’s an all-too-common problem. Arthritis can sometimes be managed with nonsurgical treatments, such as steroid injections and medication. However, if that’s not enough to improve your mobility and treat pain, our team of experts here at Orthopedic Specialists of Oakland County may recommend a knee replacement. 

Although knee replacements are often performed to alleviate the pain of severe osteoarthritis, you might still have questions about the process or what to expect afterward. Below, we answer those questions.

Let’s take a look at what happens during knee replacement surgery and how you can recover from it afterward.

What happens during knee replacement surgery?

During knee replacement surgery, our team skillfully replaces your knee joint with an artificial one. First, we remove damaged bone and cartilage. Your Orthopedic Specialists of Oakland County surgeon then attaches a metal joint to your shin point and thigh bone using bone cement. 

With all damaged bones and cartilage removed and the new metal prosthesis in place, you can benefit from a fraction-less joint. 

What to expect during your recovery from a knee replacement

Not all knee replacements are performed the same way. Some require in-patient hospital stays. Because we perform outpatient knee replacements, you can return home the same day as your surgery. 

Even as an outpatient surgery, knee replacement still requires anesthesia, incisions, and the insertion of the new joint. During your recovery, you will need to focus on self-care, taking care of your knee, and following all post-op instructions carefully. 

You can nourish your body (and promote healing) by eating nutrient-dense food, resting, and taking any medications as prescribed.

Incision care

Outpatient procedures typically involve smaller incisions than traditional open surgery, but you will still need to care for your incision site. It may feel sore or swollen at first. Keep your incision site clean and dry and monitor for any signs of infection — fever, increasing tenderness, swelling that gets worse over time, pus, and a foul odor. If you spot the signs of an infection, give us a call. You may need antibiotics to clear your infection.

Protecting your knee 

Minimally invasive surgery typically causes less tissue damage, which makes for a speedier recovery. However, you still need to go easy on your knees. Until you’ve regained full use of your knee, you may need to use a cane for four weeks or so. Don’t try to tough it out or rush yourself before you’re ready. It’s okay to go easy and slow at first. 

Dealing with pain and nausea

Immediately after surgery, you may feel nauseous from the anesthesia. This is a common reaction and you may feel better sticking with a bland diet at first. To help with nausea, stay hydrated, ease back into solid food slowly, and consider sipping slowly on ginger ale.

As with any surgery, it’s common to feel discomfort after knee replacement. To help with the pain, try to keep to your medication schedule. If you need help remembering to take your pain medication, consider setting a timer on your phone or keeping a log of when you’ve taken your medication.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can help strengthen your leg, improve your range of motion, and improve the functionality of your knee. You can expect to follow a specific set of stretches and exercises to help with this.

After your initial recovery period, you should notice that the bone-on-bone pain of arthritis is long gone and you can enjoy your friction-free joint.

Knee replacements aren’t right for everyone, but if it’s right for you, it can restore your quality of life. To schedule a consultation, give us a call at 248-335-2977 or use our online form. You can also send us a text at 248-955-2622.