9 Things You Can and Cannot Do After Knee Replacement Surgery
After knee replacement surgery, you may have limits on what you can and cannot do. Although you can move with crutches or a knee brace, your doctor can limit your activity to protect your knee from further injury as it heals and regains full mobility.
Talk to your doctor about which tips work best for you, but here's a roundup of things everyone should know about the dos and don'ts after knee replacement surgery.
Do’s –
1) Take your doctor's advice seriously
Most patients are unaware of how helpful their doctor's advice can be. Following their orders will put you on the path to a speedy recovery that will allow you to get back to doing what you love.
When it comes to learning what to do after knee replacement surgery, there are some limitations doctors advise against and others they insist on if you want to enjoy optimal knee health in the future. By following these tips, you can feel comfortable during recovery without experiencing unnecessary pain or suffering along the way.
2) Take your physical therapy sessions seriously
Some of your knee limitations may be self-imposed, but other limitations are non-negotiable. Failure to follow physical therapy instructions after knee surgery can delay your recovery.
If you want to get back on your feet as quickly as possible, be sure to do all the recommended exercises and workouts.
If you find it difficult to stick to your session schedules, consider hiring a therapist to guide and support you.
3) Exercise after surgery
To recover from knee surgery, you need to exercise. Avoid exercises that cause knee pain or force it to move through an extreme range of motion; Instead, stick to smooth, light strokes for a full range of motion.
Start with gentle activities like walking, swimming, biking, and yoga. Add strength training a few weeks after surgery - start with lower weights or use machines first if you can so you don't overload your knee joint.
Ligament healing after surgery takes time usually, 3 months is enough for a good recovery, but it is better not to engage in high-impact training programs.
4) Heat and cold therapy
Depending on the surgery, you can take a hot shower or soak in a hot bath after a few days.
It will be great, but don't overdo it; otherwise, you could cause serious damage to the recently reconstructed knee.
Never put ice directly on the knee (or any other part of the body). Instead, wrap an ice pack in a towel or other cloth before applying it to your knee.
Also, remember that lifting your leg as often as possible is one of the best things you can do for recovery, so try not to get too comfortable!
Don't -
5) Avoid unnecessary stress on the knee
Even if the knee is healing, you should avoid exercises that stress it unnecessarily. This includes any activity that could stretch or strain your new ligaments, especially if you are still undergoing physical therapy.
Once you've left PT, use your common sense and good judgment - if it hurts you to do something, don't! Depending on the age of your knee, healing may take some time. be careful not to rush anything.
6) Do not walk without a walker immediately after the operation
It is important to keep your knee as long as possible after surgery. One reason is that you can't do much without a walker or crutches, so you have to rely on someone else to take care of you.
It is best to use a walker instead of crutches immediately after surgery, as it provides flexibility while still providing support. Crutches work well too, but they can cause muscle atrophy in your legs if you keep them on too long.
And unlike a walker, they rest no weight on your feet, which can speed up recovery by quickly restoring blood flow.
7) Don't hide your pain
It is natural to want to hide your pain from others. We don't want to burden anyone with our problems and certainly don't want people to think we're whiners.
But it's okay – and in some cases necessary – to talk about your pain. It can be difficult for friends or family to recognize when someone they love is experiencing intense distress.
That said, you may have a hard time communicating how you feel as other parts of your body may also hurt (such as an elbow after knee surgery), making it harder for someone to figure out where you are in pain. If so, ask for help!
8) Don't waste time with simple exercises
Before starting an exercise routine, make sure your doctor knows what you intend to do. Second, don't neglect strength training! Strength training is an important part of your recovery from knee replacement surgery because it helps restore balance in the muscles after months or years of unbalanced use.
Additionally, many studies have shown that regular strength training can also reduce pain and improve mobility in people with osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis. Make sure to do each exercise slowly but with good form. Working slowly helps ensure that you are doing things right.
9) Do Not Give Up
While recovering from knee replacement surgery may seem like a drag, try to see it as an opportunity to slow down. Your surgeon will most likely advise you to avoid certain activities until you're feeling back to normal again. Never compare yourself with another patient. Time to recovery can be different, so have patience it is taking longer for you.
While restrictions after knee replacement surgery vary depending on what kind of procedure you had and anesthesia used, in general doctors want their patients to rest for at least 24 hours after surgery, during which time they need to stay off their feet as much as possible.
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