If you have a painful knee that keeps you from performing even simple activities without discomfort, you may be a candidate for knee replacement surgery. This is a procedure in which the damaged part of the knee joint is removed and the surface shaped to hold a metal or plastic artificial replacement joint. The surrounding ligaments and muscles provide function and support for the replacement. Here is what you can expect after surgery:
1. Your Hospital Stay
After surgery, you can expect to be in the hospital for three to five days. You will be standing and moving your reconstructed knee the day after surgery. A walking device will steady you until your knee is able to support your full weight.
2. Physical Therapy Help
Depending on your condition after surgery, you will either be sent to a rehabilitation facility for a few days, or directly home, where a physical therapist will assist you a few days a week for the first couple of months.
3. Precautions to Take After Surgery
- Do not pivot or twist on the leg for at least six weeks
- Keep the knee as straight as you can while in bed
- Avoid kneeling and squatting
You should be able to walk normally in about six weeks. Contact Alabama Bone & Joint Clinic in Pelham at 205-621-3778 to learn more about getting knee replacement surgery.
