It’s tough to know what to expect following a major surgery, but your rehab can actually be positively or negatively impacted by how well you prepare for life after surgery. In talking with patients who have had knee replacement surgery, we’ve learned what they were surprised by or what they wish they would have known sooner now that they’ve gone through the process. Below, we take a closer look at five things we want patients to realize before their knee replacement operation, and we draw on past patient experiences to give this guidance.
What Patients Wish They Would Have Known Sooner
Here’s a look at some of the things patients wish they would have known sooner about their recovery from knee replacement surgery, or areas where their expectations didn’t quite match up to the reality of the situation.
- Pain – Dr. Botero uses the most advanced surgical techniques to minimize tissue damage and we work closely with patients during their recovery to help get them on an appropriate painkiller regimen, but one of the most common issues we hear as people progress through rehab is that there is more pain than they expected. Knee replacement is a significant undertaking, and painkillers aren’t meant to drown out all of your pain. Pain is a sign that the recovery process is working, and overreliance on painkillers can cause more harm than good in terms of dependency and addiction. You’ll be weaning off painkillers and dealing with the normal discomfort that comes with the recovery process, and most people underestimate how uncomfortable this will be. Certain movements and trying to fall asleep may be more uncomfortable than expected. This will get easier with time, but most people underestimate how pain may affect them as the days and weeks progress.
- Progress Is Slow – We’ll have you up and moving shortly after surgery, and we don’t discharge you until you perform certain movement tests, but just because you’re navigating stairs a day after surgery doesn’t mean that you’ll be back to normal in a couple weeks. Many patients underestimate how slow the recovery process will be. You may not see progress day to day, but if you’re observant and keep an activity journal, you’ll notice progress on a larger scale. Recognize that progress may not be as evident as you may expect, but trust that you’re making it every day.
- Little Wins – Along a similar line, patients oftentimes reflect on how they wish they would have focused on the little gains they were making instead of just looking at the big picture. Instead of focusing on when you can get back to work, make it a goal to do more each day as you work towards bigger goals. Walk an extra block, or work on improving your range of motion. These little wins will provide you with more confidence and desire to keep your rehab on track than simply focusing on your major milestones.
- No Firm Deadlines – When setting goals and working through your rehab, it’s important to be flexible in terms of timing. Don’t set a June 1st date for returning to work if you’re having surgery in early April, because you’ll need to see how you’re progressing through rehab to determine if that’s a feasible option. Restrictions and goals are often adjusted weekly or even daily depending on your progress, so don’t lock into a firm deadline, because it could leave you disappointed.
- Remember Why You Had Surgery – Finally, when you’re bothered by pain and annoyed that you aren’t progressing at the speed you hoped, remember why you had the surgery in the first place. Maybe every step was painful, or you could no longer bike without discomfort. Odds are your quality of life was negatively impacted by your degenerative knee joint, and even though it may take some time, this replacement operation should help you return to the activities you once loved with little or no pain. Focus on everything you’ll be able to do again assuming everything goes as planned, and many people find it easier to continue progressing through their rehab.
We’ll do everything we can to make this process as easy as possible, but don’t assume recovery from knee replacement is going to be easy. Coming in with the wrong mindset can only make recovery more challenging, so try your best to account for some of the above factors when considering knee replacement surgery. For more information or for help with your knee or hip issue, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office today.
