Thinking about the future can be both exciting and nerve-racking, especially if you’re about to do something you’ve never done before. For many patients, this is the reality they experience in the days and weeks leading up to their knee replacement operation. And while we don’t fancy ourselves fortune tellers, we can predict with some certainty that all knee replacement patients will have some of the same experiences after their operation is complete. We spotlight five of those things that the future has in store for you after your knee replacement operation.
5 Things To Expect Following Your Knee Replacement Operation
Your exact rehabilitation may vary a little, but most patients can look forward to these five things in the days, weeks and months after their knee replacement operation.
- Rest – Right after the operation, rest will be the main course of action. However, that doesn’t mean you just get to lay in bed for a month and watch Netflix. You can expect that you will be physically limited and that a large portion of your day will revolve around resting and protecting the area, but you aren’t expected to be immobile. The right kinds of activity will help drive home your recovery, but right after surgery, a lot of rest will be in order.
- Physical Therapy – When you’re not resting, there’s a good chance you’ll be participating in physical therapy. PT is the type of activity that will speed up your recovery and improve your overall function. In many instances, physical therapy starts the same day as surgery. Now that’s not to say you’ll have an hour session in the therapy room right after your operation, but many surgeons won’t clear you for discharge until you can prove you can navigate stairs, get in or out of a vehicle or perform similar physical therapy exercises. Expect a healthy dose of controlled exercises for the next few weeks and months.
- Pain – A harsh reality that is often overlooked is that there will be pain during your recovery. We bring this up not to scare you, but to put it on your radar, because if you plan and expect it, you’ll be better equipped to manage the discomfort. Knee replacement surgery is a major trauma in the area, and pain will be present as healing takes place. Pain is usually worse in the first few days and then continues to decrease as you get further away from your surgery date. A little pain as you recover is well worth the end result, but it’s worth noting that all patients will experience some mild to moderate pain during the recovery period. It should be on your radar.
- Improved Function – Aside from pain relief, the main reason why someone undergoes knee replacement surgery is to improve function in the joint. This improved function can make it easier to get back to doing all the things you love doing. You’ll notice this improved function during physical tasks like walking or riding, but you may also notice it during simple actions you once took for granted, like standing up from a chair or getting out of bed. Almost every single person experiences a significant improvement in knee joint function after surgery, so you have that to look forward to.
- Better Quality Of Life – Finally, arguably the best thing you’ll have to look forward to after your knee replacement surgery is an improved quality of life. Aside from decreased pain and improved function in the joint, the replacement operation can help get you back to doing the activities you once loved and provide you with more independence. All of these factors contribute to a better quality of life.
So if you want to have better function and an improved quality of life, consider reaching out to Dr. Botero to see what he can do about your knee pain. Our crystal ball says you’ll like what the future holds if you trust your knee operation to Dr. Botero and his talented team!
