The Best Way to Recover from Knee Surgery, or Avoid it Altogether!
Do you want to know the fastest way to recover from knee replacement surgery, so you can get back to moving as freely as possibly, and be able to do the daily activities you once took for granted? Or are you currently experiencing knee pain on a regular basis, and want to avoid surgery in the future? If either of these sound like you, this blog has advice just for you!
In our clinic, we have worked with a lot of patients who have had knee replacement surgery, and were very unhappy with the level of inactivity, or the level of pain that they were dealing with. While knee replacement surgery is sometimes the best course of action, it is by no means a guaranteed fix, and there is important prehab and rehab work to be done to ensure people get the results that they are looking for.
The Fastest Way to Recover from Knee Replacement Surgery
If you are recovering from knee replacement surgery, and you want to speed up the process so you can get back to walking the dog, playing tennis with friends, or you just want to be able to be able to move freely without pain, we have some top tips to help you do that.
- Move Little and Often, Every Hour
Once you have been cleared to move your knee and walk by the doctor, it is important to do so little and often (aim to move around every hour). This is important as it reduces the risk of complications, improves circulation, helps to keep your joints limber, and the movement helps deliver important nutrients to your knee, so you can heal and recover quickly, rather than if you sat for most of the day. Usually, you will be able to start walking while you are still in the hospital, so this is something that can be done relatively early in your recovery.
- Use Equipment Provided to You
You will typically be given some form of walking aids when you are discharged from the hospital following your knee replacement surgery, and these should be used to help you safely move at home. It may be tempting to think that you can walk without the extra support, however, this is a mistake. Dr. Mckenzie, DPT, explains why:
“While getting up and moving around is a good thing, doing this without assistance too early can actually make things worse as you could be putting too much stress on your knee and the surrounding muscles. So, it is important not to rush your rehab plan and move with the assistance of a walker or cane.”
- Follow Your Exercise Plan
After knee replacement surgery, you should be given a list of exercises to perform which will help you improve your range of motion (how much you can bend and straighten your knee), and then strengthen the surrounding muscles. It may be uncomfortable at first, however once you get into the habit of regularly walking and doing your exercise, you’ll feel much better, and recover much quicker. If you are looking for specific exercises to help or feel like your current exercise plan is not working for you, we recommend reaching out to us here at Arancia Physical Therapy at (401)602-7006, as it would not be appropriate to prescribe specific exercises in a blog.
If you give us a call at that number, a member of our team will speak with you to see if you qualify for a free Discovery Visit, perfect for those who are unsure if specialized PT is right for them. Caeley, our Client Care Coordinator, recommends booking a free Discover Visit because: “People who book a Discovery Visit regularly highlight how nice it is to have a full 30 minutes to really be listened to by an expert in the field, and be able to get simple, jargon-free, personalized advice – which is something we rarely get when we have been to the doctors with our problems.”
- Avoid Kneeling, Or Putting Pressure Against Your Knee
After surgery, your knee will likely be very sore and swollen so putting pressure on your knee can be very painful for you. In the initial phase of recovery, the main goal is to reduce swelling so you can increase the range of motion (how much you can straighten and bend your knee). By kneeling, or putting pressure against your knee, you are likely to make the swelling worse and therefore, this will slow down your recovery.
- Get Great Sleep and Rest
Whilst we have spoken about the importance of exercise and movement, we also need to make sure that when you are getting sufficient rest. Therefore, aim to get 8 or more hours sleep each night, if not more, and when you are resting, keep your leg elevated, and apply ice (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a hand towel for 20 minutes every 4 hours to reduce any swelling.
- Avoid High Impact Activities or High-Risk Activities
Later in your recovery, and once you have started to notice a significant improvement in your movement capacity, it is important to remain wary of activities with high impact such as running or jumping, and activities with a high risk of falling, or that could result in twisting your knee. Instead, opt for low impact activities like swimming, walking, or cycling.
If you have had your knee replacement surgery, and struggling to move freely, still experiencing pain, and still not able to do what you wanted to do, then reach out to our expert team. We have worked with patients who were disappointed with their surgical results and came to us looking for more support. At Arancia Physical Therapy, we are able to provide hands on treatment, and complete treatment plans which will not just get you to a bare minimum standard (like some insurance-based models are forced to do), but will enable you to get back to long walks with your partner, Pilates classes with your friends, and be able to play with your grandchildren when they visit.
How To Avoid Knee Replacement Surgery Altogether
If you are currently suffering with regular knee pain, swelling in your knees or you struggle to get out of the car, out of bed, or up from your chair, then you are probably worrying about what might happen if things continue to get worse... You may be hoping that things fix themselves, but you are very aware of the risk of surgery in your future, but you aren’t sure what to do to fix the problem. If this sounds like you, and you don’t want to feel anxious or scared about the prospect of going into hospital for a knee replacement, then now is the time to get the support you really need.
Click HERE to view Dr. Jess's article in the Cranston Herald on how to recover from knee surgery stay OUT of the Nursing Home!
At Arancia Physical Therapy, we help people age 40+ understand the root source and finally break free from the shackles of chronic pain & pelvic conditions to get back to your favorite activities again. All naturally without surgery, painkillers, injections, and multiple trips to the doctor’s office. If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you avoid surgery and get to the root of your chronic pain, email us at info@aranciapt.com, or give us a call at (401)602-7006.