Thinking About Knee Replacement?

What to expect after Knee Replacement?

 Making the decision to have your knee replaced is not an easy one.  Most people have many questions that need to be answered before diving into a potentially life changing surgery.  Today we are going to answer many of the common questions people have before and after having a knee replacement surgery.

What exactly is a knee replacement?

A knee replacement is a surgical procedure that serves to create a new surface of your knee joint.  Your existing joint surfaces are removed and replaced with prosthetic pieces.

Incision length for Total Knee Arthoplasty (Knee Replacement)

How long will my recovery be?

Most people feel normal again after about 1 year.  This sounds like a long time, but this is the amount of time it will take for you to “forget” that you had a knee replacement.  The first 3 months is where the heavy lifting of your rehab takes place.

How much pain will I have?

This varies, but in general knee replacements tend to be painful.  It is imperative that you get your knee fully straight as soon as possible, which can be painful.  Getting your knee to bend is also important and can be painful as well.  Avoiding these goals will only serve to protract or prolong your recovery!

How long will I be in the hospital?

Joint replacement surgery is quickly becoming an outpatient procedure.  It used to be that people would spend weeks in the hospital following this procedure.  This is no longer the case.  Many individuals go home the same day following this surgery, given there are no complications.  Some people may stay up to 72 hours and your length of stay is doctor dependent.  You can complete physical therapy immediately following this surgery.

How long will I need physical therapy?

Physical therapy can be anywhere from 8-16 weeks or more depending on your goals and how quickly you progress.  It is important to understand that once you complete your formal physical therapy, you must remain active and continue with your home exercises otherwise you run the risk of backsliding in your recovery. 

When can I walk again?

Right away!  There is no reason to wait.  You will likely need a walker in the first couple of days, due to pain, however the quicker you get moving, the quicker you will feel like yourself again!

After knee replacement physical therapy is important

When can I drive?

This is always a tough question to answer.  If you had your left knee replaced and drive an automatic you can be driving again within a couple of weeks, assuming you feel safe.  If it is your right leg it can take a bit longer.  If you can’t move your foot back and forth from the gas to the break 5 times in under 10 seconds without pain, then you are not appropriate to drive.  Once you can do this, you have minimal pain with small movements, and you feel safe operating a vehicle, you may then appropriate to drive.  Remember, your actions on the road can affect others!

When can I run after knee replacement? When can I bike again after knee replacement?

This all depends on your pain and function. Typically biking on a stationary bike  can start immediately. In general, you can get back to light activities such as hiking between 4-6 months following surgery. 

More strenuous activities such as jogging or skiing may take 8-12 months to SAFELY return.  Some have done it sooner, some have done it later, and some don’t return. Our experience is that those who don’t return either don’t want to or didn’t try. It all depends on your individual factors including pain, strength, range of motion, and how you were functioning prior to your surgery.

If you are an avid cyclist and want to hit the road, you can usually get back to that quicker than jogging, skiing, or hiking.

Don’t let anyone tell you, you must stop what you love doing.  That is likely why you got the surgery in the first place!  Talk to your physical therapist and get a good plan in place to return.

Can physical therapy help before knee replacement?

Absolutely. Physical therapy can help to improve your motion, increase your strength, and help you walk better. All of these things lead to a better outcome after your surgery. Think about it like this: more motion, better strength going in, more motion better strength coming out.

Can physical therapy help arthritis?

Physical therapy can help with arthritis. Now, understand that physical therapy will not get rid of arthritis. It turns out that arthritis is trickier than we think. Often, people will get an X-ray because thier knee hurts. When they look at the image… guess what? The knee that doesn’t hurt has more arthritis!

So what does that mean? It means we don’t really fully understand arthritis and that perhaps, it may not be the the only source of your knee pain.

Physical therapy can help with arthritis in the sense that getting stronger, getting my range of motion, and improving the way you move can eliminate pain. Many people have had great success avoiding a knee replacement with physical therapy.

Who is the best physical therapist after knee replacement? How do I find a good physical therapist?

The best physical therapist to see after a knee replacement is the one who will take time to answer your questions and get to know your goals. I would encourage you to call well before your surgery and ask some questions. Get a feel for how they interact with you and see if your goals are in line!

At Physio2Go we work closely with you to achieve your goals!

Schedule an appointment today!

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