How to Take Care of Leg After Knee Replacement

Knee replacement is a highly invasive and complex surgery that will change your life. Because of the extensive rehabilitation period and the amount of pain endured by the patient during the operation and recovery period, it is imperative to do everything possible to make sure the leg is cared for properly after surgery. Knowing some of the basics can be very helpful to long-term success with a knee replacement.

Things You'll Need

• Ice
• Compression bandage
• Knee brace
• Physical therapy
• NSAIDs
• Topical analgesic

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Instructions

• 1

  Follow your doctor's orders to the letter. There are very specific times and purposes for everything the doctor prescribes. He will be monitoring your progress, and will make necessary adjustments to your rehabilitation. In the meantime, do not take it on yourself to change anything without his approval.

• 2

  Physical therapy is an absolute must. This will be necessary for your rehab, and the professional PT will guide you step by step on how to strengthen the leg, improve its range of motion and restore activity. It will take time and effort, but at the end of your physical therapy (usually six months), you will have a definite idea of how healthy your leg is and how much it can take as far as activity.

• 3

  Do not practice high impact or high energy sports. Those days are past once you have had total knee replacement. There are still some sports activities you can enjoy, such as golf, horseback riding, swimming, walking, mild hiking and other low impact activities, but you should check with your surgeon even before engaging in these, just to verify their safety.

• 4

  If there is any pain during any exercise or exertion, stop and get off the knee. If there is any hint of swelling, immediately elevate the knee and ice it. Use a compression bandage to help reduce the swelling, and call your doctor.

• 5

  There is likely to be some pain from time to time after having a total knee replacement. This is nothing to panic over, just be prepared with some over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin. Check with your doctor concerning dosage and possible side effects. Topical analgesic can also help relieve your knee pain.

• 6

  Wearing a knee brace or a compression bandage during physical activity is a great way to provide extra support to your replaced joint and prevent possible overexertion problems before they occur. Being proactive in the care of your knee replacement will have a lot to do with how long it lasts and the success you have with it.