Knee Replacement Surgery is very common these days. Here are a few tips for those considering having this procedure.
Choosing the right surgeon is key to a good outcome. I suggest you go to an orthopedic floor of a local hospital and ask the nurses there who they would recommend.
Be careful not to wait too long to get surgery if you need it. If you wait until your joints are in really bad shape the surgery is harder and so is the recovery. A good doctor will try conservative treatment first and will let you know when it is time to consider having a replacement done.
Should you have both knees replaced at one time or just do one at a time? That will depend on you, your doctor, and your general health. Some prefer to get it over with all at once. Others prefer to have one non-operative leg to walk on while one is healing.
Will you have help at home after surgery or will you spend time in a rehabilitation facility? Acute rehabilitation hospitals are more intense with therapy, usually having about 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, and can handle patients that are more complex. Sub-acute rehab is less expensive, and has less therapy daily than acute rehab. Insurance companies prefer the cheaper option. It is getting more and more difficult to qualify for a stay in acute rehab.
I am a fan of custom fit prosthetics. I have seen good results with these. If I needed a replacement, I would talk to my doctor about a custom fit knee replacement. Many people don't know this is an option. Your leg is imaged, then the pictures are sent to a manufacturer where a prosthetic is crafted to fit your bone structure perfectly. The patients I have had with these have sailed through their recoveries.
You will be at an increased risk for getting a blood clot after surgery, so will likely be on some sort of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) prophylaxis for several weeks. Coumadin is probably the most common. Other options include lovenox (tummy shots), xarelto, and aspirin. Keep the leg or legs elevated to decrease swelling but don't put a pillow right under the knee. This will increase your chances of getting a blood clot. Wiggle your toes and feet when in bed to keep blood moving.
Many people react to the tape used during surgery with large, ugly blisters. They will pop and heal quickly and are usually nothing to worry about. There will be varying amounts of redness, swelling, and heat, also.
A machine called Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) may be ordered by some doctors. The machine bends and straightens the leg over and over while you are in bed. Not all doctors think it is helpful.
There will be a lot of pain after surgery. Ice packs will help. Be careful with pain medications and constipation. A lot of surgical patients are also on iron and calcium, which are also constipating. And often patients drink less water to not have to go to the bathroom as often, but this makes constipation worse. Start early with a bowel program before you become miserably constipated.
Be sure to eat well after surgery, too. Your body needs protein, vitamin C, and zinc for healing.
Choosing the right surgeon is key to a good outcome. I suggest you go to an orthopedic floor of a local hospital and ask the nurses there who they would recommend.
Be careful not to wait too long to get surgery if you need it. If you wait until your joints are in really bad shape the surgery is harder and so is the recovery. A good doctor will try conservative treatment first and will let you know when it is time to consider having a replacement done.
Should you have both knees replaced at one time or just do one at a time? That will depend on you, your doctor, and your general health. Some prefer to get it over with all at once. Others prefer to have one non-operative leg to walk on while one is healing.
Will you have help at home after surgery or will you spend time in a rehabilitation facility? Acute rehabilitation hospitals are more intense with therapy, usually having about 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, and can handle patients that are more complex. Sub-acute rehab is less expensive, and has less therapy daily than acute rehab. Insurance companies prefer the cheaper option. It is getting more and more difficult to qualify for a stay in acute rehab.
I am a fan of custom fit prosthetics. I have seen good results with these. If I needed a replacement, I would talk to my doctor about a custom fit knee replacement. Many people don't know this is an option. Your leg is imaged, then the pictures are sent to a manufacturer where a prosthetic is crafted to fit your bone structure perfectly. The patients I have had with these have sailed through their recoveries.
You will be at an increased risk for getting a blood clot after surgery, so will likely be on some sort of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) prophylaxis for several weeks. Coumadin is probably the most common. Other options include lovenox (tummy shots), xarelto, and aspirin. Keep the leg or legs elevated to decrease swelling but don't put a pillow right under the knee. This will increase your chances of getting a blood clot. Wiggle your toes and feet when in bed to keep blood moving.
Many people react to the tape used during surgery with large, ugly blisters. They will pop and heal quickly and are usually nothing to worry about. There will be varying amounts of redness, swelling, and heat, also.
A machine called Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) may be ordered by some doctors. The machine bends and straightens the leg over and over while you are in bed. Not all doctors think it is helpful.
There will be a lot of pain after surgery. Ice packs will help. Be careful with pain medications and constipation. A lot of surgical patients are also on iron and calcium, which are also constipating. And often patients drink less water to not have to go to the bathroom as often, but this makes constipation worse. Start early with a bowel program before you become miserably constipated.
Be sure to eat well after surgery, too. Your body needs protein, vitamin C, and zinc for healing.
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