| When you have opted for knee replacement | | | | variable, it is something that can be controlled with |
| surgery, you probably imagine the best to happen. | | | | the right kind of medication. Initially, your doctor may |
| You anticipate that life after the surgery is going to | | | | let you use pain control medication through an |
| be great just as it was before the knee replacement | | | | intravenous (IV) tube. This is recommended as it |
| surgery. To a great extent, there is nothing wrong | | | | enables you to regulate the amount of medication |
| about being positive about the whole process. But | | | | that you require. Never forget the fact that it is |
| this kind of vast change takes a lot of effort and | | | | always easier to prevent pain than to control pain. |
| knee replacement therapy. This means that you | | | | As part of post operative care, antibiotics and |
| must be proactive so that the healing process | | | | blood-thinning medication will be administered to you. |
| definitely brings out a successful outcome. | | | | This is meant to help prevent blood clots from |
| True, once you have gone through the knee | | | | forming in the veins of your thighs and calves. Blood |
| replacement surgery, it would be possible for you to | | | | clots are a serious complication that doctors want to |
| resume most activities. But avoid placing excessive | | | | avoid so it is important that you cooperate with |
| demands on your new knee for the first six weeks. | | | | them as part of the knee replacement therapy. |
| After all, your focus should be to adapt to the new | | | | Most patients tend to lose their appetite and feel |
| knee and resume your movements safely. | | | | nauseous or constipated for a couple of days. If you |
| Although your first impulse would be to simply take | | | | experience such symptoms, don't press the panic |
| complete rest after the knee replacement surgery, it | | | | button and worry endlessly as these are normal |
| is important to work on early mobilization. If you feel | | | | reactions. You may be fitted with a urinary catheter |
| considerable pain in your knee, this may be due to | | | | during surgery. You may also be given stool |
| the fact that your leg muscles are weak. So you | | | | softeners or laxatives to tackle the problem of |
| have to build up strength in your quadriceps muscles. | | | | constipation after surgery. In addition, you will be |
| This, in turn, will help you to develop control of your | | | | taught some valuable breathing exercises. These |
| new joint. That is why most surgeons recommend | | | | exercises would help to prevent congestion from |
| early activity as the best antidote to counteract the | | | | developing in your chest and lungs. |
| effects of the anesthesia and trigger faster healing. | | | | As an integral part of your knee replacement |
| Consult all these aspects with your doctor and a | | | | therapy, a physical therapist will typically visit you on |
| physical therapist. They will be able to provide you | | | | the day after your surgery. The job of the therapist |
| with specific instructions on wound care, pain control, | | | | would be to brief and teach you about how to use |
| diet, and exercise. | | | | your new knee. Follow the directions of the therapist |
| Remind yourself that proper pain management is a | | | | and let's definitely see you recover as early as |
| must for knee replacement therapy and bring in early | | | | possible! |
| recovery. Although pain after surgery may be quite | | | | |