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.
If both knees are degenerating, should you replace them both at the same time? That will depend on you, your doctor, and your general health. Some people prefer to get it all over at once while others want one non-operative leg to walk on while one heals.
After surgery, will you go home or to rehab? If rehab is your choice, will it be acute or sub-acute? Acute rehabilitation has about 3 hours of therapy a day and can take patients that are medically complicated. Sub-acute rehab offers less therapy each day but is also less expensive than acute rehab. It is getting more difficult to qualify for acute rehab with changes in insurance.
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.
Be prepared to be in a lot of pain right after surgery. Ice packs will feel good on the incisions. Pain medications are constipating, so be careful with them. Many surgical patients are also on iron and calcium which are also constipating. Many patients drink less water so they won't have to go to the bathroom as often, but that also contributes to constipation. Start early with a program to keep your bowels moving so you don't end up miserable.
As you are healing from surgery make sure you are getting enough protein, vitamin C, and zinc. Those are essential nutrients 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.
If both knees are degenerating, should you replace them both at the same time? That will depend on you, your doctor, and your general health. Some people prefer to get it all over at once while others want one non-operative leg to walk on while one heals.
After surgery, will you go home or to rehab? If rehab is your choice, will it be acute or sub-acute? Acute rehabilitation has about 3 hours of therapy a day and can take patients that are medically complicated. Sub-acute rehab offers less therapy each day but is also less expensive than acute rehab. It is getting more difficult to qualify for acute rehab with changes in insurance.
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.
Be prepared to be in a lot of pain right after surgery. Ice packs will feel good on the incisions. Pain medications are constipating, so be careful with them. Many surgical patients are also on iron and calcium which are also constipating. Many patients drink less water so they won't have to go to the bathroom as often, but that also contributes to constipation. Start early with a program to keep your bowels moving so you don't end up miserable.
As you are healing from surgery make sure you are getting enough protein, vitamin C, and zinc. Those are essential nutrients for healing.
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