5 Mistakes to Avoid After Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery can offer a path towards better mobility and pain relief. However, it is important to remember that recovery takes time. This might usually take a few months but can differ depending on your age and health. That’s why listening closely to your healthcare provider’s post-surgery advice is key. It can help you achieve a smooth recovery and reduce the risk of future issues.

In this blog, we will discuss how to ensure a safe recovery from knee replacement. We will discuss the common mistakes that hinder recovery and how you can avoid them, ensuring a speedy recovery.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Following Knee Replacement Surgery

Avoiding rehabilitation

Feeling pain after surgery is a common occurrence. It is normal to want to avoid the pain. However, refraining from movement and rehabilitation can do more harm than good. Instead of trying to manage on your own, you could try physiotherapy.

Rehabilitation can help you find the correct level of exercise for yourself. At first, you might feel the pain, but with repetition, it usually gets less painful. It is normal to feel the pain, but do not avoid your session because of it.

Healthcare experts can guide you through your recovery and help you control your pain effectively. Follow the rehabilitation plan to ensure a timely and healthy knee replacement recovery. However, if you feel the pain is unbearable while light exercising, consult your doctor or medical team right away.

Neglecting diet

After surgery, a well-balanced diet is important. Not eating properly can significantly hinder the recovery process. The body needs food to regain strength and make a speedy recovery.

Dieticians can create a diet based on your age, build, and medical history. It’s recommended to eat calcium, iron and fibre-rich foods to regain strength after surgery.

Heavy, large meals, sugary or acidic foods, and alcohol must be avoided. They are hard to digest and can adversely affect the wound-healing process.

Recovering from a knee replacement surgery also requires plenty of hydration. Water is necessary to maintain normal function and smooth digestion.

Neglecting proper wound care

Taking good care of wounds is crucial in recovery. Normally, the knee replacement surgery includes an 8″ and 10″ incision. An infection can slow down the recovery process, increase pain, and further complicate issues.

It is important that you follow the detailed instructions provided by the nursing team on how to care for the wound. The incision should be covered by a bandage for 2 to 3 weeks. The wound should be cleaned, and bandages should be changed daily.

You should avoid putting your leg in the bathtub, pool or hot tub until the wound is healed. This is usually for at least 4 weeks. It is important to follow these rules as getting the wound site wet can increase the risk of infection.

Showers are okay after 2 to 3 days after surgery, but ensure not to scrub or put water on incision. To clean the area after a few weeks, let the soapy water run over the incision, rinse it with water, and gently pat it to dry.

Too much, too soon

Once you have had knee replacement surgery, it is usual to feel the pain and restrictions for a few months. This includes being unable to perform certain day-to-day tasks, such as climbing stairs.

It is important that you respect restrictions and start small. Start with knee bands and gradually proceed to walking. Even though movement is essential, overexerting yourself can cause pain and swelling, hindering the recovery process.

Doing too much without letting the wound heal can be harmful. Especially younger and healthy individuals need to be aware not to rush to daily activities. Maintaining a delicate balance is important for recovery from knee replacement surgery.

Avoiding proper pain management

People often feel intense pain after the surgery. Taking the prescribed medication can help you manage the inflammation and pain after surgery. However, bearing the pain and avoiding the medication intake can cause discomfort. It can even lead to a lack of sleep due to pain, slowing down the recovery.

Ignoring the persistent pain can cause swelling and further complications. It is important that you communicate with your healthcare provider about your symptoms and needs promptly. Following their instructions and advice is equally important for quicker knee replacement recovery.

Conclusion

If you have had knee replacement surgery recently, ensure that you do not make these mistakes. Consider having some professional convalescent care after knee replacement surgery to get the best outcome.

With convalescent care, you can ensure that you get the support and knee replacement aftercare you need. The professionals can provide essential support with medication management and therapy assistance. They can help you transition from the hospital to day-to-day life smoothly, ensuring a safe and speedy recovery.