Excellent Knee Replacement Recovery Tips

Pain Relief Medication

Pain relief medication will be provided for patients immediately following surgery, and additional medicines for pain relief will be recommended once patients return home. At the hospital, opioid medications such as morphine and oxycodone may be used after the procedure, though they are generally only used for a day or two. If patients experience severe pain once they are at home, doctors may recommend other strong pain relievers. Within the first week after a knee replacement, most patients can switch to using prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen and naproxen. Eventually, patients usually move to just using regular-strength over-the-counter pain relievers. They gradually reduce these until they are no longer needed. Some pain relievers can cause stomach bleeding, confusion, constipation, and other side effects. Patients should use the lowest dose that alleviates their pain, and doctors should be informed of any concerns or increasing pain.

Maintain Recommended Exercise Schedule

Patients need to maintain the recommended exercise schedule set by their physical therapists and doctors to have a full and speedy recovery. Patients should comply with all the exercise instructions from their medical team and avoid doing too much too soon. They should try to walk whenever they feel able, making sure to use a walker or cane as instructed by healthcare staff. For the first few weeks after surgery, exercise should be limited to walking and the physical activities suggested by the therapists. Patients may need support with cooking, doing laundry, and other basic tasks at home during this period. After the first month following surgery, patients will likely be able to take on more complex exercise regimes, and they should check with their doctor before beginning these.