Knee replacement is a major and life-changing procedure. This procedure provides pain relief and improves your quality of life for millions of people every year. Thus, it is one of the most common surgical processes in the world. In the United States, the number of knee replacement surgeries done each year 790,000and the number is still growing.
There are different reasons for knee replacement, but different forms of arthritis and knee injuries are the leading causes. The constant is that recovery will be a slow process. Expect limitations to your mobility and routine for 6-12 months.
Actual recovery speed can be highly affected by how well you follow the advice you’ve been given by the doctor. Ensuring that you do not make some of the mistakes many patient often make can also be a factor.
As a knee replacement recovering patient, you may be prone to making the top 5 mistakes after knee replacement below.
Top 5 Mistakes After Knee Replacement that Patients Make
Frustration are probably inevitable as you recover from knee replacement. And this is because the process affects your ability to do the things you love or even go back to your usual routine. You should not let this frustration derail your recovery. Commitment to proper rehabilitation and care procedures regardless of how frustrating the process might be is important.
Avoiding these top 5 mistakes after knee replacement explained in this article will be a perfect starting point.
1. Failing to Create a Recovery Plan
Creating a recovery plan should be one of the first things that every patient recovering from knee replacement should do after leaving the hospital. With a recovery plan, you will have a clear strategy to follow that can help you heal faster and go back to your regular life activities within a shorter time.
Good recovery plans ensure you get the best post-surgery care and rehabilitation – it ensures you have an easier time getting back to your normal life.
With a clearly laid out recovery plan, you are also likely to have more clear recovery expectations. Unrealistic expectations are a big problem for many people recovering from knee replacement. Expecting to be back to your normal life in a few weeks and ending up confined in the house for months can be quite frustrating.
Nancy, a 58-year-old mother of two from Texas, may have just learned the negative effects of unrealistic expectations the hard way. Sharing her experience on a Reddit post, she said, “My surgery went exceptionally well, and I felt the changes in my knees almost immediately. In my mind, I may be back on my feet and ready to work in my shop in two or three weeks at most.”
She further added that, “Contrary to my expectations, it took me six months just to be able to work again – which was quite disheartening.” Not having a clear recovery plan is what often leads to such unrealistic expectations that end in disappointment.
What Should You Do?
- Try to Be Realistic – Remembering that a knee replacement is not a quick fix for your knee pain is essential. While it is true that it is only natural that you may want to be back to your routine quickly, just do not be unrealistic with this. Perhaps talking to your doctor may help you better understand the knee replacement recovery process. This can allow for more realistic expectations. And this is more so where recovery timelines may be involved. Realistic expectations are also likely to ensure that you remain more patient with your recovery process.
- Changes Your Lifestyle: Recovering from knee replacement will require some lifestyle changes. You’ll have to reduce the extra weight so as not to put a lot of pressure on your knees. Reduction in your activity level or the intensity is probably also a good idea, and one that most experts may recommend.
Note: Actual recovery time may largely depend on the following:
- The patient’s age
- Activity level and intensity
- Underlying health conditions
2. Mismanaging Medication
Pain management will probably be one of the most important aspects of recovery. It is, however, one of the things that patients often get wrong as they tend to mismanage their medication.
Missing dosses of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication once you start healing is one of the most common forms of this mismanagement. This can often delay the healing process, and sometimes it may even lead to unforeseen health consequences.
Choosing to overuse and abuse some of the medication is also a form of medication mismanagement. It is quite common to abuse the pain medication when the pain becomes unbearable during therapy and rehabilitation exercises. Dependency on the pain medication is often the outcome of this abuse.
You should’ve already heard about the dangers of medication mismanagement as a person struggling with knee issues. Keeping these risks in mind as you recover can ensure you carefully follow to your medication prescription.
What Should You Do?
- Create a Medication Reminder – Medication schedules and reminder can ensure you take your medication at the right time and dosage. Since recovery will be long term you can consider setting a reminder on your phone. Another idea would be to create medication checklist.
- Consulting Your Physical Therapist/Doctor – Pain can sometimes become overbearing as you recover. Whether it is a result of the therapy or exercises you are doing you need to talk to your doctor about it. With your doctor aware of your situation, they can prescribe different medications that can provide better relief so you do not have to abuse what you are using.
3. Abandoning Assistive Devices Too Early
Putting too much weight and pressure on your feet as you recover from a knee replacement can be detrimental. It is for this reason that doctors recommend using assistive devices such as walkers and canes in the early days of the recovery.
Stopping the use of walkers too early in your recovery because of eagerness to go back to a normal life can be a huge mistake. One consequence of this will be having to put unnecessary stress on the knees before they fully heal.
Besides also making you more prone to slips and falls, abandoning your cane or walker throws your weight distribution off balance. With this in mind, it should be clear that not using an assistive device will affect your healing and can have a long-term impact on your walking pattern
Trying to move away from using canes too soon is bad for your recovery. Worsening of your knee issue is also a real possibility if you do not use assistive devices long enough.
What Should You Do?
- Normalize Your Walking Stride – Normalizing your stride should be a priority before you decide to stop using canes. Using the cane can help you work on improving how you extend your knees and move around. You can also use the support you get from these devices to regain your stability when walking or standing. Abandonment of the cane or walker should only come when you have healed enough and can walk or stand properly.
- Ask Your Surgeon/Physiotherapist – You may also need to check in with your surgeon before you abandon your cane. It makes sense to get professional advice and to go through an examination before you take this drastic action.
4. Overexerting and Trying to Rush Back to Normal Life Too Soon
A knee replacement can tie you down for quite some time, and so it is normal to become impatient and wish to go back to your normal life the soonest possible. Overexerting yourself and rushing things is a big mistake you should avoid, even with your eagerness to go back to your normal life, as it will affect your recovery.
Giving your knee enough time to heal before going back can ensure that the physical demands of normal routines do not prevent full healing. Working in jobs that you have to stand for long or activities that require you to use your feet like driving can set your recovery back. Worst yet, rushing back to things may even make the surgery less effective in alleviating your knee pain.
Paul found out the importance of not overexerting oneself after a knee replacement the hard way. Two weeks after his surgery, Paul was already driving his kids to and from school, a big miscalculation on his side that saw him being forced to go back for a second surgery as his knee replacement ended misaligned, and was also not healing properly. Because of rushing back to a normal life, Paul was forced to undergo a second surgery to correct the damages, and he likely had to stay off his feet for even much longer than he would have.
What Should You Do?
- Try to Be Patient – Being patient as you heal will allow you to get back on your feet even sooner. You’ll have a much easier time recovering if you can exercise some patience. It is true that there are many other work/life activities you may need to go back to but your healing should be a top priority. You do not want to have to live through years of pain just because you did not give your knee enough time to heal. Even when you feel like you are healed enough to go back to work, consider first checking with your doctor.
- Taking Things One Step at a Time – Even after you recover, you may not be able to do everything that you used to do before the process. It is unlikely you will be able to do everything you used to before immediately. And this is regardless, whether you are fully healed or not. The right idea is to start with simple and less demanding activities, and you can slowly move to more intense ones. Maybe you should think of dividing your transition back to your regular activities into milestones.
Note: You may be putting your health at great risk by rushing back into your normal routine after knee replacement. Waiting at least 4-6 weeks before going back to work or resuming your normal routine makes more sense.
5. Not Wearing the Right Shoes
You may need to choose your shoes more carefully as you recover. Shoes are what will support the feet as you learn how to work properly again. Any wrong footwear choices can affect your recovery.
Without proper shoes, it may become difficult to regain your old walking pattern. Shoes can lead to an unhealthy walking pattern they may put your knees under unnecessary pressure.
It should be clear that shoes could affect the healing process and put you at more risk of slipping and falling.
What Should You Do?
- Wear the Right Shoes as You Recover – Choosing shoes with enough support, shock absorbance, and an outsole with a good grip can make a huge difference for knee replacement recovery. Go for orthopedic shoes as they will take pressure off your knees and keep your knees in the right alignment.
Knee Replacement FAQs
How Long Can Recovery Take?
It takes between 6 and 12 months to fully recover after knee replacement. Going back to normal activities takes a shorter time. Most people are able to do it in under 3 months.
When Will One Be Able to Drive?
You may be able to start driving within a few weeks. Before actually doing it. make sure to get clearance from your doctor before you start driving again.
Can You Play a Sport after Knee Replacement?
Playing a sport after a knee replacement may be okay. Giving your knee enough time to heal and checking, and getting clearance from your doctor should come first. Most experts advise to start with gentle sports like swimming as you recover.
What can I never do after knee replacement?
Simple answer – Anything that can affect your healing process or put you at risk of injury. With that said, you shouldn’t engage in any high-impact activity. This means that you shouldn’t do anything that may involve overexerting your knees.
Jumping and running are all out of the question. Playing contact sports such as football and basketball are all also terrible ideas. And as many doctors would advise, ensure you are not on your feet for extended periods.
What are Some of the Biggest Complaints After Knee Replacement?
- Discomfort – Whether it is from the stiffness or post-surgery pain, prolonged discomfort can be one of the biggest complaints from many patients. With such discomfort, doing your daily activities becomes harder. But this should only last a few weeks. A little patience and giving the knee enough time to heal is probably the best way to handle the discomfort.
- Swollen Knee – Well, some swelling is quite obvious after your surgery. This is something that you may have to live with for anywhere from a few weeks to months. You needn’t worry about it. The swelling should reduce as your knee heals.
- Knee Clicks and Pops – Beyond the swelling and discomfort, it is not uncommon for the knees to make clicking and popping sounds. It’s rather unusual and probably even unnatural, and hence it is easy to see why it can be a source of complaint. In reality, there is nothing to worry about. Popping and clicking are a result of the new metallic or plastic components in the knee. You should get used to it in a few weeks. Most people may hardly even notice the sound after the first few days.
- Limited Motion – Let’s face it, you will not be able to get back to your usual range of motion immediately after the surgery. Bending and stretching out your knees can be quite difficult. Whether it is because of the pain or your knee feeling rather unusual, expect some limitation in your range of motion as you heal.
What are the Signs of a Failed Knee Replacement?
1. Persistent or Increasing Pain
Needless to say, you should expect to feel some pain after your knee replacement. Remember that this is a major surgery. Even with that in mind, the pain shouldn’t persist for too long or keep increasing. Either of these two signs may be an indication that there is something wrong with your knee replacements. Common issues include the implant loosening or shifting.
2. Infections
Getting an infection after knee replacement is always a risk. Introduction of the metal or plastic components to your knee joint may be the main source of this risk. Infections are less likely if the process is done well and you follow the post-surgery care routine. Signs of infection such as swelling and redness around the knee area may be an indication that the process did not go as planned.
3. Instability
You shouldn’t feel unstable or worry that your knee may be about to give way anytime you are standing or walking after the surgery. Providing stability is one of the primary purposes of your knee implant. Improper positioning or a poorly done surgery may lead to instability around your knee joint.
4. Discoloring of the Knee Area
A little discoloring of the skin around the knee area is nothing to worry you. If it starts looking too prominent, then there might be a problem with your surgery. Discoloration is often a result of poor circulation around the knee. It’s even worse when combined with other symptoms like swelling and tenderness.
5. Reduction In Activity Levels
It wouldn’t be logically possible to hope to regain your pre-surgery activity level immediately. Even with this in mind, a massive reduction in your range of motion may be something to worry about.
Not being able to bend your knee completely or even walk for short distances after the surgery is a sign that something isn’t right.
Can Too Much Walking Damage a Knee Replacement?
Yes! But, there’s a caveat. It is not the walking itself that can damage the knee replacement, but rather overexerting your knee. And so it is not just about walking. Any excessive activity that you may do after the process can affect the healing.
Engaging your knees too much in the early days after surgery leads to swelling and stiffness. There’s also an increased risk of slips and falls, which can be dangerous.
Why Shouldn’t One Put A Pillow Under the Knee After Surgery?
A pillow under the knee is bad for you. It can affect the healing process. You may get more comfortable with a pillow below the knee, especially when sleeping, but it’s not advisable.
The pillow will force the knee to bend or it may end up in an unnatural posture. This will impede blood flow and may also put too much stress on the joint. Keeping the knee as straight as possible is recommended.
And you can do this by elevating your entire leg and by following the specific positioning directions your doctor may have provided
After Knee Replacement Care – The Two Critical Exercises You Should Do
1. Heel Slides
Many therapists will probably include heel slides in your exercise regimen when recovering from knee replacement, as it’s one of the most popular exercises. Heel slides can improve how your knee bends and help restore your overall range of motion.
Reduction of knee stiffness and enhancement of the overall flexibility of the knees are also potential benefits you can get from heel slides.
How to:
- Start by lying on your back and fully extending your legs out
- Gradually bend your knee and slide your heel towards your buttocks
- Hold this position for 10 seconds
- Slowly stretch out your foot to the starting position to extend out your knee
- Repeat 10-15 times and do the exercise several times a day (if you can do it hourly it will be great)
2. Ankle Pumps
It’s almost inevitable that you will need to deal with a lot of swelling as you recover. Ankle pumps are one of the best exercises for dealing with this swelling. This exercise might also help strengthen muscles.
Ankle pumps are quite an easy exercise to do. And if done regularly, they can help prevent clots and improve blood circulation
How to:
- Start by lying flat in your bed or even on the floor
- Pump the feet up and down (while hinging them at the ankle area)
- Rotate the feet clockwise and anti-clockwise at the ankle
- Repeat the exercise as many times in the day as possible
Note: It’s important to start your recovery exercises early for faster and more effective recovery. You’ll also need to follow your doctor’s/therapist’s directions for the best outcomes, and also make sure you’ll not overdo anything that may put you at greater risk of injury.
Best Sitting Position after Knee Replacement
Comfort should be your top priority after the surgery. Sit upright or recline on firm chair that is well cushioned. This depends on what you are doing. A chair with a straight back and armrests is recommended for working.
You can also elevate your legs when relaxing. This can be beneficial for reducing swelling.
It’s important to avoid sitting down for extended periods. 45-60 minutes at a time should be okay. If you have to sit much longer than this, make sure it is not more than 2 hours.
Conclusion
A knee replacement surgery is life-changing. The procedure will help reduce your knee pain and thus improve your quality of life. However, to achieve maximum benefits from this procedure, you need to take the recovery process seriously. It is important to commit to the rehabilitation process by avoiding the top 5 mistakes after knee replacement explained in this article.
