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What To Expect After Total Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement is a fairly common and successful surgery. Getting an idea about what to expect after the surgery can enable you to be prepared for it.
One attractive factor is that knee replacement surgery cost India is much less than anywhere in the world. Once you have the surgery, the pattern of rest and recovery goes on as follows:
Hospital Stay:
Mostly, you will need to spend 3 days or less in hospital after surgery. But you won’t be released till you achieve the following mile stones:

  • Standing on your own
  • Moving around with aid of a walking device.
  • Ability to flex and extend your knee

In some cases, the surgery can be done even on an out-patient basis. Straight after surgery, you will be moved to a recovery room even as you emerge out of anaesthesia. Now, you may be administered pain medication orally or intravenously. Blood thinners may be advised to prevent clot formation in calves and thighs. To control swelling, a big, bulky dressing may be used. Similarly, a drain to get rid of fluid build-up near the wound may be inserted. This may be removed in 2 to 4 days.
Side Effects:
Possible side effects from surgery include:

  • Nausea and constipation: The doctor may prescribe laxatives.
  • Fluid build-up in lungs: For this doctor, may recommend breathing exercises after surgery.
  • Blood clots: to prevent this, you may be advised moving ankles and doing small leg lift exercises, even in bed after surgery. This prevents deep vein thrombosis. Special stocking or compression hose may be worn to cut the risk of clots.

Physical Therapy (Pt) After Surgery:
PT begins soon after surgery. A physical therapist will visit you several times a day after your surgery and note details like range of motion, progress of exercise and mobility. Make maximum use of visits of the Physical therapist. The speed of your recovery will depend on your rehabilitation.
Rehab at Home:
Resume normal activity at home as soon as possible. Learn to get in and out of bed and straightening and bending knee. Take long walks, using the help of crutches or walkers. Keep knee high and apply ice-packs. Keep all appointments with the physical therapist and follow all his instructions. Do not discontinue medication without consulting your doctor.
Follow Up After Surgery:
Talk to your doctor as soon as you sense the wound is not healing and is inflamed or you experience shortness of breath, or rising body temperature.
A typical follow-up plan would be follow up appointments at 3 and 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months and 1 year. After that, visit doctor annually to check condition of implant. This plan may be modified depending on any complications, age, and nature of activity.
Resumption of Activities:
You can expect resumption of normal activities like driving and working within the period of 3 to 6 weeks after surgery. You must be diligent with your exercise program. Sometimes, it may need 3 to 6 months to resume your complete normal activities.
One can distinguish between short term and long term recoveries. Short term recovery for this surgery takes around 12 weeks. Long term recovery entailing complete healing of soft, internal tissues and surgical wounds takes 3 to 6 months.
Cost
Cost of knee surgery in India is relatively less. This attracts medical tourists from all round the world to make use of top quality facilities and surgeons in India.

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