Knee replacement surgery is very popular for those suffering from severe knee pain. Here are a few things to think about before going under the knife.
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 bad, do you have them replaced separately or at the same time? That varies from person to person. Some people want to only go through anesthesia and recovery one time, given a choice. Some prefer to have a non-operative leg to walk on while the other knee heals. Your overall health will be a consideration in the final decision, also.
Where do you want to go after surgery? If the answer is home, do you have help there? Other options include acute and sub-acute rehabilitation hospitals. Acute rehabilitation hospitals offer more intense therapy, usually 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. Acute rehab can take care of patients that are more medically complex. Sub-acute facilities have less therapy per day. Sub-acute rehabilitation is less expensive than acute rehab so often preferred by insurance companies. With insurance changes it is harder to qualify for acute rehabilitation now than it has been in the past.
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.
A possible complication after surgery is a blood clot called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These can be very dangerous, so for several weeks after surgery you will likely be given some type of DVT prophylaxis. Coumadin is one of the most common medications used for this. Others include lovenox, xarelto, and aspirin.
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.
Right after surgery most patients are in quite a bit of pain. Ice packs will bring some relief and help keep the swelling down. Remember that pain medications are constipating. Many orthopedic patients are also on iron and calcium, which are constipating, too. A lot of patients drink less water in the hospital because they don't want to have to go to the bathroom. Don't take more pain medication than you really need, drink plenty of water and start early with stool softeners if you feel you are becoming constipated.
After surgery make sure you are getting enough protein, vitamin C, and zinc in your diet. 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 bad, do you have them replaced separately or at the same time? That varies from person to person. Some people want to only go through anesthesia and recovery one time, given a choice. Some prefer to have a non-operative leg to walk on while the other knee heals. Your overall health will be a consideration in the final decision, also.
Where do you want to go after surgery? If the answer is home, do you have help there? Other options include acute and sub-acute rehabilitation hospitals. Acute rehabilitation hospitals offer more intense therapy, usually 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. Acute rehab can take care of patients that are more medically complex. Sub-acute facilities have less therapy per day. Sub-acute rehabilitation is less expensive than acute rehab so often preferred by insurance companies. With insurance changes it is harder to qualify for acute rehabilitation now than it has been in the past.
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.
A possible complication after surgery is a blood clot called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These can be very dangerous, so for several weeks after surgery you will likely be given some type of DVT prophylaxis. Coumadin is one of the most common medications used for this. Others include lovenox, xarelto, and aspirin.
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.
Right after surgery most patients are in quite a bit of pain. Ice packs will bring some relief and help keep the swelling down. Remember that pain medications are constipating. Many orthopedic patients are also on iron and calcium, which are constipating, too. A lot of patients drink less water in the hospital because they don't want to have to go to the bathroom. Don't take more pain medication than you really need, drink plenty of water and start early with stool softeners if you feel you are becoming constipated.
After surgery make sure you are getting enough protein, vitamin C, and zinc in your diet. Those are essential nutrients for healing.
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