Home Safety | Knee
Home Safety Instructions
On average, most total knee replacement patients are in the hospital for approximately two to three days after their surgery.
The recovery period after surgery depends on you, your health, and the knee that has been replaced. You may see and feel immediate benefits; however, you must continue to follow your rehabilitation program for several months to get the total benefit of your new knee joint.
Activities of Daily Living for the First Eight Weeks after Surgery
Your activity level should gradually increase on a daily basis over the next eight weeks, beginning at the same level as in the hospital. Be careful not to overtire or overdo. Good activities to ease into are simple meal preparation, dusting, or washing the dishes.
DO have someone help you with grocery shopping, family meal preparation, and laundry.
DO NOT vacuum, make your bed, mop your floors, or lift heavy laundry.
DO NOT do strenuous yard work such as lawn mowing, raking, or bending and stooping in the garden.
Bathing
DO sponge bathe daily until the steri-strips over you incision have fallen off (14-21 days). Trim loose ends of the steri-strips as needed. After 14-21 days you may carefully remove any remaining steri-strips and begin to shower if the incision is clean and dry.
DO watch your balance. Have someone with you the first time you shower, if possible.
DO sit in a chair by the sink when you sponge bathe if you do not feel comfortable standing.
DO NOT sit in the bathtub.
Sitting
DO sit in a firm, straight-backed chair with arm rests. You may sit in a recliner, but you may not recline in it because your knees would be incorrectly positioned. When sitting, your knees should be straight and stretched out or bent as instructed by the therapist. You may recline after this eight-week period.
DO work at straightening and stretching your knee when sitting. To do this, rest your feet on a stool that is slightly lower than the seat of your chair. Position yourself so your knee is not touching the chair's edge. The kneecap should be pointing toward the ceiling. If positioned correctly, you will feel a stretch behind your knee. This may be tolerable to you for only a few minutes, but you should try to do this stretch many times during the day.
DO sit with your fee six inches apart.
DO sit up for meals and during the day.
DO NOT sit for longer than 45-60 minutes at a time without standing and stretching.
Walking
In order to protect your new knee joint and allow for healing during this eight-week period, you must walk with crutches and/or a walker as you were instructed.
If you have had only one knee replaced, you may begin using a can in the hand opposite from your operated knee when you feel stable and do not limp.
DO stand tall with good posture. Walk with your head up, your feet pointing straight ahead, and stretch your knees as straight as possible.
DO walk frequently during the day. This is more important than walking long distances.
DO weight bear on the operated leg per doctor's orders.
DO NOT walk without crutches, a walker or a cane.
DO NOT stand or walk with your toes turned in.
Climbing Stairs
The therapists will show you how to go up and down stairs with your crutches or walker.
DO NOT go up long flights of stairs during this eight-week period.
DO have someone with you the first time you go up a long flight of stairs after the first eight weeks.
Sleeping/Resting
DO lie down flat on your back 5 times a day for short rest periods to prevent fatigue and to do your bed exercises.
DO NOT put any kind of pad or pillow behind your knees unless you are elevating the entire leg and keeping your knee straight.
Daily Exercises
The exercises the physical therapist taught you should be continued as instructed until you return for your eight-week evaluation. To get the total benefit of knee replacement and to regain the quality of life that was once yours, you need to make a serious commitment to exercise and you must stay active. Consistent exercise the key. You should continue your exercise program even on those days when it may seem difficult.
DO use an ice pack on your knee for soreness or pain for 20 minutes, several times a day.
Meals
DO eat a well-balanced diet so that your body has proper nutrition to help it heal and to restore strength. It is not unusual to have a decreased appetite following surgery. If you do not notice a change in your appetite, you might find food more appealing by eating five small meals spaced throughout the day.
Recreational Activities
We encourage you to go out to eat, visit friends, go to church and do those things that are part of your normal daily life as long as you are comfortable and not having pain. We ask that you wait until after your eight-week evaluation and your doctor's "ok" before your return to such activities as golfing, swimming, riding a bicycle, bowling, dancing, boating, or horseback riding.
DO NOT participate in any sports that require any jumping, jerking, pulling, twisting or running.
Sexual Activity
Sexuality is an important part of life. Illness, surgery, medications and stress can temporarily alter sexual function. We strongly advise against intercourse for six to eight weeks after surgery to allow your joint capsule and muscles to heal. When you resume sexual intercourse, those positions that were comfortable to you before surgery will probably be most comfortable to you now. If you have additional questions or concerns, please call your surgeon's office.
Riding in an Automobile
When getting INTO a car:
DO enter from the street level rather than from a curb.
DO have the front seat moved back as far as possible. You may be more comfortable sitting on at least two pillows. This allows you to sit with your knees flexed and makes it easier to stand after sitting.
DO walk toward the seat then turn around so that your back is to the seat and your knee is touching the seat. Turn your body as someone helps you lift your legs into the car, with your operated leg straightened or slightly bent in front of you. Keep your knees moderately apart.
When riding in a car:
DO stop and stretch. Stand up after 45 minutes to one hour of riding during the first car ride home.
DO take your pain medication before your first ride home.
DO NOT ride in a car for longer than 45 minutes without stopping to stretch and walk.
When getting OUT of a car:
DO turn your body as someone helps you lift your legs out of the car. Scoot to the edge and lean forward. Stand up to get your walker or crutches.
Driving
We recommend not driving during this eight-week recovery period. Although the motions involved in driving are not harmful, twisting while getting into the car, as well as the risk of getting in an accident with sudden stopping, could have harmful results.
Aspirin
DO take one coated or buffered aspirin (such as Ascriptin, Bufferin or Ecotrin) daily for the first eight weeks after your surgery. This will help prevent blood clots in your legs.
DO tell your surgeon if you cannot take buffered aspirin.