Recover Questions
& Answers

As early as 2 weeks, depending on recovery.

Gradual return, 3-6 weeks for sitting/desk job.

Waterproof dressing is applied allowing for next-day shower.

Application of new weight bearing surface and removal of all arthritis, bone spurs, baker’s cyst, torn meniscus.

Intraoperative instruments measure the knee, allowing precise fit to the millimeter.

About an hour.

General with local knee blocks.

Heart attack, stroke, death, infection, blood clots, chronic pain, other.

Medication will be called to your pharmacy to be taken as needed for pain. Take a stool softener to limit constipation while taking pain meds during recovery.

Laboratory data has calculated some knee replacements to perform well at 30 years of wear performance.

Same day surgery or hospital overnight stay (one or two nights) options are available.

Stay at home for 2 weeks where you’ll be visited by home health team of nurses and physical therapists for health checks and rehabilitation.

Therapy begins same day as surgery, followed by home physical therapy for two weeks, then transition to outpatient physical therapy (you going to a physical therapy location)  and continues for 2 months.

Your final range of motion will be determined by the amount of your effective effort and therapy. Want great motion in your new knee? Go get it!

Motion is the key!  Moving ankle up and down while resting starting day of surgery will help circulation.  Aspirin or Xarelto for 3 weeks depending on your risk profile.  Compression socks worn for two weeks.

Your wound will be closed with plastic surgery techniques.  No staple gun!  We use absorbable sutures, sealed with glue to create a water tight seal to minimize infection.

Lotions, scar creams, Vit E can be applied to wound 6 weeks after surgery.

6 weeks if the wound heals uneventfully.

Keep moving!  We want you in the best shape possible.  Low impact exercise including elliptical, exercise bike, walking or swimming in a pool will help.  Also, keeping your weight close to your ideal body weight will help in your recovery.

You may experience warmth, tightness, numbness, tendonitis for up to 1-2 years.

The knee replacement often disturbs sleep due to stiffness and soreness on and off for the first 3-6 months.  Limiting daytime naps, being active and over the counter sleep aids may assist in getting a good night’s sleep.

It’s possible your new knee may be detected.  Tell the TSA agent you have a knee replacement and they may use a wand to confirm.

Current guidelines show no increased risk of infection, so no antibiotics are recommended.

• Tibia: Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Alloy (titanium alloy)
• Femur: Zimaloy Co-Cr-Mo Alloy (cobalt chrome alloy)
• Poly: Vivacit-E Highly Crosslinked polyethylene
• Patella: Vivacit-E Highly Crosslinked polyethylene