Total Knee Replacement

Your new knee joint typically takes 3–6 months for meaningful recovery and up to 12 months for full benefit. The information below helps you know what is normal and when to call us.

What to Expect — The First 2 Weeks

Swelling and bruising around the knee, thigh, and calf are normal and may worsen before improving. Elevate your leg above heart level as much as possible.
Pain is expected and should be manageable with your prescribed medications. Take them on schedule — staying ahead of pain is more effective than chasing it.
Your knee may feel warm to the touch for several weeks. This is a normal part of healing.
A clicking or clunking sensation with movement is common and generally not a concern.
Some numbness around the incision is normal due to small sensory nerve disruption.
Please contact the office (713) 436-3488, once discharged home to schedule your postoperative follow-up visit for 1 week after surgery
The first year after joint replacement requires close monitoring, plan to attend follow-up visits at the 1 week, 3-week, 6-week, 3-month and 1 year postoperatively

Activity & Weight-Bearing

Most patients are weight-bearing as tolerated immediately with a walker until you are stable and then you can transition to a cane in about 1-2 weeks.
Use assistive devices until instructed otherwise — do not rush to walking unaided.
Clearance for driving is patient dependent. Generally, you can drive 1 week after left knee surgery and 2 weeks after right knee surgery.
Typically, patients may return to work within 3 to 6 weeks postoperatively. If your occupation involves being on your feet most of the day, climbing, or a long commute, this may need to be extended.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is one of most important parts of surgical recovery. We recommend outpatient physical therapy; however, if you require other accommodations, please contact the office before surgery.
Physical therapy should begin 2 to 3 days after surgery.
You will complete 2-3 days/week for 4-6 weeks of PT after surgery. Physical therapist will also provide you with a home exercise program for the off days.

Wound Care

Keep the incision clean and dry. Showering is usually permitted after 24-48 hours; keeping the dressing intact and covered with saran wrap during showering.
You will have an adhesive bandage over your incision. This will stay on for the first week to 2 weeks postop. (Notify the office if you have an adhesive allergy)
Do not submerge in water (no baths, pools, hot tubs) until fully healed — typically 4-6 weeks.
Some drainage and mild bleeding through the dressing in the first week to 10 days is normal.
The sutures that were placed during your surgery are absorbable.

Swelling Management

Ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off — always with a cloth barrier to protect skin and always after physical therapy.
Elevate the leg (heel above heart level) for at least 2–3 hours per day.
Significant swelling may persist for 3–6 months. This is normal.

DVT Prevention/Home medication

Please resume all normal medications after surgery once discharged from the hospital.
Take your prescribed blood thinner exactly as directed the following day after surgery. Do not skip doses.
Wear your compression stocking on the operative leg as instructed. Generally, 2 weeks post operation during the day.
Walk short distances frequently throughout the day.

Antibiotic prophylactics

Should you have dental cleaning/surgery, bowel, or bladder surgery, antibiotics are required to help prevent an infection of your replacement. This should typically be prescribed by the treating doctor or dentist. We do recommend this lifelong.
Please wait 3 months after your replacement prior to any dental cleanings

Call Us or Go to the ER If You Experience:

Increasing redness, warmth, or drainage from the wound that is worsening
Fever above 101.5°F (38.6°C)
Sudden increase in pain not controlled by medication
Wound that is opening or separating
Calf swelling, pain, or tenderness, redness throughout the leg, altered mental status, sudden shortness of breath or chest pain (call 911 immediately)