Total Knee Replacement Baltimore: The Recovery

Getting Total Knee Replacement Baltimore

Surgery can be kind of scary, especially when it’s a major procedure that will sideline you for a long period of time like knee replacement surgery. Not only will you have to deal with the pain of recovery, but you’ll also have to find ways to stick as close to your typical, daily routine as possible without the ability to move around freely. This can be quite concerning, frustrating and difficult… but it can be done as long as you prepare properly for the period of time that comes after having a total knee replacement Baltimore done.

Recovering from Total Knee Replacement Baltimore

Starting out slow is important. As soon as the surgery has been completed and patients come out of the recovery rooms, they can begin the process of getting into and out of bed. This does not mean that they can (or will) immediately begin walking around, but before releasing them to the care of their loved ones at home, it’s necessary to prove that patients can get into and out of bed, use the bathroom, and stand on their own.

When arriving home, knee replacement surgery patients will notice that they have a lot of pain. This is normal, since the procedure that they had done is an extensive one. The most important thing that can be done is that the pain should be managed carefully with the medication and advice from the medical team. It will hurt when bending or moving the limb, but this won’t be done for a while, so the important thing is staying comfortable.

People often assume that they will be able to go home and let the healing process happen naturally. While this is the case, there is a lot of additional things that must be done. The knee must be stretched gradually. Many patients will wear a brace that can be adjusted without removing it, meaning that as time passes, the angle that the knee is kept at can be changed in a controlled manner… this will help to ensure that the muscles do not get too weak, and that there is little chance for the surgical site to be disturbed.

When the knee has healed enough, it will be time for physical therapy and putting weight back on the leg. This will take a lot of time - sometimes weeks, other times months… but it is an important milestone. This means that patients can begin learning to walk again. This again will cause pain - but the pain is a reminder that the healing process is occurring, and it is also a natural stopping point. Working through a little pain is necessary, but if it gets too bad, it’s time to take a break for the day.

Slow and steady progress is key to total knee replacement Baltimore recovery - it’s not a race!