How to Recover From Knee Surgery

After you have been taken through surgery by a knee surgeon, you will be monitored until you awaken and after this, you may stay in hospital for about four days based on the rate of your recovery. You are likely to feel some discomfort and pain, but you will be given medication to help you manage this.

Complications after Surgery

Although complications rarely occur after knee surgery, some patients may experience infections. One of the most common types of infection may occur if bacteria enter the bloodstream due to a urinary tract infection, skin infection or a dental procedure. Therefore, if you have to go though any other surgical procedure, you should confirm with your surgeon so you are advised on the antibiotics to take. Some patients may also get blood clots in their legs and if not handled as required, these may move to the lungs or the heart and lead to life threatening conditions. For this reason, your knee surgeon has to provide you with a clot prevention plan which may include support stockings, medication or leg elevation and exercises. Symptoms of blood clot include pain on the calf, calf redness and persistent swelling on the leg. If you experience any of these signs, you should contact your without delay.

Going Through Therapy

To facilitate better recovery, you have to incorporate knee movements into your routine. A physical therapist may be assigned to your case to assist you with this so you know how to do exercises that will help you regain full knee movement. Such exercise will keep your legs strong, stretch your muscles and facilitate proper blood flow. A therapist may help you with these sorts of activities once or twice a day during your stay in the hospital, and they will also prepare you for return to your regular routine. Depending on your situation, a knee surgeon may help you get a continuous passive motion machine as well, and this is a device that assists in building and strengthening the knee. There are also some special stockings that may be recommended and these can be used to alleviate the swelling. To prevent occurrence of a blood clot, you may also be given an anticoagulant which is a medication that facilitates better circulation of blood.

Getting Proper Care At Home

As you leave the hospital, a keen surgeon will give you instructions which you need to follow keenly, particularly in the period immediately after the surgery. At the spot where the incision was made, you will have some staples or stitches, and these have to be removed a few weeks after surgery. The incision is usually covered with a dressing, and you have to keep this away from water and also change it as instructed by your doctor. However, in case you experience any swelling, reddening or draining in the incision, you should contact your Knee Surgeon Los Angeles as soon as possible. Other than that, its very important that you remain physically active throughout your recovery period. Thus, while you engage the services of a physical therapist, you should also take part in household activities to facilitate mobility.

Even so, you should overdo things, because you may cause further injury which may oblige you to go for another surgery. The website address given below has more information: Knee Surgeon Los Angeles