As we are living longer, more older Australians are needing joint replacement surgery. Approximately 13.3% of people aged 65-84 years, and 22.5% of those aged over 85 years have had at least one joint replaced.[1] Most people who have a knee replacement surgery will experience less pain and better mobility once they recover from surgery. However, at Home Care Assistance, we understand that taking the leap to have a knee replacement surgery can be a little daunting. Our Care Professionals can help you with recovery from knee replacement surgery through helping with rehabilitation and helping you be safe at home after your surgery. However, we have also put together this blog of what to expect in your recovery and helpful tips for a safe recovery from your knee replacement surgery.
Week-by-Week Recovery Guide for a Knee Replacement.
The first 12 weeks of recovery are critical for your long-term recovery and set you up for your full recovery, which occurs after about a year. Here is what to expect as you recover through those first 12 weeks.
Weeks 1-3
You will spend the first one to five days in the hospital before being discharged. Before you go home you will need to sit and stand by yourself, and move around using crutches or a walker.
When you get home, you may need assistance with your daily activities such as showering and dressing, cooking, taking medications, doing exercises, attending doctor’s appointments and any other errands you may need to run.
Weeks 4-6
This is usually the time when you start to feel like yourself again. You will start to be able to do more activities such as cooking and cleaning and going out. Although it is important not to overdo it and give yourself breaks.
You are unlikely to be able to drive and may need help with driving to appointments, grocery shopping and your rehabilitation exercises.
During this time, you will likely notice that your knee strength, and your ability to bend your knee, are improving. Your physiotherapist may giver you harder exercises to continue to build your knee strength and flexibility.
Weeks 7-12
During this time, you will start to feel like you are returning to normal. You might be able to start to walk without an aid, and do more demanding activities such as shopping, cleaning, and driving. At this point it is important to stick with your recovery plan by going to any appointments and doing your exercises. Our Care Professionals can help you stay on track with this phase, so you get the best outcome in the long run.
4 Tips to Help You Recover From a Knee replacement at Home
Recovering from a knee replacement can take home. It is important to make sure you look after yourself during this time, so you don’t have any unnecessary setbacks. Here are four tips to help you recover at home.
- Stay Safe
Setting up your home to reduce the risk of falls is important to help you recover smoothly. Things your Care Professional or other helper can assist you with to prevent falls include:
- Making sure you have everything you need set up on the ground floor if your home has stairs
- Installing safety bars in the shower/bath/toilet
- Pre-arrange for a raised toilet seat and a shower chair
- Making sure any trip hazards are removed and you have a nice clear space to move around in.
- Minimise Pain and Infection
Taking pain medications as prescribed, as well as antibiotics or stool softeners as required, helps you keep healthy and comfortable during your recovery. Keeping your pain under control helps you complete your exercises, so you recover faster.
Our Care Professionals at Home Care Assistance can not only help you stay on track with your pain medication, and other medications, but also help with picking up prescriptions from the chemist, and keeping an eye out for any signs of infection.
- Eat Well.
Eating a healthy diet during this time can help your body recover faster. Our Care Professionals at Home Care Assistance can help you with this by assisting with grocery shopping and meal preparation.
- Move regularly.
Once you get home, it is important to keep moving without pushing yourself too hard. A Home Care Assistance Care Professional can help you with this by going for walks with you, helping you follow the prescribed exercises, and doing household chores with you.
By knowing what to expect and following our tips for helping you recover from knee replacement surgery, you can recover faster and safer. Our Care Professionals at Home Care Assistance can help you through this time in many ways. If you are considering knee replacement surgery for yourself or your loved one, speak to our Care Professionals to see how they can provide support during this time.
Support of an in-home care agency like Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefit and comfort to your quality of life while living independently at home. Home Care Assistance has viable solutions when it comes to supporting independent living. For more information, get in touch with a Home Care Assistance near me today.
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32115869/
