Knee replacement surgery, is also known total knee arthroplasty, which can relieve you from pain and restore function. The surgery comprises cutting away torn or diseased cartilage and bone from your knee cap and the adjoining area, including your thighbones and shinbones as well. You will be given a new artificial joint which is made up of metal alloys or high-grade plastics. Your artificial knee may feel little discomfort for few days in many ways, but it will take some time to get used to it. You may have various limitations with it. Usually, it takes three months for you to return to your regular activities. It can take six months to almost one year for you to make a full recovery and recover full strength. However, 8 out of 10 people who receive a total knee replacement report major improvements in the quality of their life.
Have Realistic Expectations It’s significant to have realistic expectations about your knee. You shouldn’t expect your artificial knee, as extraordinary as it is, to function at the same level as your natural knee. It will not bend as much as your natural knee would have functioned. Activities such as the following will probably be little difficult:
Exercise and Stay Active After operation, you will likely have to stay in the hospital for few days. Typically, your surgeon will have you walking with the assistance of an aid, such as with the help of a cane or walker. You should be walking without any assistance of an aid in two to three weeks. Once you’ve gone through knee rehabilitation and you’re back on your feet, you can return to most of your regular activities. You will be able to engage in many physical activities that were too painful to perform before surgery. During the first year, you should gradually regain strength and flexibility in your knee. As long as you observe an exercise program and stay active, your artificial knee will most probably show steady and ongoing development. Manage Your Weight Managing your weight is very important. Extra kilo negatively affects your knee by putting extra stress on your joint and can cause your prosthesis to break or wear out much sooner. Remember that you are at an increased risk of infection after you’re done with your knee replacement. Your orthopedic surgeon may prescribe antibiotics before dental work or any invasive medical process. The success rate of knee replacement surgery is comparatively very high. The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons states that you have a 85 to 95 % chances that your joint will last for more than 10 years, and 80 to 90 % chances that it will last till 20 years. With growth and improvements in technology, these numbers may increase in the future. If you are older than 60 – 65 years at the time of your surgery, and you take proper care for your artificial knee, it will likely last for longer span of time, or may be for the rest of your life.
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AuthorDr. A. M. Rajani is a known knee & shoulder specialist Orthopedic Surgeon in Mumbai, India. He is a Hon Asst Professor of Orthopedics at the Grant Medical College & JJ Group of Hospital. Archives
January 2018
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