Thinking About a Knee Replacement? Here's What to Expect

Are you scheduled for a knee replacement? As the baby boom generation in the United States ages, the number of knee replacement surgeries performed each year is increasing. Many older adults want to maintain an active lifestyle. 

Although knee replacements are considered routine, they’re still major surgery. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons with Peninsula Orthopedic Associates perform many knee replacement and other joint replacement surgeries to help our patients regain lost mobility and quality of life. 

You probably have a lot of questions about what you need to do before and after the operation. Here’s a brief outline of what you can expect when you have knee replacement surgery.

Before your knee replacement 

You have a medical evaluation a few weeks before your surgery date to determine if you’re healthy enough for a knee replacement. 

If the operation proceeds, you’ll use a walker or crutches after your knee replacement. Enlist help from family members or friends well before your surgery date so they can help you when you get home from the hospital. 

Prepare your home by removing throw rugs and making a clear path to your bed and the bathroom. You’ll need help performing normal daily tasks like bathing, cooking, and doing laundry. 

Make sure you have the equipment you’ll need after the surgery — a shower chair and a toilet chair or riser. 

During your knee replacement

Your surgeon removes damaged bone and tissue and places implants in your femur, tibia, and kneecap as needed. The surgery normally takes an hour or two.

Knee replacement recovery 

Your recovery begins hours after surgery. A hospital physical therapist shows you how to get in and out of bed. You’ll use a walker to get to and from the bathroom and walk short distances. You begin gentle exercises to start improving your range of motion in your knee. 

You may also wear an inflatable device on your lower legs for a while that activates your circulation and reduces the chances of a blood clot. We may prescribe blood thinners for a few weeks after surgery to counteract the risk of a clot. 

When you go home, you continue physical therapy two or three times per week for up to 12 weeks. At home, you should perform the same exercises that you do with your therapist. If you don’t do the exercises at home, your knee won’t heal properly and you’ll have stiffness and mobility problems. 

You should be able to drive within 4-6 weeks depending on which knee was replaced. It can take 6-12 months to regain maximum strength after a total knee replacement, but you should be able to perform normal daily activities after about three months. 

If you have a partial knee replacement, your recovery will be somewhat faster. 

Call us at Peninsula Orthopedic Associates or request an appointment through our online portal today if you have knee pain or other musculoskeletal concerns. We’re located in Daly City, Menlo Park, and Los Gatos, California.