YOUR RECOVERY AT HOME

The success of your surgery will depend on how well you follow your Orthopaedic surgeon’s instructions at home during the first few weeks after surgery.

Note: You will have stitches or staples running along your wound or a suture beneath your skin on the front of your knee. The stitches or staples will be removed two weeks after surgery. A suture beneath your skin will not require removal.

Wound Care Avoid soaking the wound in water until the wound has been thoroughly sealed and dried. A bandage may be placed over the wound to prevent irritation from clothing or support stockings. A balanced diet, often with an iron supplement, is important to promote proper tissue healing and restore muscle strength.

Activity / Exercise is a critical component of home care, particularly during the first few weeks after surgery. You should be able to resume most normal activities of daily living within three to six weeks following surgery. Some pain during an activity and at night is common for several weeks after surgery.

Diet - Some loss of appetite is common for several weeks after surgery.

- Specific exercises several times a day to restore movement and strengthen your knee.

- You probably will be able to perform the exercises without help, but you may have a physiotherapist to help you at home or in a therapy center the first few weeks after surgery.

- Resuming other normal household activities, such as sitting and standing and walking up and down the stairs.

- Weight control keeps your weight under control, it will also reduce the amount of pressure and stress on your new knee.