It will be easier to get back to sleep than if pain awakens you a little later. If find yourself waking up at night in pain, Britton recommends setting an alarm for the time your next dose of pain medicine is due, then waking up just long enough to take it. It’s easier to keep pain at bay than to ease it once it gets started. Create a pain medication schedule (typically every four to six hours as advised by your doctor) - and stick to it, advises Melinda Britton, a registered nurse who cares for orthopaedic patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Some pain and swelling are inevitable after knee replacement, but there are ways to minimize their affects and your discomfort. While you should always follow the advice of your surgeon and medical team, here’s what you need to know and do about some of the common areas of concerns following knee replacement surgery and what your caregiver can do to help you. You’ll also have time to arrange for a caregiver - your spouse or partner, family member or friend, or hired help - to stay with you the first days or weeks after surgery and help you with aftercare following joint replacement surgery. This may include visiting an occupational therapist and physical therapist, stocking up on supplies (such as ice packs and easy-to-prepare foods) and equipment (a walker, cane and shower seat) and creating a list of shows you’d like to watch or books you haven’t had time to read. During this time, understanding knee replacement aftercare is important.īecause knee replacement is an elective procedure and your surgery will likely be scheduled for weeks or months beforehand, there is much you can do before your surgery to prepare yourself and your home for the recovery afterwards. In the initial days and weeks after surgery you will experience pain and swelling and limitations on what you are able to safely do as you gradually return to many, if not most, of your pre-surgery activities. But you can also expect some down time during recovery before you reach that point. If you’re having knee replacement surgery due to arthritis you can expect relief from pain, improved mobility and the ability to resume many of the activities you enjoyed before.
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