Between 2016 and 2017, over 67,000 knee replacements were performed in Canada, which indicates a 17.8 percent increase since 2011. Knee replacement surgery can be life-altering. Patients stay in the hospital several days after their surgery, and the recovery time from knee surgery is approximately six months.
One of the most frustrating things about knee surgery is that it derails a person from performing their day-to-day activities. And with such a long recovery time, this deviation from your regular lifestyle can be quite distressing. While you shouldn’t go against your doctor’s instructions to speed recovery, there are some things you can do to ensure that you heal as quickly as is possible and get back to your normal routine ASAP.
3 Tips for Getting Back to Your Daily Activities More Quickly After Knee Surgery
- Keep all appointments with your surgeon and GP — After knee surgery, you may have many medical appointments to keep up with. For example, you may need to see your general doctor, and your surgeon will probably want to check your progress several times. To get back to your former lifestyle as soon as you can, keep all of these appointments and follow your physicians’ instructions to the letter.
- Get enough sleep — Did you know that sleep helps your body heal? Those who get sufficient sleep may heal more quickly than those who don’t, and they will feel better emotionally. They will also have more physical energy. Since recovering from knee surgery is both physically and emotionally tiring, sleep is critical to a successful recovery. If you are having trouble sleeping due to pain, let your general doctor, surgeon, and physiotherapist know so they can strategize with you to increase the quality of your sleep.
- Be religious about your physiotherapy program — One of the main predictors of a successful recovery from knee surgery is attending all of your physiotherapy appointments and adhering to your physiotherapy home program strictly. Patients who are religious about their physiotherapy treatment program can see quicker results. Also, more isn’t always better when it comes to home exercises. Take special care to perform your home program exactly as your physiotherapist instructs so that you won’t tax yourself, which can slow your recovery process.
Got Questions About Recovering from Knee Surgery? Ask Your Doctor or Physiotherapist
It’s understandable that you would have questions when recovering from a major surgery. Whether your questions have to do with managing pain or performing home exercises, don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare providers. Most surgeons and doctors have an after-hours answering service where you can leave a message and a nurse will return your call. Also, ask your physiotherapist what to do in the event that you’d have an after-hours question. Remember, there are no silly questions. Being vocal with your questions will help you move through the recovery process more quickly.