How long do you have pain after knee replacement surgery?

how long do you have pain after knee replacement surgery?

What to Expect after Surgery?

How long do you have pain after knee replacement surgery?

 

Knee Replacement Surgery pain

Typically, knee replacement surgery hurts more than hip replacement surgery. General pain may occur for up to several weeks following a total knee replacement. To ease your pain raise (elevate) your legs and apply a cold pack to your incision after activities such as exercises or walking. This can help reduce swelling and pain.

You may feel some discomfort in your new joint.

Take the prescription pain medicine as instructed by your surgeon.

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What to Expect after Surgery?

You can expect to be up on your feet within a day. That might be hard to do on your own at first. So you may need parallel bars, crutches, a walker, or a cane for a while to get up.

Usually, you can expect a big improvement in flexibility and much less pain within a month. It’s important to exercise your knee often, to keep down swelling and to strengthen your muscles.

You might need help from a physical therapist, who will go through a series of exercises to strengthen your repaired knee. How long you’ll need physical therapy depends on your health and how motivated you are to recover from your surgery.

The most important step in finding a solution to persistent discomfort is to first determine the cause of the pain. Without this knowledge, it is very difficult to find an appropriate treatment. The most common causes of pain after knee replacement include:

  • Loosening of the implant: This is most often the cause of pain years or decades after the knee replacement; however, it is seldom the cause of persistent pain right after surgery.
  • Infection: Infection is a serious and worrisome concern. Any increase in pain after knee replacement should raise concerns for infection. Most often, the signs of infection are obvious, but subtle infections may be the cause of persistent discomfort.
  • Patellofemoral (kneecap) problems: Kneecap problems are a common cause of knee replacement pain. Significant forces are applied to the kneecap, even with normal activities, such as getting up from a chair or walking down the stairs. Getting a kneecap to perform well with a replacement can be technically challenging even for a skilled surgeon.
  • Alignment problems:Many patients focus on the knee replacement implant brand or type. But most surgeons will tell you the brand matters much less than how well the implant is put in. A poorly aligned implant may not function well, no matter the brand. Surgeons are investigating if computer navigation will help improve implant alignment.

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How long do you have pain after knee replacement surgery?

General pain may occur for up to several weeks following a total knee replacement. Swelling typically lasts for 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, but may persist for as long as 3 to 6 months and Bruising may last for 1 to 2 weeks following surgery.

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10 common question about knee replacement surgery pain

1How long do you have pain after knee replacement surgery?
After a knee replacement, your knee will feel warm and look red and swollen for about two to three months. Stiffness and soreness usually lasts three to six months before gradually subsiding. You'll have full recovery about 12-18 months after your surgery.
2What helps pain after total knee replacement?
There are many ways you can ease your pain: Raise (elevate) your legs and apply a cold pack to your incision after activities such as exercises or walking. This can help reduce swelling and pain. ... You may feel some discomfort in your new joint. ... Take the prescription pain medicine as instructed by your surgeon.
3How much should you walk after knee replacement?
When you can walk and stand for more than 10 minutes and your knee is strong enough so that you are not carrying any weight on your walker or crutches (often about 2 to 3 weeks after your surgery), you can begin using a single crutch or cane.
4What can I expect after knee replacement surgery?
Typically, knee replacement patients are able to leave the hospital within 1 to 5 days (often 2 or 3), and they can take care of themselves and resume most activities 6 weeks after surgery. The majority of patients are 90% recovered after 3 months, though it can take 6 months or longer before they are 100% recovered.
5What is the best painkiller for knee pain?
Over-The-Counter Medication for Knee Pain The main over-the-counter drugs are acetaminophen (Tylenol and other brands) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs), including aspirin (such as Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). These can help with simple sprains or even arthritis.
6Can you walk too much after knee replacement surgery?
Walk as much as you would like, but remember that walking is no substitute for the exercises prescribed by your doctor and physical therapist. Swimming is an excellent low-impact activity after a total knee replacement; you can begin swimming as soon as the wound is sufficiently healed.
7What is the best pain medicine for after knee surgery?
Most people will take oral pain medication for up to several weeks. These include prescription-strength nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. If severe pain persists, your doctor might prescribe stronger pain relievers such as tramadol (Ultram) or oxycodone.
8How bad is the pain after total knee replacement surgery?
Abstract. Despite a good outcome for many patients, approximately 20% of patients experience chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). ... Risk factors for chronic pain after TKA can be considered as those present before surgery, intraoperatively or in the acute postoperative period.
9How long will my knee hurt after knee replacement?
Don't wait to check with your surgeon if at any point you feel pain, swelling, stiffness, or unusual movement in your knee. Of course, every person is different and recovery periods can vary, depending on a number of factors. A typical full recovery from a TKR is 3 to 12 months.
10What is the best age to have a knee replacement?
The average age of having a knee replacement in the United States is right around 65 years old. Generally, surgeons consider anyone under the age of 50 to be 'young' for the purposes of having a knee replacement.

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