Total Knee Replacement Post Operative Instructions
These are few common questions and instructions at 10-14 days from Knee Replacement:
- You should keep your foot elevated enough to be above your heart when you are lying down or in bed. In other words, for effective elevation, keep your toes above your nose while in the bed.
- Continue active ankle pump or ankle motion.
- If you are on baby aspirin (81 mg) as blood thinner; continue for two more weeks for total month from surgery. All other blood thinners are usually stopped at 2 weeks unless you take them for cardiac/heart reasons.
- Pain is best controlled by ice and elevation and Tylenol Extra Strength. You can take 1 tab up to 4 times a day. Our goal is to minimize opioid use. If needed, you can take Norco or other opioid medication prescribed to you. Please don't take Tylenol and Norco at the same time.
- If you feel stable and confident, transition from walker to cane. Work with your physical therapist on this.
- You will not be driving for at least the first 3 weeks. However, few patients may be able to drive sooner depending on how quickly they recover. You can start driving when you are comfortable and confident and no longer taking narcotics.
- Physical therapy will continue for about 4-6 weeks.
- No dental cleaning, extraction or any other elective surgery for 6 months.
- Somewhere around 3-6 weeks from surgery, you will be able to do your day to day activities including travel.
- Those who work from home can resume work by 3-4 weeks or sooner.
- Work or activities requiring standing 6-8 hours a day may take up to 3 months. You should plan on up to 3 months off work.
- You will experience some numbness/tingling around the incision and on the outer side of the knee that will diminish over 6 months.
- Some degree of swelling and warmth is normal after surgery. It should be gradually decreasing after 10 days from surgery. Swelling and warmth may persist up to one year. If swelling, warmth and pain are gradually worsening over last 7-10 days, call my office immediately. Over the period of time, you should be making slight progress every few weeks. Complete healing is usually achieved by at least one year.
- If you experience shortness of breath or heart palpitation, please call us at or go to emergency room immediately.