How long does knee replacement recovery take?

Most people walk with a frame or crutches within a day of a knee replacement, go home after 1 to 4 days, and manage most everyday tasks by 3 to 6 weeks. Full recovery takes several months or longer, and swelling can last 3 to 6 months.

Every recovery is different. Your age, your general health, how strong the leg was before surgery and how well you keep up the exercises all change the pace. The times below are typical, not promises. A partial knee replacement usually recovers faster than a total one.

In hospital: the first one to four days

After the operation you rest in a recovery room while the anaesthetic wears off. The knee is sore, so you have regular painkillers. Nurses and physiotherapists help you stand and walk soon after surgery, often the same day or the next, using a walking frame or crutches.

You can usually go home when there are no signs of complications and you can move around safely. The NHS puts this at 1 to 4 days. Before you leave, the team checks that you can:

• get in and out of bed on your own
• walk on a flat floor with your walking aid
• manage two or three stairs
• do your home exercises
• keep your pain under control with tablets

You may be given compression stockings to lower the risk of blood clots. Most people wear them for at least 6 weeks.

Weeks one and two: home, and the hard part

The first two weeks are often the toughest. The knee is swollen and stiff, sleep can be broken, and the exercises hurt. This is normal. The exercises matter more than anything else in these weeks, because they bring back the bend and the straightening of the knee.

Keep the leg raised when you sit, and use ice wrapped in a cloth to ease swelling. Do not put a pillow under the knee at night: it can let the knee stiffen in a bent position. You can sleep on your back or on either side.

Stitches or clips usually come out at about 10 days. Keep the wound clean and dry until your team says otherwise.

Plan for help at home. You will need someone for cooking, shopping and laundry for several weeks. If your home has stairs, it helps to set up a bedroom on the ground floor for a while.

Weeks three to six: more independence

Most people can do most normal daily activities within 3 to 6 weeks. You move from two crutches to one, then to a stick, as you feel steadier. Many people try walking without an aid at about 6 weeks.

You will usually have a follow-up visit at about 6 weeks. The surgeon checks the wound, the range of movement and how you walk, and may arrange an X-ray.

Driving

The NHS advises waiting at least 6 weeks after a total knee replacement and 3 weeks after a partial one. You must be off strong painkillers, able to get in and out of the car comfortably, and able to brake hard without pain. Check with your surgeon before you drive.

Six weeks to three months: back to work and routine

Return to work is usually between 6 and 12 weeks. A desk job comes sooner than work on your feet or lifting. For the first 3 months, avoid heavy household jobs such as carrying shopping or moving furniture.

Keep doing the exercises your physiotherapist gives you for at least 2 months. A static bicycle is often used to keep the knee moving.

Three months onwards: the long tail

Some pain at night and some swelling are common for several weeks, and mild swelling can last 3 to 6 months. The knee keeps improving for months after that. Many people say the new knee feels like their own only after a long time.

When your surgeon agrees, low-impact activity is a good choice: walking, swimming once the wound has healed, cycling and golf. High-impact sports such as jogging and jumping put more stress on the joint and are usually discouraged.

Kneeling, including for prayer, is something to ask about. Do not kneel on the new knee until your surgeon says you can. Before flying, especially on a long flight home in the early weeks, ask your doctor first, because sitting still raises the risk of swelling and clots.

What slows recovery down

• Skipping exercises in the first weeks, which lets the knee stiffen.
• Doing too much too soon, which brings more swelling and pain.
• Long periods standing still, which make the ankle and leg swell.
• Infection or a blood clot. Both are uncommon, but they need treatment quickly.

When to see a doctor

Call your surgeon or the clinic the same day if you notice:

• a fever or shaking chills
• redness, warmth or swelling around the wound that is getting worse
• fluid leaking from the wound
• pain that keeps getting worse, at rest as well as when you move
• pain, tenderness or new swelling in the calf, ankle or foot

Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain can mean a blood clot has reached the lungs. This is an emergency: call 998 for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department.

If you are thinking about surgery, read more about knee replacement in Dubai or see a knee specialist to talk through your options.