What to do and what to expect on your journey to a new knee
BEFORE SURGERY: TO DO LIST
It doesn’t offer medical advice—just a straightforward explanation of what you need to do and what you can expect.
- Any questions or concerns, contact your doctor or clinical team.
- Get an over-the-counter sleep aid.
- Have food accessible that is high in fiber (yogurt, oatmeal, bagels, etc.) along with electrolyte drinks.
- Ice machine, walker, cane (Medicare supplies the ice machine and walker).
- (2) Chillin Time Ice Wraps.
- Miralax, Preparation H
- Pair of shoes or slippers at least one size larger in length and width
- Cocoa butter with Vitamin E
- Prescription medications with a written medication schedule
- Line up someone to stay with you
- Schedule in-home nurse and PT appointments
- Clean around your knee with Hibiclens antiseptic soap days before surgery
- No food or drink after 12:00 a.m. the day of surgery
Day of Surgery
- Wear loose-fitting clothes
- Arrive at prescribed time
- Check in and be placed in a room
- Wash your body with antiseptic wipes
- Change into a gown
- IV placed in your arm
- Nurse shaves around your knee
- Anesthesiologist and surgeon speak with you
- Taken into surgery approximately two hours after arrival
Surgery / Right After
- Surgery lasts approximately one hour
- Likely receive spinal block, nerve block, or general anesthesia
- Feeling in legs typically returns within 24 hours
- Feel groggy and hungry upon waking
- Have your helper get you something to eat while in surgery
- Start drinking water right away-you must urinate to be released
- If Going Home Same Day :
- PT nurse gets you up to walk
- You will need to urinate
- If all is good, doctor releases you to go home
- If Overnighting :
- Brought to a hospital room
- Visit from PT nurse and doctor
- Released the following day if all is okay
Released from Hospital
- Once home, ice and elevate leg (toes above nose)
- Caregiver manages medication first week
- In-home nurse visits next day to remove large bandage
- In-home PT visits day after surgery
What to Do and Expect in the Following Weeks
- Fun and challenging-both mentally and physically
- Get your mind right
- Get up and walk around regularly
- Knee pain and swelling in leg and foot
- Thigh pain from tourniquet
- Ice frequently to reduce pain and swelling, using:
- Ice machine / cold therapy unit
- Chillin Time Ice Wraps
- Swelling typically lasts 2-3 weeks
- Sleeping will be difficult; consult doctor about sleep aids
- At first hint of constipation, consult doctor about Miralax
- Try to get off pain medication as soon as possible
- Staples or stitches removed about 2 weeks post-op
- Appointment with orthopedic doctor once staples or stitches removed
- After steri-strips are gone and incision has healed, apply cocoa butter
- PT starts around week 3 post-op (very important)
- By 8 weeks post-op, relatively pain free and sleeping better
- Appointment with orthopedic doctor at 8 weeks post-op
- Keep exercising to rebuild muscle and stamina
- Numbness around knee may last for some time
- Clicking in knee is normal and should lessen over time
- Foot may seem wider after surgery for some time
- Contact orthopedic doctor or PT with any concerns
- Can resume driving once off narcotics and no longer using a cane
BENEFITS
Chillin Time Ice Wraps
Useful For :
- Chillin Time is great for icing the knee, thigh and calf
- Chillin Time features a unique Easy On/Easy Off design with adjustable Velcro straps making it effortless to apply and remove (See video)
- Chillin Time delivers 20-25 minutes of consistent cold therapy to reduce pain and swelling.
- Chillin Time is made with a durable nylon outer layer and a plush, soft fabric interior for direct skin contact.
- Chillin Time is perfect for individuals who have to have someone put on the ice wrap for them. (See video)
- CAUTION: many ice wraps being sold feature long Velcro straps that get all tangled up when putting on and taking off, causing unnecessary frustration and aggravation . (See video) people buy this type of ice wrap and don’t give any thought as to how difficult it is to put on, it’s only having to put it on after surgery that you realize that this is not good. Also putting this ice wrap on someone else’s leg for them is extremely difficult.
ALL THE BEST ON YOUR KNEE
REPLACEMENT JOURNEY!!
Read the full guide and pair it with the Chillin Time Ice Wrap for a smoother recovery.