Arthritis patients suffer from
pain in the knees and adjacent areas but when it comes to visiting an
orthopedic surgeon, they dilly-dally a lot. Only when the pain
becomes severe and knees start swelling, the patients feel urgency to
consult a physician. Medication and some free-hand exercises are able
to cure the ailment if the problem is in preliminary stage. But if
the problem persists or the patients experience excruciating pain,
only total knee replacement surgery can provide them with a balmy
relief. Now, the majority of the patients have a feel of stiffness in
their post-operative stage. So, prior to undergoing the operation,
the patients must have the sufficient hang of the sequential steps of
recovery.
Total Knee Replacement :
First Stage of Rehabilitation
The eminent surgeons always
inform their patients about the actual healing process. The entire
process of rehabilitation can be divided into three distinct stages.
Obviously, there are some guidelines that you should follow to ensure
a rapid recovery. The first stage of total knee replacement is the
most crucial one for the patients. Many of them experience
frustration as they experience swelling, pain and stiffness even
after the surgery. They start thinking that the operation has gone
futile instead of being fruitful for them. Free movement is not
possible at this early stage of rehabilitation and uncomfortable
stiffness adds to uneasiness. The doctors recommend the patients to
pump the knee back and forth to mitigate the problem. The patients
should practice pumping for five to ten minutes. The problem will not
vanish instantly but the duration of stiffness will surely be
shortened.
Total Knee Replacement :
Second Stage of Rehabilitation
In the next phase of
rehabilitation after the total knee replacement surgery, you may feel
over confident. All the nagging problems have evaporated. You think
your knee is in the perfect condition and it is able to perform all
the tasks it used to do before. But, your notion is far from reality.
Your knee is still under the recovery process. Though you are allowed
to walk with a walker at this stage, but take extreme care not to
overdo it. Putting excessive pressure on your knee at this stage may
be detrimental to it.
Total Knee Replacement :
Third Stage of Rehabilitation
The final stage of
healing lasts longer as compared to the other two phases. Though the
final phase of recovery after the total knee replacement rolls on for
one year, still you will be capable of doing several high-impact
activities without feeling any sort of stiffness. With the last phase
advancing to the end, you can surely experience the highest range of
motion from the artificial knee and lead a normal life. The sportsmen
have to take additional
precautions
in
sports
after total joints
surgery.
The sooner you will be able to eradicate the
problem of stiffness, the shorter will be the process of
rehabilitation. For speedy healing process, you must follow some
rules day in and day out. You should practice certain exercises after
the
total
knee replacement
to decrease
the stiffness and increase the mobility of the knee-joints. Also take
care to keep your weight under control as too much weight will put
pressure on the knees and hampers the healing process.