New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer finds that many people are nervous about deciding to have a joint replacement, but urges them to disregard the misconceptions about these procedures.
Infection and deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots are very rare following surgery and for every unfortunate situation there are many positive outcomes. If you and your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon have made the decision that a joint replacement is your best option, you can move forward without the stress!
There are a lot of misconceptions about total hip and knee replacements; following is the truth about what you can expect.
- You will probably receive therapy while in the hospital and will probably even be able to walk on the day of your surgery.
- Your recovery is an active process and you need to be responsible for the ultimate outcome.
- In outpatient rehabilitation, your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon will initially focus on regaining and strengthening your range of motion. Particularly after a total knee replacement, you will want to gain full extension. So don’t stay in bed all day, or lay with a pillow under your knees!
- You will experience swelling, which can last up to several months. You’ll be instructed to wear TED hose to decrease swelling, and ice is your friend so get that leg elevated and use it.
- Your physical therapist will give you exercises to do at home. You will have a better recovery if you can stay motivated through the process. Set goals for yourself and meet them! Initially, maybe you want to focus on getting rid of the walker/cane. Then the focus will shift to successfully going up and down a flight of stairs and then returning to your normal daily routine/work activities.
- Some pain following these surgeries is perfectly normal. Your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon advises that muscle soreness is not a bad thing; rather it’s to be expected, but you don’t have to over work yourself.
- More about pain. If you are experiencing high levels of pain, your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon will probably will provide a prescription for pain medication that will be needed for several weeks after surgery.
- There will be some limitations of what you can do following your surgery. Following a total hip replacement, you should not bend your hip past 90 degrees of flexion, avoid crossing your legs, and don’t twist or pivot on your operated leg. This is especially important for the first 6 weeks. Once you’ve reached 12 weeks post-surgery, however, the chance of dislocation is very low. After a total knee replacement, you shouldn’t kneel on your operated knee and should avoid twisting or hopping activities.
If you have questions or concerns regarding joint replacement surgery – don’t worry any longer – call the office of New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer today to schedule a consultation.