Recovery after knee replacement
Recovery from knee replacement surgery happens in stages over several months, and recovery times vary based on factors like age, overall health, and adherence to rehabilitation. Your recovery also depends on the surgical technique used. For example, partial knee replacement recovery time may be shorter than total knee replacement.
- Many people go home the day of or the day after surgery and may use a walker or crutches for a few weeks.
- Around two to four weeks, people typically reduce or stop taking pain medication and notice significant improvements, and many are cleared to drive.
- Between four to six weeks, most people transition to walking without assistive devices and resume most daily activities.
- By six weeks to three months, most people return to light exercise and low-impact activities, with strength and mobility continuing to improve.
- Between three to 12 months, people typically return to more vigorous activities. Full strength and mobility may take up to a year.
To be proactive and feel more confident in your recovery, there are steps you can take to prepare for knee replacement. You can depend on your Penn Medicine care team to guide you throughout the process.
What to expect after your knee replacement
After surgery, we will move you to the recovery room, where you’ll stay for one to three hours. Your nurses may provide pain pumps or nerve blocks, drains, and urinary catheters as needed, and will closely monitor your vital signs. Our short-term goals are to make sure you are stable and comfortable, and to get you moving safely again.
After your knee replacement surgery, you’ll be encouraged to get up and move as soon as it’s practical and safe, depending on how you are feeling. Our orthopaedic recovery team will assist you in walking short distances which may be done with a walker or crutches. The sooner you can start moving, the fewer complications you may face in your recovery.
After surgery, it’s common to experience moderate to significant stiffness, swelling, and soreness around the knee joint. The experience of pain is highly individual, based on your personal tolerance, overall health, and the surgical technique used. Your Penn Medicine care team will map out an effective pain management plan for you using our evidence-based joint replacement pain protocol, which is clinically proven to improve movement and reduce pain after surgery, making your rehabilitation easier and recovery faster, while minimizing the risk of opioid dependence.
Leaving the hospital post-knee replacement
The length of your stay in the hospital following knee replacement depends on many factors that your surgeon will discuss with you. Many patients can expect to spend one night in the hospital before being discharged the day after surgery. Or your surgeon may give you the option to be discharged on the same day as surgery. To be eligible for same-day knee replacement, you need to be in relatively good health and highly motivated to achieve a rapid recovery, with a dependable support system to assist in your recovery at home.
On the day you’re discharged, we will prepare you with all the information you’ll need during recovery, including:
- Incision care
- Medications
- Required follow-up visits
- Restrictions (such as no driving, working, or showering for a set period)
In most cases, the hospital coordinator will arrange for you to have physical and/or occupational therapy at your house or an outpatient facility, beginning the day after you leave the hospital. If we determine that an inpatient rehabilitation center would work best for your recovery, one of our social workers can help you navigate the insurance coverage process.
Physical therapy and exercise after knee replacement
After your knee replacement, we’ll get you started on a comprehensive rehabilitation plan designed just for you. The goals are to make recovery easier and quicker and to improve your quality of life and long-term mobility.
One of the best ways to make the most of your new knee is by incorporating home exercises into your daily routine. Once your care team gives you clearance, reserve time each day for exercises designed to build strength in the muscles surrounding your knee joints and increase your range of motion. Penn Medicine has prepared guides you may find helpful, but always follow the instructions of your doctor and physical therapist.