Week 1 Knee Replacement Recovery Is About Safety and AcclimationMy biggest suggestion for Week 1 after knee replacement surgery is to understand that this week is all about getting acclimated to your new knee and learning how to manage it, along with your assistive devices, safely.
This is something you don’t see in any medical paperwork sent home.
Because we’re taught to prep, prep, prep. Buy the toilet risers. Buy the assistive devices. Buy the ice machines. All the things.
But really, it comes down to simple mechanics we do every single day.
Sure, those things are helpful to have. But at the crux of what we’re dealing with in Week 1, it all comes down to walking and supporting your body while it goes through its natural response to inflammation after trauma to the body.
The most important things this week during Week 1 knee replacement recovery are rest, ice, elevation and gentle movement.
Increasing water intake, which is pivotal post-op, also helps with movement because you’re naturally getting up and walking back and forth to the bathroom more.
Keeping track of your pain management using an alarm clock is a great idea. My hubby managed that for me, and we kept a notepad indicating when doses were taken. That way, if I got up in the middle of the night, I could see exactly when I last had what.
Physical therapy in Week 1 after knee replacement will direct you on any additional exercises, but I did a ton of ankle pumps while my leg was elevated. I wasn’t able to lift my leg right away, but my hubby helped guide my ankle up while I pulled myself deeper onto the bed, and that was enough to get my leg back into place.
You can start quad contractions when it’s not painful to do so. I started them almost immediately because that’s what I needed to help pull my leg into bed.
I had an outpatient procedure, so I was home within five hours of leaving surgery. Most people stay in the hospital, so that first day is spent there while you’re learning everything I just mentioned within the first 24 hours. Your medical team will make sure you can manage your home safely before you’re released.
I have very detailed walkthroughs of surgery day and what to expect inside the Knee Replacement Hub. It also includes a detailed Go Time module that clearly lays out the last week before surgery, the day of surgery and Week 1 recovery. It’s all from my perspective, walking through my own knee replacements, but there are others input in their as well.
The Knee Replacement Hub is HSA eligible because it’s a robust knee replacement support program. You can check out the knee replacement recovery support inside the Knee Replacement Hub here: The Hub
Regardless of what you're walking through right now, whether your preop or postop, let me leave you with this bit of encouragement: Our bodies are designed to heal. That starts happening from the moment the surgeon closes your incision. It goes into healing mode and is quite beautiful when you take the time to see it in that way.
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