Now-a-days joint issues are very common among people. Knee replacement surgeries become very common among patients. It is a major medical procedure to restore movement in patients. Further, it also aimed at relieving pain.

Knee surgery is a very crucial process. But, recovery process also requires more attention.

It is seen that people make mistakes that create barrier in their recovery path. So, be careful.

If you don’t take care, it will cause more complications. And moreover also slows down healing process.

In this informative article, we will exclusively discuss top 5 mistakes after knee replacement. By keeping them in mind, you ensure a smoother and successful surgery.

Let’s begin!                              

Mistake 1: Not taking Care of Wounds

Serious infections are caused by ignoring proper wound care. It happened after several knee replacements surgery cases. It can also threaten the success of surgery. Furthermore, this ignorance also results discomfort of patient.

Monitoring the surgical site for signs of infection is very necessary. It should also keep clean to reduce the risk of infections.

Now, let’s point the common signs of infection.

• Redness
• Swelling
• Uncommon drainage
• Feeling warm around the incision
• Fever

However, note that fever shows that there is serious issue that has to be addressed.

How to Overcome this Mistake:

To avoid this mistake, keep following instructions in mind:

• Regularly change the dressing.
• Keep the wound clean & dry.
• Try to avoid submerging incision in water until cleared by doctor.
• In case of severe case, immediately contact your consultant.
• Carefully follow your surgeon’s guidelines.

Mistake 2: Returning to Daily Routine very Soon

Hectic days of surgery cause too much frustration. You want to return to daily life as quickly as possible. In fact, it can result severe setback in recovery. And can be very dangerous.

The dangers of rushing recovery are:

• The eagerness to do driving, heavy lifting, or walking without assistance can cause severe injuries
• Putting too much pain on unhealed joint can result in severe complications.
• Definitely, it will prolong your healing time.

How to Overcome this Mistake:

This type of mistake can be overcome by:

• Above all, gradually increase the activity level as per doctor advice.
• Use walking aid such as walkers or canes.
• Equally important, give your body time to heal properly.
• Always ask for help from family for performing daily task to reduce the stress.

Mistake 3: Misunderstanding Pain Relief

After knee replacement surgery, pain management is the key part of recovery. On the other hand, patient used to skip their medication. They become confident that they are fine now. Or, in some cases, they rely on painkillers to give them relief.

But remember, both are wrong ways.

The importance of pain management is discussed below:

• Managing pain properly keeps you to stay mobile.
• It allows you to engage in physical therapy.
• Forgetting or skipping medication can cause discomfort.
• Discouraging medication makes it harder to exercise and move around.
• Mismanaging can also lead to side effects like nausea, addiction or drowsiness.

How to Overcome this Mistake:

• Follow the doctor’s prescribed plan.
• Don’t change the dosage without consulting the doctor.
• Try to use alternative pain management strategies to relieve pain.
• Consult your health advisor if you feel any unusual pain.

Mistake 4: Over exertion

In summary, a balance should be maintained between work & rest. Don’t become over smart that you will do everything. On the contrary, some people become more caution and avoid all type of movement.

Now the risks of overexertion are:

• Excessive physical activity can strain the new knee joint.
• In other words, it may lead to swelling, increased pain, or damage to surgical site.
• Overexertion also prolongs the recovery time
• It causes complications that obviously require additional medical attention.

Same, the risks of under activity are:

On the other side, patients think that if they move, it will cause harm to them. This is not the case.

• It will lead to joint stiffness and muscle atrophy.
• Blood circulation may slow down.
• It may also lead to increasing risks of blood clots.

How to Overcome this Mistake:

• Follow the balanced recovery plan.
• It must include enough rest and enough physical activity.
• Ask your doctor for clear guidelines.
• Consult your therapist to inquire how much exercise you must do daily.
• If you feel exhausted, take rest.
• But don’t avoid movement completely.

Mistake 5: Neglecting Physical Therapy

This is one of the most common mistakes after knee replacement surgery. Also, they think that they can manage it. They underestimate the importance of physical exercise. In summary, it slows down your healing process.

Why physical exercise is important?

Let’s find out!

• Physical therapy improves movement.
• Likewise, it also strengthens your muscles.
• Skipping physical exercise can cause stiffness in the knee joint.
• Additionally, not doing this exercise may lead to weakness in muscles around knee.
• It causes difficulty in walking and performing daily tasks.
• The basic function of therapy is to regain full range of motion.

How to Overcome this Mistake:

• Try to attend all therapy sessions.
• Perform all exercises at home regularly.
• If you are feeling pain during exercise, immediately go to doctor. 

Tips for Successful Surgery:

Here are some general tips that can help speed up your recovery and make it smoother.

Take Balanced Diet:

Eating proper diet can help healing. Include food that is rich in protein, vitamin and minerals.

Ice the Knee:

Regularly icing the knee can help reducing the swelling & discomfort

Stay Hydrated:

Water supports overall health. It also tries to lubricate the joint so, that you can move easily.

Connect with your Health Care Team:

If you are having any difficulty in recovery, kindly consult your health team. Make it as soon as possible when you start feeling pain.

In conclusion, Don’t hesitate as it is all about your health at the end. Don’t compromise and stay healthy & fit.