One Month After Surgery: Taking it One Small Step at a Time

Knee replacement surgery takes a few hours. Rehabilitation can take from three to six months. Don't let this scare you! Just take things one small step at a time. Remember, you have made a commitment to yourself and to regaining your mobility. Reaching this goal is going to take some work, but it's going to be well worth your while.

As you probably already know, you'll need to use assistive device such as a walker or crutches for up to six weeks after your surgery to allow your knee to heal. Your physical therapist has given you a series of exercises to do at home. It is recommended that you do three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions for each exercise, three times a day. You can gradually increase the number of repetitions and sets as your knee grows stronger.

If you are consistent with your physical therapy, you should be able to resume activities such as shopping, housekeeping, hobbies and intimate relations (when you feel comfortable) after six weeks.

• When can I begin driving again?

The easy answer is when your surgeon says it's safe. But the answer also depends on which knee you had replaced. If the surgery was on your right knee, your surgeon may give you permission to drive six weeks following the surgery. If the surgery was on the left knee and you drive a vehicle with automatic transmission, permission may be given sooner.

• When can I return to work?

The answer to this depends on the kind of work you do and when your surgeon feels it is safe. If your job requires minimal physical activity, you can return sooner than if your job requires a lot of physical activity. If your job is physically demanding, you may need to modify your job or speak to your surgeon about a work readiness program.

Last Updated: 04/10/2007