If you are concerned that recovery from knee replacement could be painful, do not worry. Dartmouth Health surgeons Wayne E. Moschetti, MD, MS, and Alexander R. Orem, MD, MS, say the pain should start to diminish after the second week.
Learn what else the two surgeons say about recovery from knee replacement surgery.
What does knee replacement feel like?
A knee replacement may not necessarily feel the way your knee did when you were 18 or 20 years old. Orem likes to use the analogy that having a knee replacement is like trading in a Ferrari for a Toyota Camry. “The knee replacement is really dependable, it'll get you where you want to go, but it's not going to corner like an Italian sports car used to.”
Also, because a knee replacement is made of metal and plastic, you may hear a little click when you move it. That is the metal hitting the plastic. The knee just feels a little bit different now than it did before.
Is recovery from knee surgery painful?
The short answer is yes. The end of the first week and the beginning of the second are the hardest for pain and swelling. After that, things should start getting better quickly.
How much can I walk after knee replacement?
You can walk as much as you want. There are no restrictions. Immediately after surgery, you should start walking short distances. The hope is that in time, you will be walking as far and as long as you can. Walking is not only good for your overall health, but keeps the muscles strong around the replacement.
Can I run after knee replacement?
Running can feel harder because your knee feels different. That does not mean you cannot run once you heal.
When can I have sex after surgery?
Typically, you should probably wait a few weeks after joint replacement until the swelling subsides and you start to feel a little less pain and a little more comfortable. In Moschetti’s clinic, he has a brochure for patients that outlines specifics of sexual positions and return to sex.
Can you predict the weather with a new knee?
It may or may not be accurate, but some claim it is true.
Learn questions to ask before your knee replacement.
Watch the full interview with orthopaedic surgeons, Alexander R. Orem, MD, MS, and Wayne E. Moschetti, MD, MS, as they answer questions people ask about knee replacement surgery.