According to an estimate, up to 30% of Americans are believed to develop knee osteoarthritis over the course of their lifetime. The good news is a wide range of surgical and nonsurgical techniques are available to address the knee pain and disability that accompany knee arthritis.
Partial knee replacement is one of the most common surgical procedures. It is a surgical procedure in which only the damaged part of your knee joint is surgically removed and replaced with an artificial part.
The recuperation process after partial knee replacement is much faster and less painful than total knee replacement surgery.
If you’ve partial knee replacement surgery on the calendar, you may be wondering what the recovery is like following the surgery. So, let’s discuss the recovery timeline after knee replacement surgery and where you can go for partial knee replacement surgery in Southwest Florida.
Recovery from Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
The recuperation process after a partial knee replacement surgery takes about three to six weeks. If you stick to your physical therapy plan and orthopedic surgeon’s recovery instruction, you may be able to return to sports, such as golf, within 6 to 10 weeks.
Day of the Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
Sometimes, the surgery procedure is performed on an outpatient basis – which means you can return home the same day.
Your knee joint becomes stable as soon as the artificial joint is implanted. Immediately after the surgery, you may be able to put a comfortable amount of weight on your treated knee.
Your rehab program, which may include a range of motion exercises and exercises focused on knee extension and bending, will also begin immediately following surgery. While you can safely place your weight on the surgical leg, ambulatory aids such as a walker or crutches may also be recommended until your stability and balance is back to normal.
1 to 2 Weeks After Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
During the first few weeks following the surgery, you’re required to follow the instruction of your surgeon to ensure the healing of the incision. You may also need staples or sutures removed from your incision. You may also be guided about when you can get your incision wet.
The rehab program during this recuperation period will be focused on:
- Managing your knee pain and swelling
- Improving walking mechanics, balance, and stability
- Ensuring that you can fully extend your knee and bend it to 90 degrees
3 to 6 Weeks After Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
During weeks 3 and 4 following your surgery, you should be able to bend your knee beyond 90 degrees. You can also begin to walk without a walker or crutches and begin low-impact, aerobic exercise activities such as stationary bicycling.
After week six, most people resume their activities and start doing light exercises.
Partial Knee Replacement in Southwest Florida
Knee pain and stiffness can interfere with your daily activities and affect your nighttime sleep. So, get your knees evaluated by a skilled and experienced surgeon.
At Advanced Orthopedic Center, our orthopedic surgeons have years of experience in providing you with comprehensive and customized orthopedic care for your orthopedic problems, including knee arthritis. Our surgeons are highly skilled and trained at performing robotic knee transplants using MAKOplasty.
We not only perform replacement surgeries with outstanding expertise but also manage your pre-op and post-op pain with various pain management techniques.
To set up an appointment with our surgeons, call today at (941) 629-6262 or complete our online appointment request form.