Healing times depend largely on the patient’s overall health, body type and lifestyle. With proper care, rest and therapy, patients heal sufficiently to return to most activities of daily living within several weeks of their procedure. The duration of hospitalization ranges from two days for a shoulder replacement to three to five days following a knee or hip replacement.

The primary goals of joint replacement surgery are to restore mobility and to relieve pain. Good evidence-based medicine data reveals that a typical total hip or knee replacement lasts at least 20 years in about 80 percent of patients, which lets patients enjoy their favorite activities without pain. Joint replacement care at Sibley is a truly comprehensive experience; it encompasses the entire process from evaluation through rehabilitation. Care at Sibley includes diagnostic imaging, patient education, surgery and both inpatient and outpatient physical therapy. Sibley also has a skilled nursing facility, The Renaissance, for inpatient rehabilitation, which can be used to assure that any postsurgery issues are completely addressed.

Flex-ion is the action of bending a joint, such as your knee or elbow. The opposite motion is extension, which is the act of straightening a joint, such as the knee when you are standing.

Your need and desire for high flexion may be dictated by your favourite activities or cultural background. Many daily activities require the ability to bend the knee beyond 125 degrees. Climbing stairs, for example, requires a range of motion from 75 to 140 degrees while sitting in a chair and standing up again requires a 90-to-130-degree range of motion. Other activities, like gardening, playing golf, or kneeling for prayer involve motions that require up to 130 to 150 degrees of flex-ion to perform.

Getting a full range of motion, strength and flexibility back after surgery usually takes time. That’s where pre-operative exercise and education and post-operative physical therapy programs come in to ensure you’re physically and emotionally prepared for surgery, and to maximize your recovery after surgery.

Knee replacement surgery is recommended when the cartilage layer in your knee has completely worn off. This usually manifest as pain while walking and development of deformities in the knee. The Orthopedician will get x-rays of your knee joint done to conform the diagnosis.

Although performed commonly now, Knee replacement surgery needs to be done by a specialist joint replacement surgeon at specialized hospital. Choosing your hospital and surgeon correctly is of vital importance for a successful surgery. Even though your surgeon will cross check and investigate you for any other issues like throat, ear and urinary tract infections, it is important to bring any such infection to attention. It is also imperative to mention any other long term illness and medical history to your surgeon before the surgery. You need to plan to take a break of at least three weeks from your regular activities. It is better to request that a relative be present or arrange for an attendant for the first two weeks after the surgery. Hospital with specialized or a separate joint replacement OT should be proffered. Overall cleanliness of the hospital will give you a rough idea about the hygiene and anti-infection protocols being practiced in the hospital.

It usually depends on whether one knee or both knees need surgery. A single knee replacement usually means about 3 to 5 days of hospital stay where as both knees being replaced would means 7 to 9 days of hospital stay.

A day after the surgery, you will be made to stand and walk a few steps and you will feel completely normal in a few weeks. The belief of being bedridden after surgery is a total myth.