Choosing the Best Place in Which to Recover from Total Knee Surgery
You've taken the important step to have your arthritic knee joint replaced with an artificial joint. Where you recover from this major surgery affects the success of the entire procedure. You want your knee to recover as quickly as possible. You may find that recovering at home is challenging because of the distractions around you. A focused recovery time in a short-term rehabilitation center may be the best way to insure that your knee heals properly and you gain your strength back.
The Advantages of Recovering in a Short-Term Rehab Facility
A complete recovery from your knee surgery can take up to 12 weeks. During that time, the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your knee must heal properly and become stronger to give you full range of motion in your knee. You will have physical therapy during this time and be expected to do exercises on your own.
Recovering in a rehab center lets you focus on getting stronger without the stress of taking care of your house, too. Your may tire yourself by doing chores around the house and skip important physical therapy you need to strengthen your knee joint.
You may be tempted to push yourself at home to make things happen sooner, possibly resulting in an injury and a setback in your recovery. Staff and therapists at the facility will make sure that you are progressing at a healthy rate without overdoing it. They will help you set a pace that gives you incremental progress without tiring out your knee.
What to Expect at Short-Term Rehab
Your doctor will outline a plan that consists of different types of therapy to get you back on your knee again doing your normal daily activities.
- Physical therapy - Walking is the first priority in the physical therapy of your knee because it puts the knee through its normal range of motion. The physical therapist will do some passive therapy that involves moving your knee through various positions to relax the tense muscles and give your knee back its flexibility. You'll also do a number of exercises to strengthen the muscles in your knee.
- Occupational therapy - This therapy teaches you how to manage day-to-day activities while your knee is still healing. You'll learn the proper ways to get in and out of bed and chairs without putting stress on your knee. You'll learn tips for supporting yourself as you walk around your home to minimize the risk of a fall.
- Medication therapy - Another advantage of recovering in a rehab facility is that you'll have staff to help you with your medication needs. They know that it's important for you to receive pain and anti-inflammatory medication before your physical therapy sessions so they won't be painful for you. You'll be more relaxed and motivated to work on your knee with the physical therapist if you know that the pain will be minimal.
Initially, it may be appealing to recover at home from your knee replacement surgery, surrounded by familiar items. But consider spending time in a short-term rehab center as a way to focus on your recovery so you can go home with a strong and healthy knee. Before your surgery, contact a center like The Village At Morrisons Cove to schedule your stay.
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