Helping Your Parent Recover from Knee Replacement Surgery
Elderly Care in Jenison MI
Each year more than 600,000 total knee replacement surgeries are performed throughout the United States. The vast majority of these are performed on older adults. This type of surgery can give 
your parent a tremendous improvement in their quality of life, enabling them to live more happily, comfortably, and actively, improving their overall health and wellbeing as they age in place. In order for your loved one to get the most benefit out of their knee replacement surgery, however, it is important that their recovery period is as effective as possible. Preparing for this recovery now can make a smoother, more successful recovery something that your aging parent can do with you or with the help of an elderly care provider.
Some things that you should know about recovery from knee replacement surgery include:
- Most patients will remain in the hospital recuperating after surgery for 3 to 5 days. During this time the medical team will help them learn how to cope with their new knee and begin some basic physical therapy
- The medical team will have your parent standing and will help them to move the new joint within the first day after surgery
- Your senior will likely experience dramatic improvement in their pain and stiffness within one month of the surgery and will continue to experience improvement over the coming months
- Your parent should avoid movements including pivoting or twisting the knee for the first six weeks of recovery
- When sleeping it is best for the knee to be kept as straight as possible for the first six weeks of recovery
- The senior should avoid actions such as crouching, kneeling, and squatting for at least the first six weeks of recovery
- Your parent should be able to walk comfortably within six weeks of the surgery, though this may be longer depending on your parent’s age, health, and fitness at the time of the surgery
- Your senior’s doctor is likely to recommend physical therapy as a means of strengthening the muscles and helping their body to become accustomed to the new joint
Use these tips to help you guide your parent through recovery after a knee replacement surgery:
- Know what to expect. Before your parent even leaves the hospital be sure that you spend some time talking to their doctor about what you and your aging parent should expect during the recovery period. This should include both milestones to work toward and warning signs of problems that may arise, such as infection.
- Encourage activity. Your parent has to use their new joint regularly in order for it to heal properly. Be aware of how much activity the doctor considers safe and encourage your parent to stay active to the proper degree. This will help strengthen their joints and muscles so that they can recover more efficiently and effectively.
- Discourage overdoing it. You want your parent to be active, but you do not want your parent to overwork their new joint or exhaust themselves. Encourage your parent to know their limitations and not exceed them while still keeping on the right track toward building strength. Consider hiring an elderly care provider who can help manage daily tasks so that your parent can get the rest that they need.
If you or someone you know needs help with elderly care in Jenison, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10546597
http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/knee-replacement-surgery
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