5 ways to prepare for recovery from knee replacement surgery

During your recovery at home after a partial, double or single knee replacement, you will need to be careful with your treated knee/s by avoiding any movements that place stress on it or them.

These five tips will help you prepare for your knee replacement surgery recovery and make life easier for you at home.

1. De-clutter your home; remove loose wires, cords and rugs to avoid any trip hazards.
2. Cook and freeze meals and stock up on food. Make sure you have all the supplies you need, including toilet paper; personal items; and reading material, puzzle books and other things to keep you entertained.
3. Create a recovery area with a sturdy chair or bed to relax in and surround the space with everything you need throughout the day, including a telephone, light, tissues, books, TV remote, water, snacks and pillows that allow you to elevate your leg/s. Prepare this area on the first floor of your home to avoid stairs.
4. Purchase assistive devices to help you to do everyday tasks, such as a shoehorn; a long-handled sponge and non-slip mats for the shower; and a pick-up tool so you can reach things without bending.
5. Ask for help! You may not need help, but it will help your peace of mind and recovery if you have someone there to assist you by taking you to medical appointments, doing chores, preparing food, helping you to dress.

As one of the top Orthopaedic Surgeons in Newcastle and the Hunter, Dr MacKenzie uses the most up to date technologies including robotic-assisted surgery and patient specific instrumentation to ensure the most accurate positioning of your prosthesis in your knee during surgery to help to decrease any complications, aid recovery and get you moving again, pain-free.