Proper care after knee replacement surgery is essential year-round, but especially during the winter. Failing to adhere to your surgeon’s guidelines could seriously jeopardize your recovery.

Early recovery from knee replacement surgery normally involves a couple of weeks of rest with a focus on managing pain and reducing swelling. By weeks four to six, many patients see swelling and inflammation subsiding, allowing them to bend the knee and regain mobility. However, the recovery process may still take several months after that.

Unfortunately, winter can make recovery more challenging and hazardous. Icy surfaces increase the risk of falling, while cold temperatures could reduce blood circulation to the knee and surrounding areas.

Below, we explore the dos and don’ts of winter knee care so you can stay safe and recover well.

Dos: Essential Tips for Recovery

Here’s what to do for faster and better recovery after knee replacement surgery:

Follow your doctor’s guidelines

Whatever you do, follow your surgeon’s guidelines. They are most familiar with your unique circumstances and can make the safest recommendations.

If advised by your doctor, ensure that you:

Take medications as prescribed
Go to regular physical therapy sessions
Observe movement restrictions (such as avoiding running and jumping for several weeks)

Stay active

Staying active is critical for knee care post-surgery. Moving around can help improve your strength and mobility and prevent blot clots.

Focus on low-impact activities, like stretching, walking indoors, and using the elliptical in the gym. These exercises avoid putting excessive force on your knee and keep you out of the snow.

Keep your knee warm

Keeping your knee warm is also important. Maintaining a reasonable temperature helps combat stiffness (which can occur if you sit in the cold too long without turning on the heat).

Warmth can help improve blood circulation around the knee. It also increases your ability to exercise by reducing stiffness and pain.

Eat nutritious food for healing

Eating nutritious foods can encourage quick healing. Consuming meals rich in collagen, protein, and anti-inflammatory compounds reduces inflammation and leads to faster regrowth of essential tissues.

Navigate icy or slippery surfaces safely

Be sure to safely navigate unavoidable icy or slippery surfaces (when you inevitably have to go outside). To do this, you should:

Wear the proper footwear, using shoes with extra traction (or even studs)
Avoid carrying heavy items that could swing you off balance
Use handrails where available
Take smaller steps or shuffle more to maintain balance

Use supportive footwear and mobility aids

Finally, use supportive footwear and mobility aids when recovering from knee surgery. These items can help you get around, reduce pain, and engage in rehabilitation exercises.

Supportive footwear offers additional support above the ankle to keep the leg straight and prevent it from twisting. Mobility aids, like walkers or canes, are helpful in the winter to avoid accidental slips or falls.

Don’ts: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here’s what not to do when recovering from knee surgery during the winter:

Don’t push too hard or skip rest days

While putting maximum effort into recovery is tempting, your body can only improve so fast. Biology has a speed limit. Overdoing it could risk delayed healing, tissue damage, prolonged joint stiffness, and chronic instability.

Signs of overexertion include:

Reduced range of motion
Increasing redness or swelling around the surgery site
Severe pain
Weakening in the recovering leg

Don’t expose your knee to extreme cold without proper protection

Avoid exposing your knee to extreme cold without wearing suitable clothing. Winter weather can cause blood vessels to constrict, preventing blood flow to the extremities. Cold worsens stiffness, pain, and inflammation.

Don’t skip physical therapy

Physical therapy can be very time-consuming, and you may feel tempted to skip sessions, especially when it’s cold outside. However, failing to attend physical therapy consistently can interrupt your recovery, leading to joint stiffness, muscle weakening, and poor healing. The recovery process will take longer overall, and you could experience chronic knee issues.

Don’t delay recovery efforts just because of the season

Finally, don’t delay recovery efforts just because it’s winter. Dealing with post-surgical concerns early in the healing process is essential to achieve normal function in the knee joint. Not keeping up with your prescribed regimen could result in long-term discomfort.

Most knee surgeries go well, and patients make a full recovery. However, always be on the lookout for problems. Excessive pain or swelling that lasts for weeks could mean the joint isn’t healing or has an infection.

Winter Safety Tips

If you decide to spend time outside during the winter, make sure you follow some general safety tips to prevent harm. Here’s our advice to remain active while staying safe:

Buy any gear you need to get around in the wintertime
Check the weather ahead of time for snow and storm warnings
Combine a moisture-wicking base layer with insulating mid-layers and a shell jacket for wind and rain
Spend some time warming up inside before venturing out
Stick to gritted or salted surfaces to reduce the risk of slipping
Wear reflective or brightly-colored clothing on dark or snowy days

You should also prepare for emergencies like slips and falls. You can do this by:

Keeping your phone charged and by your side the entire time
Investing in a first aid kit with bandages and disinfectant wipes
Understanding proper fall techniques (such as falling on your side)
Carrying an emergency contact card so that people assisting you nearby know who to contact
Carrying a personal alarm that will beep and signal you need help

Knee Replacement Surgery in Idaho Falls

In summary, the winter can be a challenging time to recover from knee surgery. Ensure you stay warm and avoid taking risks, like pushing too hard too soon after recovery. Always follow your surgeon’s orders to reduce the risk of long-term harm.

If you think you may need knee replacement surgery, don’t put it off any longer. To schedule a consultation, contact Altenburg Joint Replacement today.

12 Dec 2024

Knee

Winter Knee Care: Post-Surgery Dos and Don’ts