Knee Surgery: How to Avoid Follow-up Problems
Preventing Blood Clots
To minimize the possibility of blood clots, you must follow your orthopedists instructions closely. Blood clots are a hazard during the first few weeks after surgery.
What to Watch For
If you have a blood clot in your leg, you may experience the following:
Foot, ankle, calf and general lower leg swelling.
Your calf may hurt.
Swelling, redness, and tenderness of the knee.
Chest pain without warning.
Your chest pain may be accompanied by coughing.
A blood clot that has traveled to your lung may cause the following:
A sudden feeling of shortness of breath.
Be sure to call your doctor right away if you have this sign.
Click here for more on Portland Knee Arthroscopy.
Infection: What to Do to Prevent It
Your knee may become infected after your surgery. The reason for this is usually that bacteria has gotten into your blood somehow. Usually this will happen because of an infection of your skin or a urinary tract infection. It can also happen because you have had dental work. The bacteria generated by one of these conditions can travel and set itself up in your knee replacement. This causes infection.
Your surgeon will give you a prescription for antibiotics to take after your surgery. You should take these exactly as your doctor orders. This will prevent infection setting up in your knee replacement.
Watch out for these signs of knee replacement infection:
Your knee may hurt, even if you are resting.
You may experience shaking and chills.
You may experience tenderness, redness, and swelling around the knee replacement.
Your temperature may rise to above 100F and persist at this level.
Your knee wound may drain.
If any of these signs happen, call your doctor immediately.
Avoiding Falls: What to Do
You could damage your new knee if you fall soon after your surgery. This could cause you to need follow-up surgery. For this reason, it is important to avoid stairs and use assistive devices such as a cane, walker or crutches. Failing this, be sure to have assistance from another person and use handrails any time they are available. Continue to be careful until you have regained your strength, flexibility and balance.
Your physical therapist and your surgeon will assist you in determining which assistive devices will work best for you. They will also help you decide when it is time to stop using an assistive device. - 17274
To minimize the possibility of blood clots, you must follow your orthopedists instructions closely. Blood clots are a hazard during the first few weeks after surgery.
What to Watch For
If you have a blood clot in your leg, you may experience the following:
Foot, ankle, calf and general lower leg swelling.
Your calf may hurt.
Swelling, redness, and tenderness of the knee.
Chest pain without warning.
Your chest pain may be accompanied by coughing.
A blood clot that has traveled to your lung may cause the following:
A sudden feeling of shortness of breath.
Be sure to call your doctor right away if you have this sign.
Click here for more on Portland Knee Arthroscopy.
Infection: What to Do to Prevent It
Your knee may become infected after your surgery. The reason for this is usually that bacteria has gotten into your blood somehow. Usually this will happen because of an infection of your skin or a urinary tract infection. It can also happen because you have had dental work. The bacteria generated by one of these conditions can travel and set itself up in your knee replacement. This causes infection.
Your surgeon will give you a prescription for antibiotics to take after your surgery. You should take these exactly as your doctor orders. This will prevent infection setting up in your knee replacement.
Watch out for these signs of knee replacement infection:
Your knee may hurt, even if you are resting.
You may experience shaking and chills.
You may experience tenderness, redness, and swelling around the knee replacement.
Your temperature may rise to above 100F and persist at this level.
Your knee wound may drain.
If any of these signs happen, call your doctor immediately.
Avoiding Falls: What to Do
You could damage your new knee if you fall soon after your surgery. This could cause you to need follow-up surgery. For this reason, it is important to avoid stairs and use assistive devices such as a cane, walker or crutches. Failing this, be sure to have assistance from another person and use handrails any time they are available. Continue to be careful until you have regained your strength, flexibility and balance.
Your physical therapist and your surgeon will assist you in determining which assistive devices will work best for you. They will also help you decide when it is time to stop using an assistive device. - 17274
About the Author:
Dr. Edelson is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in sports medicine. His clinic, Sports Medicine Oregon, focuses on athletes of all ages. Click here to learn more about Dr. Edelson, Portland ACL Surgery and Portland Athletic Injuries.
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