How to Reduce Recovery Time After Knee Replacement Surgery

Philadelphia Surgeon Releases Patient in Record Time for Cross Country Drive

You've had total knee replacement surgery and want to get on with the rest of your life. Now. Here's some things you can do.

Schedule your first post-op appointment for at least a week before they say you should.
We were cleared for take-off today from husband Roger's knee surgeon in Philadelphia, who said his knee was, well, unremarkable for its being a mere five weeks after the total replacement. (Six weeks is the prescribed time for the first post-op. ) And where were we off to? Colorado, then California. "Give me a call if there's anything. ANYTHING. There's just me, the wife, and a lame dog. " Roger wondered why a knee surgeon couldn't do anything for his lame dog; I wondered why the doctor would willingly give us his cell phone number. He essentially gave us a free pass to call him if there was ANYTHING, as the rest of his family was apparently keeping him pretty unbusy despite that the dog could probably use his expertise. He mumbled something about liking us; we asked good questions or something.

Get prescriptions for physical therapy. The more the better.
No problem with getting two Rx's for physical therapy. One for Colorado, one for California for when we get there, the date not yet known with certainty. "I'll leave the date blank. You can fill it in." Now there's an accommodating doctor. (I stopped short of asking him for a few blank scripts.) Physical therapy helps to strengthen the new knee and get everything working well together in there. Engage the professionals; don't leave the physical therapy for yourself. And walking around the house doesn't count.