Ways to Help a Total Knee Replacement

Recuperating from a total knee replacement is the hardest part of going through the entire process. It is not easy. Besides being very painful, it can be frustrating. It takes a lot of hard work and persistence. Having recently undergone this surgery, I have found a few ways that have helped speed up my recuperation. They may work for you.

Instead of doing the minimum amount of exercises needed, do a little more. It does not matter if it is only one more set of repetitions, or one more minute of counting. Just do it. Soon, you will be amazed by the results. I find it works well for me to do knee and leg exercises in the morning, late afternoon, and evening. It is easy to do while I am watching my beloved hockey. :)

Get up and walk around every hour. Not only does this help your circulation, it will also help your muscles. I like getting up every hour on the hour for a walk around the kitchen and living room. This also helps the muscles from getting stiff. At first, I did this with crutches. Then, as I was ready, it was without walking aides.

Another way that helps with my total knee replacement recuperation is using a raised toilet seat. In fact, this makes it amazingly easy to use the toilet. At first I thought this aid was unnecessary, but after having realized that a basic raised toilet seat is only about $20 - I tried it. If you can buy and use one of these, do it. It is highly recommended by me anyways. And, it will be recommended by your hospital discharge team prior to letting you go home. At least mine was.

It is common knowledge that setting goals is important for most things in life. Recuperating from a total knee replacement is no different. You will know what you can do one day, or earlier in the day. The next time you do your exercises, set a goal to do more. For instance, find a hash mark on the kitchen linoleum. While you reached one line in the morning, reach the next line in the evening. Every little bit helps.