The better prepared you are for your knee replacement surgery, the quicker you may recover from it. At Penn Medicine, our orthopaedic team will walk you through the process to help you understand what to expect. Your treatment plan, post-operative care and recovery time will depend on the type of knee surgery you are having.
Support from family and friends is also very important for your recovery. We encourage you to bring along one key person to your appointments, so they understand what is happening to you and can support you.
Ways to Make Recovery After Knee Replacement Easier
There are several small changes you can make in your personal life and around your home that may make surgery recovery easier.
Quit smoking
Smoking can prevent bones, tissue and skin from healing and can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infection. However, research shows that if you quit smoking before surgery, your risk of complications goes down. If you need help quitting smoking, learn about our Smoking Cessation Program.
Schedule dental care
Do not schedule dental procedures within six weeks prior to surgery, or until three months after surgery. Germs in your mouth can enter the bloodstream and potentially infect your new joint.
Adjust your medications
To avoid complications, do not take blood thinners in the days leading up to your surgery. You should only take medications recommended by your surgeon.
Avoid alcohol
In addition to avoiding certain medications before surgery, you should avoid alcoholic beverages, which can cause increased bleeding and dehydration.
Identify a caretaker
Make arrangements to have someone transport you safely home after surgery and to stay with you for a few days.
Prepare your home
This may include installing a toilet seat lift and shower chair, adjusting your bed height, rearranging your closet/dresser/kitchen/bathroom to put your most-used items within easy reach, preparing meals to store in the freezer, and removing tripping hazards such as rugs and cords.
Learn more about the recovery and rehabilitation process
Pre-Operative Testing for Knee Replacement
Your pre-operative testing will be scheduled within 30 days of your surgery. Your testing will include a medical evaluation, blood samples, electrocardiogram, stress test, chest X-ray and urine sample. The tests will tell us if your body is ready for surgery or if you have any conditions that may need special attention before moving forward.
Please be prepared to discuss:
- Advance directives
- Dietary restrictions or allergies
- Medical conditions
- Medications and supplements you take
- Primary care doctor and any specialists
- Prior surgeries
Blood Donation Prior to Surgery
You may lose some blood during your surgery, so your surgeon will make recommendations on how you can prepare. Taking iron supplements before surgery helps build your blood supply and lessens the need for a blood transfusion. Your surgeon also may encourage you to donate your own blood in case it's needed during your surgery.
If you do not wish to accept blood products, we offer a safe and unique bloodless surgery program. Please discuss it with your surgeon.
Weight Management Prior to Surgery
Excess weight can increase your risk of infection and other complications. To the extent that you're able, we will encourage you to get in shape before surgery. But we understand that part of the reason you may need knee replacement surgery is because your physical abilities are now limited.
Aim for a reasonable, realistic weight loss goal, and achieve it through reduced calorie intake in addition to regular physical activity. You can do this by:
- Controlling portions
- Drinking enough water
- Eating at regular times throughout the day
- Eating slowly
- Eating your calories instead of drinking them
- Researching how many calories are in what you're eating
More Knee Replacement Information and Resources
We offer free knee replacement classes where you can obtain detailed information about what to expect before and after surgery.
Learn more about the classes and view the schedule
In addition, we put together several educational videos that we strongly suggest you watch before undergoing knee replacement. These videos provide detailed information about how to prepare for surgery, how the surgery works and what to expect after surgery as you recover.
View video guides