4 MUST-KNOW Facts Before Total Knee Replacement Surgery

4 MUST-KNOW Facts Before Total Knee Replacement Surgery

1- Total Knee Recovery is 12 weeks.

You underwent total knee surgery for an hour and then you stayed at the hospital for 2 or 3 days. Your doctor told you to stay in bed for about 2 weeks or as much as possible. Is that all? No, the total knee replacement surgery recovery isn't only about incision, anesthesia, and being able to walk. You have to focus on your steps, the weight that you lift, the angles of your knee, and especially your PT (physical therapy).

Let's say, the first 3 weeks of your recovery is a "Surgery Recovery", the 3rd to 7th week is "Knee Recovery" and the 7th to 12th week is "Recovery Maintenance".

2- You have to be careful about what you eat, and the medicines you take.

"That's a knee surgery, not a stomach!" 

We heard what you said! You may not be into orthopedics, or this may be your first time, but every surgery is about you.

7 days before your surgery, you have to stop taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Those drugs are aceltyl calicilic acid (Aspirin, Coraspin, Disprin), ibuprofen (such as Nurofen) naproxen (such as Naprosyn), celecoxib (Celebrex) work like a blood thinner which increases blood loss during your surgery. You should also stop taking anti-coagulants like heparine and clopidogrel (Plavix).

You have to give up alcohol and smoking at least 24 hours before surgery. Alcohol is also a blood-thinner which may cause the same problem we mentioned above, an increase in potential blood-loss risk during surgery. Smoking works like alcohol but it also reduces the oxygen in the blood, which affects your recovery after the surgery.

Eat your last solid meal before 8 hours of your surgery. This suggestion is good for your post-op stage. If you get your consciousness with a full and greasy stomach you may like to vomit. Your post-operational condition is very important, especially if you want to heal faster and better.

3- A prepared mind is better as well as a prepared home!

Talk to your doctor till you feel informed, relaxed, and safe. You know what they say, the more you know is better. With your knowledge, you can beat your fears. Besides fear, you also have to keep your expectations realistic. This is an operation that will open the gates of a better life but your next 2-3 weeks will be harder than you got used to. That is why we suggest a well-organized surrounding to our patients. During your home rest, that'd be better for you to keep your walking path clear to avoid any kind of accident. In addition to that, you may like to place the items that you frequently use to your near. Your phone, phone charger,  a bottle of water, a towel, etc.

4- You can find MUCH cheaper and EQUIVALENT (even better) surgery if you check abroad services.

The Total Knee Replacement costs are very high in the UK or the USA. The %50 or even %70 cost-efficient treatment packages (accommodation, VIP transfers, and medications) can be found in Turkey, Poland, or India.

• If you want an orthopedic team of a doctor, physical therapist, and a medical tourism expert who is totally focused on you during your whole surgery process for 2 weeks
• If you want an affordable but well-educated surgeon who got experience in Frankfurt and New York
• If you do not want to waste all your savings on a surgery

Then you may like to contact us. Just leave your phone number to us and our international patient coordinator will call/text you.

If you want to know how medical tourism works in our clinic you can read more from here.