Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery Time | All You Need to Know!

You were recently diagnosed with severe knee problems, and they do not respond to conservative treatment. Your doctor recommends surgery, and now you don’t know when you’re returning to work. If that sounds like you, this article will help you understand everything you need to know about knee replacement recovery time.

After reading, you will understand that not all knee replacement recoveries are the same, and there are factors that affect your recovery rate. You will also learn what to expect and some recommendations to make your recovery faster.

What is knee replacement surgery?

Knee replacement surgery is very common worldwide because this is one of the joints most commonly affected by obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other ailments. In this surgery, the doctor will replace the damaged knee joint with a new artificial surface, and there are different types according to the extent of the damage.

Knee replacement surgery can be total or partial. Total knee replacement surgery is reserved for patients with extensive damage. Partial knee replacement surgery only replaces a damaged section of the knee. The rest is left out intact.

The success rate of knee replacement surgery

Success rate means how frequently this surgery goes as expected, and patients end up feeling well. The success rate after this surgery varies according to each patient, but in most people, it is very high and over 90%. However, many factors should be taken into consideration. For instance:

  • Your weight and BMI, because it gives your joint extra burden to handle
  • Your knee condition, because some are more severe and difficult to fix
  • Your age, because older adults usually have more frequent complications
  • The type of knee prosthesis used because some are more commonly rejected

Usual recovery time in total knee replacement surgery

In most cases, patients recover after knee replacement surgery in 6 to 8 weeks. This is highly variable, and you will have patients who recover much faster and can return to their usual routine before six weeks. Others experience complications that delay their recovery for more than eight weeks.

There are different ways to speed up recovery time; your doctor will instruct you on what to do and when. Following a physical therapy plan is recommended, and you should follow instructions as closely as possible for better results.