Preventing Blood Clots
Blood clots are a real hazard following surgery. Your orthopedist will give you complete instructions on how to avoid blood clots. You must follow these instructions closely.
Be On the Lookout for These Signs
Here are the warning signs that you may have a blood clot in your leg:
Your foot, ankle and calf may swell.
Your calf may hurt.
You may see tenderness and redness around the knee.
You may suddenly experience chest pain.
When your chest hurts, you may need to cough.
A blood clot that has traveled to your lung may cause the following:
A sudden feeling of shortness of breath.
You should call your physician right away if any of these signs develop.
Click here for more on Portland Knee Arthroscopy.
Infection Prevention
Your knee may become infected after your surgery. The reason for this is usually that bacteria has gotten into your blood somehow. Usually this will happen because of an infection of your skin or a urinary tract infection. It can also happen because you have had dental work. The bacteria generated by one of these conditions can travel and set itself up in your knee replacement. This causes infection.
Your surgeon will give you a prescription for antibiotics to take after your surgery. You should take these exactly as your doctor orders. This will prevent infection setting up in your knee replacement.
Watch out for these signs of knee replacement infection:
Your knee may feel painful both when you are active and when you are resting.
You may shake and have chills.
Your knee wound may swell and become red and tender.
You may experience a persistent oral temperature of over 100F.
Your knee wound may drain.
Call your physician if you have any of these signs.
How to Avoid Falls
Be careful not to fall while you are recovering from your knee surgery. This could damage your knee replacement. Then you would have to have more surgery. To avoid this, be sure to keep off the stairs. Use your cane, walker, crutches, or whatever your surgeon has recommended. If you don't have these, be sure to have someone help you. Always use handrails whenever they are available. Keep on being very careful until you have completely recovered. This means you have your strength, balance, and flexibility back to normal.
Your physical therapist and your surgeon will assist you in determining which assistive devices will work best for you. They will also help you decide when it is time to stop using an assistive device.
Blood clots are a real hazard following surgery. Your orthopedist will give you complete instructions on how to avoid blood clots. You must follow these instructions closely.
Be On the Lookout for These Signs
Here are the warning signs that you may have a blood clot in your leg:
Your foot, ankle and calf may swell.
Your calf may hurt.
You may see tenderness and redness around the knee.
You may suddenly experience chest pain.
When your chest hurts, you may need to cough.
A blood clot that has traveled to your lung may cause the following:
A sudden feeling of shortness of breath.
You should call your physician right away if any of these signs develop.
Click here for more on Portland Knee Arthroscopy.
Infection Prevention
Your knee may become infected after your surgery. The reason for this is usually that bacteria has gotten into your blood somehow. Usually this will happen because of an infection of your skin or a urinary tract infection. It can also happen because you have had dental work. The bacteria generated by one of these conditions can travel and set itself up in your knee replacement. This causes infection.
Your surgeon will give you a prescription for antibiotics to take after your surgery. You should take these exactly as your doctor orders. This will prevent infection setting up in your knee replacement.
Watch out for these signs of knee replacement infection:
Your knee may feel painful both when you are active and when you are resting.
You may shake and have chills.
Your knee wound may swell and become red and tender.
You may experience a persistent oral temperature of over 100F.
Your knee wound may drain.
Call your physician if you have any of these signs.
How to Avoid Falls
Be careful not to fall while you are recovering from your knee surgery. This could damage your knee replacement. Then you would have to have more surgery. To avoid this, be sure to keep off the stairs. Use your cane, walker, crutches, or whatever your surgeon has recommended. If you don't have these, be sure to have someone help you. Always use handrails whenever they are available. Keep on being very careful until you have completely recovered. This means you have your strength, balance, and flexibility back to normal.
Your physical therapist and your surgeon will assist you in determining which assistive devices will work best for you. They will also help you decide when it is time to stop using an assistive device.
About the Author:
Dr. Edelson is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon specializing in sports medicine. His clinic, Sports Medicine Oregon, focuses on athletes of all ages. Click here to learn more about Dr. Edelson, Vancouver ACL Surgery and Vancouver Athletic Injuries.
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