Partial knee replacement - what to expect post-op?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Morning, i am having a partial knee replacement next month. I'm youngish (40s) for this op and fit and healthy otherwise. I am wondering what to expect in terms of activity i can do and just generally what 'state' i will be in the weeks post-op?
The main reason I am asking is that my employer has asked me to work from home for all/part of my recovery. I have been working from home since lockdown (I am a p/t office worker) due to having two kids aged 5 and 6 and no childcare. So it seems they are expecting me to continue this.
I will be signed off for 6 weeks and obviously cannot drive. I am also entitled to full pay during the sick leave so I will not lose out in this respect.
I am trying to understand if it is realistic to be expected to sit at a desk for 5-6 hours during those 6 weeks post-op or if they are being unreasonable expecting me to?
0 likes, 5 replies
gill47507 rayjay25
Edited
H Rayjay
I had a partial knee replacement two years ago. Everyone recovers at their own rate. I was quite fit pre op. My knee started to give out due to osteoarthritis. I was in hospital for 2 nights and allowed home once i could manage the stairs on crutches. The op leg felt amazingly strong right away. you can put weight on it more or less straight away. I was on 2 crutches for about a week but by the start of week 2 I was down to one crutch. You get used to them quickly but I you'll need to keep your leg up until you're able to get it to bend. . I had a week off work (op was done on a Saturday and I Was home monday pm and back to working at home the following monday). It takes a few days to get feeling back in the leg and a few weeks in my case to get it to bend. whilst working from home I brought my computer downstairs and set it up on the kitchen table so could keep my op leg up on a chair. Going up and downstairs was slow and cumbersome til i got rid of the crutches and was still slow after until the knee got to bend. The op was on my left knee so I could drive after about 4 weeks as i have an automatic car. Hope this may help. I was 64 when i had the op so you may recover a lot faster than me. Make sure you start the exercises as soon as you can and keep them going. Good luck!
rayjay25 gill47507
Posted
Thank you for this. A very informative answer. Not quite what I want to hear as I was hoping to tell work I would need the full six weeks at least lol. Glad you had a quick recovery though, i will need that with kids to look after too!
lizaparker rayjay25
Posted
I wish you best of luck for your operation. I wonder how come you get to this situation to replace your knee? I strongly suggest you to have some kind of knee supporting pads so you could have external support for your week knees until you get well.
Wish you a good health. Thanks
rayjay25 lizaparker
Posted
Hi thank you! It seems i have had a mechanical issue with my knee, probably since i was a child and it was worn away the cartilage much earlier than usual.
zarina18650 rayjay25
Edited
Hi Rayjay
I had a partial knee replacement on my left knee. Im 52. Im now at 11 weeks. Im off all pain killers except panadol from time to time.
Im still using 1 crutch to walk as my knee is unstable. Your not allowed to drive for 6 weeks after surgery. You will find it difficult getting in and out of a car and will be on heavy painkillers during this time. Make sure you try and bend your knee as far as you can and straighten it. Take painkillers before you do this and push through it as much as you can.
I have physio 3 times a week.
From my experience there was no way I could go back to work under 8 weeks as you to elevate your knee and ice pack it constantly.
Just keep remembering it does get better and the more you bend and straighten it the better the results.