There are many different natural things you can do to manage, or at the very least lessen, knee pain. Sometimes, though, you need to get surgery if you have something wrong with your knee. This is when you will need to enlist the assistance of an experienced knee surgeon. He or she will do their best to get your knee back to functioning properly once again. Your life may be incredibly different after going through knee surgery, as it can give you an entire new set of knees. The path after surgery is not always easy, but it is worth being able to walk normally again. First, follow the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, and elevate). Then, you need to follow your doctor’s orders entirely for the best results from the surgery.
You Need Rest
One of the most important things after undergoing surgery is getting a good amount of rest. Your knee and the rest of your body needs to recover before undergoing more stress on the muscles and joints.
You Should Ice Your Knee
Make sure to be diligent about icing as often as your surgeon recommends. You may want to get a special ice pack that surrounds your knee and will stay strapped on without you having to keep putting it back on your knee. These can often be found online, or possibly even at your doctor’s office.
You Can Use Compression
Depending on what your surgeon says, you may need some sort of compression on your legs or knees. You should never use compression without a doctor’s recommendation, so speak with your knee surgeon to determine if this could help promote healing in your case.
You Should Elevate Your Knee
While resting in bed, you should elevate your legs. By doing this, you are making the blood flow in a way that will promote healing in your knees. You can use pillows or other items in bed to raise your knees above your heart. You can also put your legs up at the end of a couch.
Go to Physical Therapy
A few weeks after surgery, your knee surgeon will likely want you to go to physical therapy. This is a great way to heal following a big surgery as well as keep your knees in the best possible condition in the long run. Your PT will likely give you exercises that you can do at home to facilitate healing and keep your knees healthy for the long run.
If your knee is injured because of an accident that you were in, you may want to speak with a personal injury lawyer who can help determine if you have a case.