Moving forward with joint replacement surgery can significantly improve your quality of life, but planning for your recovery is just as important as the surgery. Almost 1 million hip and knee replacement surgeries are done in the U.S. annually. Recovery can be made easier with the help of home health care.
Joint Replacement: An Overview
Joint replacement is a surgical procedure to remove an impaired joint and replace it with an artificial joint called a prothesis, typically made of plastic, metal or ceramic material, and designed to work like a normal, healthy joint. Hip and knee replacements are the most common type of joint replacements but can also be performed on elbows, shoulders or ankles.
Following the joint replacement surgery, you may benefit from home health care. Healing at home allows many patients to heal faster with fewer complications and with a greater sense of empowerment in their own recovery. Studies have shown that patients who participate in physical therapy through home health care have improved outcomes. [1]
Recovery Timeline for Joint Replacement
The road to recovery after joint replacement surgery differs for each person and is based on the procedure performed and the individualized treatment plan provided by their physician, but most people who opt for home health (if recommended by their physician) follow a general timeline.
- Days 1-3: Early physical therapy will start, helping you gently move your new joint and start the healing process. The focus however is managing pain and swelling and providing education on how to protect your new joint while moving around your home, preventing
- Weeks 1 - 2: You will begin your healing journey with home health, and focus on rest, managing pain and learning new instructions for daily activities. A physical therapist will continue simple exercises to prevent stiffness.
- Weeks 2-4: After the first week, the pain should start to subside, and you’ll slowly become more independent. By gaining strength though physical therapy, many people can walk short distances without assistance and feel more comfortable with daily tasks.
Typically, by around the third week of recovery, your home health team will help you transition safely to outpatient therapy, where you will continue any necessary exercises to ensure a successful full recovery going forward. From months 1-12, your recovery may follow this general framework:
- Months 1-3: Throughout the next few months, you’ll feel more energized and independent by continuing physical therapy to strengthen your new joint muscles and improve movement, returning you to activities like driving. This period is a crucial time of recovery.
- Months 3-6: By this point, you should see significant improvement and engage in more intense activities like walking longer distances. You should experience reduced swelling and stiffness and return to regular daily activities.
- Months 6-12: You should be able to resume all regular daily activities. You will continue to improve and maintain your strength through exercise but may experience soreness from time to time.
While your home health care team is there to help you every step of the way during your enrollment, you and your family also play an important role in your recovery journey. Being involved will help achieve the best possible outcome.
Managing Pain After Total Knee Replacement
Many people experience moderate to severe swelling in the first few days or weeks after total knee replacement and mild to moderate swelling for 3 to 6 months post-surgery. Pain and swelling are a normal part of the healing process, however they vary by person.
You can manage swelling by elevating your leg as recommended by your physician, and by using ice packs and cold compresses. It is recommended to use an ice pack 3 to 4 times a day for about 20 minutes each time. Be sure to pay attention to any new or severe swelling. This can indicate a blood clot or an infection of the knee, and you should contact your healthcare provider right away.
Most people will take oral medication to manage pain for up to several weeks. Physical therapy is also key to reducing pain, as the exercises provided help reduce inflammation caused by pain.
Managing Pain After Hip Replacement
Similar to knee replacement surgery, after a hip replacement it is important to follow any recommendations from your physician on elevating the leg, often several times per day on pillows, accompanied by 20 minutes of ice to the joint.
Also important to recovery is avoiding certain activities while the hip is healing. Your therapists will help you learn to complete activities of daily living while maintaining hip precautions as recommended by your doctor. Over-the-counter pain medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce discomfort, and for the first few weeks your doctor may also prescribe opioid pain medication or muscle relaxers.
Physical therapy will usually start right away to help support mobility, strengthen the muscles around the healing joint and reduce pain, decreasing the risk of a hospital readmission.[2] In-home physical therapy is especially helpful in teaching people how to correctly follow any restrictions after surgery to protect their new joint, while at the same time successfully navigating the familiar spaces of their home.
Physical Therapy and Recovery Support
Upon returning home after surgery, your physical therapist will assess your physical and functional status and begin treatment. Your family will be instructed on how to support you, help care for your incision and how to prevent and recognize infection and complications moving forward while you safely regain mobility.
At Amedisys, our at-home physical therapists and physical therapy assistants help you move with greater ease in the comfort of your own home. Our program is designed to restore normal mobility or maintain the highest level of functioning possible, so you can do tasks and activities you enjoy. Your personalized care plan could include any of the following:
- Rehabilitation to improve functional mobility
- Strength training
- Electrical stimulation to improve function
- A personalized home exercise program
- Suggestions to make your home safer and reduce risk of falling
How to Prepare for Home Recovery
Electing home health after joint replacement surgery means you can go home sooner without sacrificing any benefits towards recovery. [3] Here are a few ways you can prepare your home before your surgery:
- Make sure you can safely move around your house while using a walker. You may need to move furniture, rugs or cords.
- Additions to the bathroom may include handrails in the shower or tub or grab bars next to the toilet. A raised toilet seat can also help with using the toilet.
- Make sure you can easily access a bedroom or a place to rest.
- Create a comfortable space where you can elevate your legs and sit and relax. Keep frequently used items at arm’s reach.
- Create a support team such as friends and family who can help with groceries, cleaning and taking you to doctor’s appointments during recovery.
- Check-in with your orthopedist on any other recommendations for how to prepare.
The Path to Recovery from Joint Replacement at Home
By following these tips and seeking assistance from home health care during your recovery from joint replacement surgery, you can ensure a safe path to regaining mobility.
If you’re ready learn more about how home health can help you recover faster and more efficiently after joint replacement, connect with our care team today.
Staci McGuire, DPT, MBA, serves as the Home Health Director of Clinical Strategy, Programs and Therapy Practice at Amedisys. With over 16 years of experience in various clinical roles within the organization, she is dedicated to empowering clinicians to provide exceptional care and achieve optimal patient outcomes by adhering to current best practices and standards of care.
