Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is knee replacement? —
This is surgery to replace part or all of the knee joint with artificial, or "prosthetic," parts (figure 1). It can reduce knee pain and improve how the knee works.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
For the first 24 hours after surgery:
●Do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery. Your doctor will talk to you about when you can drive again.
●Do not make any important decisions or sign any important papers.
●Do not drink alcohol of any kind.
You should also:
●Follow all instructions for preventing blood clots. If a blood clot forms in your leg after surgery, it could travel to your lung. A blood clot in the lung is called a "pulmonary embolism." It can make it hard to breathe and even lead to death if not treated. To help prevent clots, your doctor might have given you:
•Special boots or elastic stockings to wear
•Medicines
●Work with a physical therapist to learn exercises to make the muscles around your knee stronger. They will work with you on bending, walking, and climbing stairs so you can move normally. You will also learn stretching exercises to gradually get flexibility back. It is very important to do these exercises to help you recover as quickly as possible and get back to your usual daily activities. Moving your leg regularly also helps lower the risk of blood clots.
●Put a pillow under your foot (of the leg you had surgery on) when you are in bed. This helps keep your knee straight, which helps with flexibility. Do not put a pillow behind your knee.
●Take your pain medicines as instructed:
•If your doctor prescribed opioid pain medicine, you might get constipated. You can take a stool softener to prevent this.
•Instead of opioids, you can also take non-prescription pain medicines. Examples include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
●Take care of your incision – You might have stitches, skin staples, surgical glue, or a special skin tape on your incision.
•Keep your incision dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep it dry.
•Once you no longer need to keep your incision dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not soak it in water or swim until your wound has healed. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.
•After you wash your incision, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.
•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandage.
●Increase your activity slowly – Most people can stand and walk (with help) shortly after surgery.
•Follow all instructions for using a walker, crutches, or a cane. Make sure you know much weight you can put on the leg with the knee replacement. This can range from no weight-bearing to full weight-bearing.
•Start with short walks around your home, and walk a little more each day.
•Avoid heavy lifting, driving, sports, and swimming for at least 2 weeks. (Your doctor, nurse, or physical therapist will tell you exactly how long to avoid these or other activities.) Over time, slowly increase your level of activity as you get stronger.
What follow-up care do I need? —
The doctor will want to see you again after surgery to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.
If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:
●Feel short of breath, or have trouble breathing
●Have sharp or severe chest pain when breathing
●Cough up blood
Call the doctor or nurse for advice if:
●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.
●You have skin color changes or swelling around your incision.
●The pain or swelling in your knee or leg gets worse.
●Your leg gets cool, blue, gray, or numb, or it tingles.
●Your knee feels less stable, or like part of the joint is out of place.
Patient education: Knee replacement (The Basics)
Patient education: Deciding to have a knee replacement (The Basics)
Patient education: Knee pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Osteoarthritis (The Basics)
Patient education: Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg) (The Basics)
Patient education: Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a walker (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use crutches (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a cane (The Basics)
Patient education: Total knee replacement (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Knee pain (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Osteoarthritis treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Pulmonary embolism (Beyond the Basics)
