Planning to undergo a knee replacement? You need extra precautions in winter

Undergoing a joint replacement is always a tough decision. A number of questions abound: is it too early? Will it be successful? How long will the new joint last? How the rehabilitation process will work out? With new age technology making joint replacements completely safe and lasting, the process has become more convenient for patients.

 

Dr Rajeev K Sharma, Senior Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi says joint replacements today have advanced by leaps and bounds. The improvement means that joints today can last up to 30 years, so that even a 50 year old person is not too young to undergo a joint replacement.

 

However, several factors contribute to the recovery of any replacement surgeries specially knee replacement.  Where your whole life will depend on whether the new joint feels at home in your body, how well you are able to walk after the surgery, that is why a good rehabilitation regimen is important. For those planning to undergo knee replacement surgeries, here are certain extra things you need to keep in mind during winters:

 

·        Keep your knee warm and covered

·        Use warm water to bathe

·        Use a chair while bathing

·        Adjust the height of the commode as advised

·        Don’t sit on the floor or crossed legged. The cold floor may have adverse effect on the new knee.

·        Keep your wound dry

·        In winter if you find swelling in your legs accompanied by pain, contact your surgeon immediately.

 

Winters are difficult for people with sour knees. Pain often worsens in humid and cold weather. So it is always advisable to the patient to take extra precaution during winter season.