Patient Guide
After Orthopaedic Surgery: Recovery Guide
Recovering after joint replacement or orthopaedic surgery in Surat — wound care, physiotherapy, milestones, and the symptoms that need a phone call.
In short: Recovery has three strands: protecting the wound while it heals, restoring movement and strength through physiotherapy, and watching for the small number of complications that need prompt attention. Of these, physiotherapy is the one most within your control and the one that most determines the result.
The first two weeks
Expect swelling, bruising that spreads down the limb under gravity, and disturbed sleep. All three are normal and all three settle. Bruising appearing well below the operated joint alarms people unnecessarily — it is simply blood tracking downward.
- Keep the wound clean and dry until you are told otherwise. Do not soak it or apply anything to it.
- Elevate the limb when resting, above heart level where you can. This does more for swelling than anything else.
- Ice over a cloth, for short periods, several times a day.
- Take pain relief on schedule, not only when pain becomes severe. Staying ahead of it lets you do the exercises.
- Move often. Short, frequent walks beat one long effort and reduce clot risk.
- Do the ankle exercises even while resting — they pump blood back and lower clot risk.
Why physiotherapy decides the outcome
The operation restores the structure. Rehabilitation restores the function, and the gap between two patients with identical surgery is almost always rehabilitation.
This matters most in the knee, where the window for regaining bend is genuinely limited. Scar tissue matures over the first weeks, and movement not regained in that period becomes progressively harder to recover. A knee left stiff at six weeks is a much bigger problem than a knee that is sore at six weeks.
It is uncomfortable work. Doing it anyway, consistently, on the days you do not feel like it, is what separates a good result from an average one.
Milestones
| Stage | Typical progress | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Walking indoors with a walker or crutches. | Wound care, swelling control, gentle movement. |
| Week 2–3 | Stitches or clips removed; walking further. | Increasing range of movement; reducing support. |
| Week 4–6 | Often walking with a stick or unaided. | Strength work; stairs; the critical window for knee bend. |
| Month 3 | Most daily activity comfortable; driving usually possible. | Endurance and confidence; return to desk work. |
| Month 6–12 | Continued gradual improvement. | Full return to walking, swimming, cycling. |
These are typical, not prescriptive. Age, general health, the joint operated on and the state of it beforehand all shift the timeline.
Book an appointment
Recovering and unsure about something?
Speak to the clinic directly. Open Monday to Saturday, and Sunday mornings.
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Call the clinic promptly if
- You develop a fever, or the wound becomes hot, red, or starts discharging
- You have calf pain or swelling, or sudden breathlessness or chest pain
- Pain suddenly worsens rather than gradually improving
- The joint gives way, dislocates, or the limb suddenly looks a different length
- You develop new numbness or weakness
- You cannot bear weight when you previously could
- Calf or thigh swelling that does not settle with elevation overnight
These are uncommon, and each is much easier to treat early. Nobody minds a call that turns out to be nothing.
Protecting a new joint long term
- Tell your dentist you have a joint replacement. Discuss antibiotic cover before invasive dental work.
- Treat infections promptly — urinary, chest or skin. Bacteria in the bloodstream can settle on an implant years later.
- Keep weight down. Every kilogram is multiplied through the joint with each step.
- Stay active, but avoid impact. Walking, swimming and cycling suit a replacement; running and jumping shorten its life.
- Attend follow-up X-rays, even when the joint feels fine. Wear-related bone loss is often painless until advanced.
Frequently asked questions
How long will I need a walking aid?
Commonly a walker for one to two weeks, then a stick for a few more, though this varies with the joint and your confidence. Aids are given up when walking is safe, not to a timetable.
When can I shower?
Once the wound is sealed and you are told it is safe, usually with a waterproof dressing. Avoid soaking or submerging the wound until it has fully healed.
When can I drive?
When you can control the pedals and perform an emergency stop without hesitation, and are off strong painkillers. Usually sooner for a left-side operation in a manual car. Check your insurer’s position.
Is it normal for my leg to be swollen for weeks?
Yes. Swelling after joint surgery commonly persists for weeks, and mild swelling after activity can continue for months. Sudden or one-sided calf swelling is different and should be reported.
How much pain is too much?
Pain that steadily improves is expected. Pain that suddenly worsens, or is not controlled by your medication, should prompt a call.
Will I set off airport metal detectors?
Sometimes. Implant cards are of limited use with security staff nowadays, but mentioning the replacement at screening is straightforward and rarely causes difficulty.
Related treatments
Visit the clinic
Vedaant Orthopaedic CenterUG/9B Galloping Corridor, GD Goenka School Road
(Canal Road – VIP Road)
Surat, Gujarat 395007
| Monday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Sunday | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm |
Medically reviewed by Dr Dev Padia, MS Ortho (USA)
Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon, Vedaant Orthopaedic Center, Surat.
Last reviewed:
The information on this website is for general guidance and does not replace a personal medical consultation. Please consult a qualified doctor about your own symptoms.