Total Knee Replacement — Frequently Asked Questions

What time do I go to the hospital the day of my surgery?

Same day Surgery at Somerset Hospital will call you the day before your surgery and give you a time to be at the hospital. Do not eat or drink after midnight, th night before your surgery.

How many days will I be in the hospital?

You will be admitted to the hospital typically for 3-4 days, including the surgery day. If necessary, you and your therapist will decide upon being discharged if you would benefit from going to a personal care facility temporarily to assist with daily tasks.

Will I have physical therapy after having my knee replaced?

In the Recovery Room your leg will be put on a CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) Machine. The CPM Machine will bend your knee continuously. The next day you will start therapy in the hospital, using a walker. Step one is getting out of bed and having the I.V.’s removed. Day two you will continue with therapy. Day three if all goes well you will be discharged from the hospital. Once you are home, you will have home based therapy. You will be expected to do exercises on your own twice a day. A home therapist will come once or twice per week to supervise. This will last for about 1 month. When home based therapy is over, you will go to outpatient therapy for another 6 weeks. Your goal is to be able to bend your knee at least 90 degrees at 2 weeks. At 6 weeks your goal is to be bending your knee at least 105 degrees.

When do I get my staples removed?

You will have a post op appointment scheduled for 2 weeks after your surgery. At that time your staples will be removed, steri strips will be placed on your incision site, you will also have your knee x-rayed. Make sure to keep this appointment, this is very important.

How long will I be off work?

Depending on your job duties, that can vary. It can be anywhere from 1-3 months.

What is the total recovery time?

Recovery varies with each patient, about 12 weeks.

How long will I have to be on a blood thinner (Coumadin)?

You will be on a blood thinner for about 1 month after surgery to prevent blood clots.

How long do I have to wear the Ted hose (Jobst Stocking)?

You will need to wear the stockings until you are no longer taking the blood thinner (Coumadin), about 1 month.

How long will I be in surgery?

You will be in surgery for about 2 hours. Then you will go to the recovery room until you wake up from the anesthesia. After that you will be admitted to your room.

How long does a knee replacement usually last?

90% of joint replacements last for as long as 15 years.

How long until the swelling goes away?

Swelling can last up to a year, but will gradually decrease over time.

Please have your family members that accompany you the day of your surgery wait in the designated waiting area. Dr. Schmidt will speak to your family members immediately following surgery.