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You may notice numbness around the incision of your knee replacement surgery. You may also notice some stiffness. This may be more pronounced after a great deal of bending. Naturally, your knee should be improved after you have had it replaced; however, it is important to remember that an artificial knee may never have the complete ROM (range of motion) of a natural knee.

You may find kneeling difficult, but rest assured, kneeling will not hurt your new knee. You may also hear a bit of quiet clicking from time to time. This is caused by the flexion of the metal and plastic as you walk and bend. This will lessen as time passes. Most patients have no problem adjusting to it. Surely they find it less distressing than the pain and restricted activities they suffered with their old knee.

You will probably be about as active after your surgery as before, and your ability to move will be about the same. You should be able to straighten your knee as needed and bend it well enough to climb stairs and get in and out of your car.

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When you go to the airport or a federal building or other building with a metal detector, be sure to have a word with the guards to avoid unpleasant incidents. Your new knee has some metal parts that will set off the alarms.

After surgery, there are a few things you will want to do:

Take great care not to fall or become injured. If you hurt yourself after your knee surgery, you will probably need more surgery.

Consult with your orthopedist about any problems you might experience. As an MD and an orthopedist, he or she will be able to assist you in both surgical and non-surgical procedures. Additionally, the specialized training an orthopedist receives regarding the components of the musculoskeletal system makes an orthopedist the ideal person to see regarding problems with bones, tendons, muscles, nerves, joints, and ligaments.

If you are having dental work done, always tell your dentist about your artificial knee. You will need to take antibiotics prior to your dental work to avoid infection. This is something you must always remember from now on.

Be sure to participate in light exercise on a regular basis to maintain the mobility and the strength of your new knee.

Visit your orthopedic surgeon every year. He or she will want to follow up with x-rays and an annual examination.

Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 20 years specializing in knee surgery. He opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, with a focus on specialty patient care. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, knee surgeons and complete knee replacement.