Care After Knee Replacement | Dr Praharsha

Care After Knee Replacement: Many people have these questions in their minds – What to expect after 3 months and after 5 months following knee replacement surgery. A majority of the patients recover after 3 months – and if it is a case of robotic knee replacement the recovery time is quite shorter. Nearly about 90% of the patients recovery almost 100% after 5 months following knee replacement. However, the recovery time may extent up to 6 months or longer in some cases. People with comorbid conditions may take longer time to recover. Older patients, smokers and individuals with other medical conditions may take longer time to heal. Recovery is faster in some people who perform knee joint and muscle strengthening exercises while they prepare for the surgery.

3 months after total knee replacement

Most people enjoy their routine activities such as walking comfortably, bicycling, playing games and even dancing at this stage after their knee replacement. You can also able to do a complete range of motions in your knee. Even with normal routine and recreational activities you don’t have any pain at all. However, the complete recovery still depends on your commitment and rehabilitation.

What not to do after knee replacement?

Don’t use bathtubs or slippery bathrooms because if you sit and bath it will be difficult for you to safely get up from there. Therefore, prefer bathroom with rough surfaces and do not try to reach to anything you need by bending or squatting even if you are in sitting position.

Forget about lifting weights and heavy stuff such as grocery bags or laundry or tool boxes, large pets and garbage bags. This will put excess stress on your knees.

What to wear after knee replacement surgery?

Wear comfortable footwear and shoes with non-skid soles. It is very important to wear footwear that provides additional friction on surfaces with anti-skid properties. Avoid wearing flip-flops as well. Avoid walking on wet and slippery surfaces. If you are new to a place then prefer walking slowly.

Equipment needed after knee replacement?

Your orthopedic surgeon may instruct you to use supportive devices that include canes, crutches and walkers. As long as your doctor recommend you to use assistive devices such as walkers use them. When you stand up on both legs use crutches and walker that help you to stand up. As far as driving is concerned ask your orthopedic surgeon about when can you start driving. Usually, you may have to wait for up to 5 to 6 weeks to resume driving for Care after knee replacement.

Sleep position after knee replacement?

Don’t bend your knees while sleeping or taking rest or when lying down. Taking pillow under your knees by bending them to support is also not recommended while taking rest or sleeping. It is better to keep your knee straight while you take rest or if you want to raise or elevate your leg.

How to take care of your new knee joint?

Long sitting is not advisable. Don’t sit in the same position for long – say for up to an hour or more – rather prefer getting up in between. Take breaks from sitting positions and long standing. Use sofas and chairs with armrests and a straight back. Don’t use rocking stools or rocking chairs or sofas and also chairs and stools without support and that are low.

If you are sitting in a chair or bed or sofa – don’t stand up abruptly from your sitting position. Take the support of armrest or bed support and then slide towards the edge and then get up. You can take the support of arms of the chair or walker or crutches to get up need Care after knee replacement.

When you are getting dressed

Don’t bend too much to dress and undress. Make yourself comfortable by sitting on the bed to get dressed without bending too much. Don’t dressed up while standing. While removing pants or clothes remove them first from the leg side that didn’t have surgery and from the surgery side last. While putting on pants and socks use the leg that has surgery done first.

Be Careful While Using Stairs

Care after knee replacement What precautions should you take as a part of care after knee replacement? Do not take long flight of stairs for up to two months after knee replacement. Use banister or side railing whenever you step up or down stairs. Do not try to move upstairs and downstairs as usual but take steps slowly until you are in complete control of your walking. This is important for your muscles to develop power and endurance. Use the leg that did not have surgery first while going upstairs. While getting down, first step with the leg that did have surgery.

Soft Tissue Injury Types | Symptoms | Treatment by Dr. Praharsha Mulpur

Ligaments, tendons, and muscles are the soft tissues that support the bones of your joints. Any damage to these structures may result in soft tissue injury.

Soft tissue injuries can range from mild to moderate – and, in some cases, severe. If you develop soft tissue injury, you will experience mild to moderate pain, inflammation, bruising, and swelling. In severe cases, the pain, swelling, and inflammation are severe. It happens when there is damage caused to the soft tissues that support bones and cartilages of the joints. The symptoms related to soft tissue injuries may depend on the nature and type of injury.

Soft Tissue Injury Types

The following is the classification of soft-tissues injuries:

• Sprains
• Strains
• Bruises (contusions)
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Stress injuries

What is a sprain?

A sprain is a stretch or a partial tear to a ligament. When you turn suddenly or wrench, a strain occurs. Ligaments are supportive connective tissues that keep bones together by stabilizing and supporting the body’s joints. For instance, Ligaments in the knee region connect your thighbone with the shinbone (tibia) and help you walk. Sprains commonly occur in the following joints in your body:  ankles, knees, elbow, and wrists.

While walking if your ankle suddenly experiences severe tension or pressure when your foot turns inward, you will experience severe pain. This is a case of a sprained ankle. This usually happens from a sudden twist. Similarly, a wrist sprain develops if you fall on an outstretched hand.

For sprains occurring due to excessive pressure and a partial tear in the ligaments, R.I.C.E. is the preferred treatment modality. However, for a completely torn ligament, surgery may be needed.

What is a strain?

Tendons attach muscles to bone. They look like fibrous cords. An injury to a muscle or tendon that may result due to overuse, excessive force, pressure, or stress. It can be as simple as a stretch of a muscle or tendon or can be a severe one involving a partial tear or complete tear of a tendon or muscle. A strain causes these symptoms – moderate to severe pain, swelling, muscle weakness, cramping, muscle spasms, and inflammation. The hamstring is a typical example of strain. Strains mostly occur in the leg or back.

For a mild to moderate strain, the best way to manage is R.I.C.E – rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Your physiotherapist will assist you with some simple exercises to relieve pain and improve mobility. However, for more severe cases of strains that involve a complete tear of muscles or tendons, surgery may be recommended. Mostly sportsmen and sportswomen are at risk of developing strains.

Soccer, football, hockey, boxing, wrestling, and other contact sports put athletes at risk for hamstring strains, as do sports that feature quick starts, such as hurdling, long jumping, and running races. Gymnastics, tennis, rowing, golf, and other sports that require extensive gripping have a high incidence of hand sprains. Elbow strains frequently occur in racquet, throwing, and contact sports.

What is a contusion (bruise)?

Contusions occur when a direct blow (or repeated blows) by a blunt object strikes part of the body, crushing underlying muscle fibers and connective tissue without breaking the skin.  A contusion can result from falling or jamming the body against a hard surface. Discoloration of the skin is caused by blood pooling around the injury.

Most contusions are mild and respond well to the RICE protocol. If symptoms persist, medical care should be sought to prevent permanent damage to the soft tissues.

Bruise

A bruise or contusion is a type of soft tissue injury in which the underlying soft tissues – connective tissues and muscle fibers get damaged without breaking the skin. This happens when there is a direct blow to a part of the body or repeated blows with a blunt object. A contusion may result from falling or jamming the body against a hard surface. Blood clot formation underneath the skin or pooling of blood around the injury area causes discoloration of the skin. Apart from discoloration of the skin, you may experience pain with swelling and inflammation. As usual, RICE is the first line of treatment. For a serious type of bruise, you should see an orthopedic expert.

Soft Tissue Injury Types

To be continued in the next post….

Robotic Knee Replacement Vs Traditional

Robotics Joint Replacement (Knee and Hip replacement) is right now here to stay. Many people think that it is a futuristic goal, but it is right now here at Sunshine Hospitals, Hyderabad.

Procedures like knee and hip replacements require precise and dextrous movements to assist Orthopedic surgeons to perform these procedures with great accuracy and perfection. The use of robotic arms is immensely beneficial for orthopedic surgeons who specialize in robotic orthopedic surgery to achieve exceptional clinical outcomes.

If you have heard of robotics in Orthopaedics for the first time, then don’t feel hesitant. Prior to zeroing in on traditional knee replacement or hip replacement learn more about “Robotic Joint Replacement”.

Better Patient Outcomes

When compared to traditional knee replacement surgery, robotic-arm assisted knee replacement allows the patients to recover faster with minimum risk of post-surgical complications. The rehabilitation time for patients recovering post-surgically is also quite less compared with a traditional knee replacement. The use of robotics helps in better planning and effective removal of the parts of diseased bones and cartilages. This will help in improving the recovery time of patients. Faster recovery, zero percent post-surgical infections, and no readmissions in the absence of complications can dramatically improve recovery time and lower long-term costs.

Robotic Knee Replacement Vs Traditional

Long-term Costs after Recovery are Lower

If a person recovers faster – he or will feel better and healthy and resume his or her activities, work, and earning money faster. Minimally invasive precise robotic procedures mean no risk of infection and faster recovery.

Quicker recovery means lesser visits to the hospital and lesser long-term costs.

Should I Prefer Robotic Joint replacement?

When expert orthopedic surgeon talks about Robotic Joint Replacement Surgery to their patients, they feel a bit hesitant. They wonder whether they should opt for it. They are a bit skeptical about the new surgical techniques and processes involved. But the truth is quite different as the success rate of robotic joint replacement surgery is around 99.99 percent with many benefits for the patients.

Learn more about the “BENEFITS OF ROBOTIC ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY”

DO YOU KNOW?

Robotics is revolutionizing orthopedics.

The precision and success are astonishing (99.99%)

Orthopedic surgeons are able to perform even complicated knee and hip replacements quite diligently

For accurate, perfectly aligned, and precise “robotic knee replacement in Hyderabad”

Sunshine hospitals’ robotic department is the best…

Meet Dr. Prasharma Mulpur – the gold medallist orthopedic surgeon in Hyderabad – who is also an experienced and expert MAKO certified robotic joint replacement surgeon”

Your neck is made up of vertebrae. Muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues support the neck and allow for motion. Many people get neck pain due to muscle strain, poor posture, overuse, or sleeping in an awkward position. Contact sports injuries, whiplash, and falls can also cause neck pain. In general, neck pain is a common complaint – whatever may be the cause.

Neck Pain Causes

Osteoarthritis – The cartilage between the bones (vertebrae) of the spine deteriorates. This mostly happens with age. As you age your cartilage and bones tend to become weak and are subject to everyday wear and tear. Osteoarthritis is one such factor that causes the destruction of the cushions (cartilage) between your vertebrae. This may partly happen with your age, lifestyle, and overuse.

Nerve Compression

Spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord can get compressed due to the formation of bone spurs or herniated disks. This can happen in the neck region and cause neck pain.

Strained Muscles

Neck muscles may become stiff and undergo tremendous pressure if you use them excessively. Excess hours spend on smartphones and computer desks often trigger muscle strains. Abnormal posture without any consideration to work desk ergonomics can also strain your neck muscles causing severe neck pain.

Neck Pain Causes – Collision and Injuries

An injury to the neck (the cervical vertebrae) resulting from rapid acceleration or deceleration (as in an automobile accident) can cause severe neck pain. When a rear-end collision occurs in an automobile in which you are sitting, your head is jerked backward and then forward. This type of impact strains the soft muscles of the neck causing severe neck pain.

How to Prevent Neck Pain?

If you have nagging neck pain, then ensure that your posture is proper while you carry out any task related to the neck – for instance, reading, writing, or doing work on your desk. Proper ergonomics play an important role in preventing neck pain.

In a majority of the cases, neck pain is associated with undue straining of neck muscles with improper posture and age-related wear and tear. Remember this general rule of thumb to prevent your neck pain:

Always keep your head centered over your spine.

Avoid Tucking the Phone

Don’t use your phone if you cannot hold it with your hands – for instance, while you are driving. If you get frequent calls, then use a speaker phone or headset or hand-free modes – whichever is feasible.

Avoid hunching over your work desk while using a computer screen and keyboard for work. Set proper work-desk ergonomics.

Avoid Carrying Heavy Loads

Don’t carry a heavy load on your back with bands getting the support from your shoulder. This will strain your neck muscles and cause neck pain.

If you carry heavy bags with shoulder straps then avoid using them.

Ensure proper sleeping position if you are prone to neck pain. While sleeping on the side ensure that a pillow is there under your neck with proper head and neck alignment.

Body ergonomics

Ensure that you always maintain proper posture – while sitting on the computer desk, while sitting anywhere, and standing.

Computer Desk Adjustments

Make adjustments to your computer desk, computer, and chair – Use a chair with an armrest, Adjust the computer monitor to eye level; Use the armrest of the chair to adjust your spine position. Keep your knees position slightly lower than your hips.

Bottom Line

Neck Pain Causes: Most neck pain improves gradually with home treatment. If not, see your doctor.

Less severe – Mild to moderate neck pain can improve on its own with proper home care and doctor’s treatment. However, if neck pain doesn’t improve with home care measures, then seek specialist medical care. In rare cases, neck pain can also be due to a very serious health issue – especially if it is associated with other health issues. Contact your Orthopedic doctor immediately if you start experiencing neck pain after a motor vehicle accident, injury or fall.

Contact your orthopedic doctor if your neck pain is severe. If your neck pain doesn’t improve even after several days and it is accompanied by numbness, headache, tingling sensation, and weakness in the arms and spreads down to the legs, consult your orthopedic doctor immediately.

Hip pain causes: The Hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint. It is your body’s largest joint, and therefore, subjected to a huge amount of wear and tear. It withstands repeated and regular movements.

Hip Pain Symptoms

Hip Pain: It is often felt in and around the hip joint. The pain is not confined to the hip itself as it radiates to the groin and is also felt in the thigh. Hip pain is a common complaint.

Knowing the exact location of the pain is important because hip pain is caused by a wide range of health issues. The type of hip pain, location, and severity give valuable information about the underlying cause.

In general, your hip pain can be due to problems with the ligaments, muscles, tendons, bones, and soft tissues that surround your hip joint. You feel hip pain on the inside or outside of your hip on the outer buttock or upper thigh.

Problems with your hip joint cause pain in the groin, down the front of the legs, and in the knees

Radiated or Referred Hip Pain: In some cases, knee pain is the only prominent sign of hip problems. This type of pain is known as radiated or referred hip pain. This is a very common type of hip pain. Sometimes, the pain you feel in your buttocks and outside of your hip can be caused by problems in your lower back.

Any condition disease or disorder in other parts of the body can cause hip pain. For instance, lower back pain can cause hip pain (referred pain). This is seen in sciatica.

Hip Pain Causes

Cushion-like cartilage acts like a shock absorber and prevents friction when you move your hip bones in the socket. In general, with aging and use or excessive use, the cartilage between the hip bones wears down and gets damaged. The soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles can get overused. A hip injury and falls can break a hip bone. If you have any of these conditions, you may experience hip pain.

Short-term and long-term Hip Pain

Hip pain causes: Overuse or exertion can cause short-term hip pain due to strained or inflamed soft tissues – tendons, ligaments, and muscles. However, long-term hip pain is caused by specific health conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and so on.

Hip Pain Causes

• Osteoarthritis
• Sciatica (pinched nerve condition)
• Sacroiliitis (pinched nerve)
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (juvenile idiopathic arthritis)
• Rheumatoid arthritis and septic arthritis
• Tendinitis, Sprains
• Hip fracture, Bursitis and hip labral tear
• Osteoporosis
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Avascular necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
• Synovitis

Diagnosis of Hip Pain

For the diagnosis of hip pain and to accurately determine the cause of your hip pain, your orthopedic doctor will order a few blood tests and imaging tests such as X-rays. To know finer details and views of the internal structure of your hip joint, your doctor may also recommend ultrasound or CT scans.

Hip Pain Treatment – How to get relief from Hip Pain?

Over-the-counter medications offer help in relieving hip pain caused by tendinitis or osteoarthritis.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, then prescription medicines including anti-inflammatory medicines and corticosteroids can help.

Taking rest and warm water bath and application of cold and warm compressors can also help in relieving pain.

Low-impact exercises and stretching can improve mobility. Physical therapy can also improve a wide range of motions.

Hip fractures need surgery to fix. In other cases, wherein hip pain doesn’t improve after a week’s time or lasts longer than a week, then you must see your Orthopedic doctor, and they will come out with a pain management plan to treat your condition.

When is hip replacement surgery recommended?

In some cases, osteoarthritis becomes very severe. When the hip joint becomes completely deformed due to osteoarthritis, hip replacement may be recommended.

When should you see an Orthopedic Doctor for hip pain?

When you have severe hip pain with swelling, redness, or warmth around the hip joint, you should take medical help. If you experience sudden hip pain or joint pain after a fall or injury or if your joint looks deformed, then you must see an Orthopedic doctor immediately.

If you hear a popping sound in your joint or you cannot move your hip joint or put weight on your joint or if your hip pain becomes severe, fix an appointment with Dr. Praharsha Mulpur.