Going home after knee surgery: wound care, swelling, pain and warning signs

The first two days

Expect to feel tired, sore and a little unsteady at first. The anaesthetic, a nerve block wearing off and the effort of moving on crutches all take energy. Have an adult with you for at least the first night, keep your phone, water and medicines within reach, and plan short walks around the house every hour or two while you are awake.

Follow the instructions you were given about weight bearing and any brace. Some operations allow full weight straight away; others, such as some meniscus repairs or cartilage procedures, need partial weight for several weeks. If you are unsure which applies to you, ask before you guess.

Caring for the wound

Leave the dressing in place for the time you were told, and keep it clean and dry. Many modern dressings are showerproof, but avoid soaking the knee in a bath, pool or the sea until the wound has fully healed and your surgeon agrees.

A little blood-stained fluid on the dressing in the first day or two is common. If it soaks through, reinforce it with a clean pad and contact the team. Stitches or clips are usually removed, or dissolving stitches checked, at about ten to fourteen days. Do not apply creams, powders or traditional remedies to the wound, and in hot weather keep the leg cool so the dressing does not stay damp with sweat.

Managing swelling

Swelling after knee surgery is normal and can last weeks, or months after larger operations. It is often worse in the evening and after you have been on your feet.

• Elevate the leg above the level of your heart, supporting the whole leg rather than placing a pillow only under the knee.
• Use ice or a cold therapy wrap for around 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, with a cloth between the ice and your skin.
• Pump your ankles up and down regularly to help circulation.
• Do the gentle exercises you were taught, little and often.
• Wear compression stockings if they were recommended.

Pain relief

Pain is usually worst in the first few days and eases steadily. It is easier to keep pain under control than to catch up with it, so take your regular painkillers on schedule at first, rather than waiting until the pain is severe, and take a dose before exercises or physiotherapy if advised.

Use only the medicines prescribed or approved for you, and follow the dose on the label. Some stronger painkillers cause constipation, drowsiness or nausea, so drink plenty of water, eat fibre and do not drive while taking them. If you are taking a blood thinner to prevent clots, complete the full course you were given.

Moving safely at home

Falls are a real risk in the early weeks. Use your crutches or frame as shown, take stairs one step at a time, leading up with the good leg and down with the operated leg, and sit to wash if standing feels unsteady.

Many patients pray seated on a chair for a while, since kneeling, sujood and floor sitting are usually avoided early on. Questions about the religious ruling can be discussed with a scholar. Do not drive until you can control the car safely and your surgeon has agreed; this depends on the operation, which leg it is and whether the car is automatic. Check your insurance terms before driving again.

Warning signs and who to call

Contact the team promptly on +974 4400 4400, by phone or WhatsApp, if you notice any of the following. If you cannot reach the team quickly, especially out of hours, go to the nearest emergency department:

• A temperature above 38°C, chills or feeling generally unwell.
• Increasing redness, heat or pain around the wound, or discharge, especially if it is cloudy or smells.
• Pain, tenderness or swelling in the calf, or swelling of the whole leg.
• Pain that is getting worse rather than better, despite your medicines.
• Numbness, coldness or colour change in the foot once any nerve block has worn off.

Call 999 straight away for chest pain, sudden breathlessness, coughing blood or fainting, as these can be signs of a clot in the lungs. For non-urgent questions, you can also email qatar@drgelber.com.