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OrthoRehab - Edina Physical Therapists

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Joint replacement surgery can greatly increase your physical function and overall quality of life, but getting to this point after surgery won’t happen overnight. Your rehab is going to be measured in months, and that’s assuming that you progress as expected. There are a number of challenges and hurdles you’ll encounter during your rehab period, and it’s imperative that you don’t let them detract from your progress. In today’s blog, we spotlight some common challenges to a successful recovery after joint replacement surgery, and we share some tips for managing these obstacles.

Overcoming Challenges During Joint Replacement Surgery Recovery

There are a number of challenges you’ll encounter on your way to a full recovery, and navigating these challenges successfully is imperative for making the strongest and swiftest rehabilitation. Here’s a look at some difficulties you may run into while working to recover after joint replacement surgery.

  1. Pain – Your care team will do everything in their power to help reduce pain and manage discomfort during your recovery period, but know that this won’t be a painless process. If you come in with mismatched expectations about post-op discomfort, it can hinder your ability to pursue the activities that will be most beneficial for your recovery – like early mobilization and physical therapy. Talk with your care team about how you’ll work to control pain during the early stages of your recovery when it tends to be at its highest. Also, consider connecting with a surgeon who can limit tissue damage and overall trauma by performing the operation on a minimally invasive basis.
  2. Physical Therapy– Physical therapy will be the single most important aspect of your recovery in terms of restoring flexibility and function in the area, but we know that weekly PT sessions may not be the most exciting part of your recovery. Sometimes physical therapy can be a grind, and if you don’t give maximum effort or you skip sessions, you’re only stunting your recovery. By connecting with a care team who knows how to keep you engaged during PT and adjust your program so that you stay motivated to keep making progress, you’ll be able to avoid being burned out by a physical therapy program.
  3. Extended Recovery– Some people are a little daunted by the recovery timeline after joint replacement surgery, so they keep putting off an operation. The fact of the matter is that time is going to pass whether you get your joint replaced or not, so you might as well take the first step to an improved quality of life and commit to a stronger future. Recovery may be measured in months, but we promise it will be worth it in the end.
  4. Plateauing Progress– When it comes to physical therapy, we’re like the tortoise in the folk tale; slow and steady wins the race. Each day we want you to pursue some activity that helps you get just a little bit better, and eventually all of that progress will stack up. It’s easy to feel like your progress has plateaued if you don’t give your best effort during physical therapy or you struggle to see the big picture, but that’s where a physical therapist comes in. We are always evaluating your progress and tweaking your program so that you can continue to make functional gains, and we can also explain the progress that we’re seeing from the outside. Your PT can help prevent progress plateaus throughout your program.
  5. Blood Clots– Finally, if you had a hip or knee replaced, one risk that you’ll want to try and account for during your recovery is the potential for blood clots. Blood clots can develop after surgery, especially if the patient remains inactive for an extended period. Don’t be surprised if your orthopedic surgeon and your physical therapy team push for early movement and weight bearing. Not only will this start to develop muscles in the area, but it will also improve circulation and reduce your risk of blood clot formation.

Let the team at OrthoRehab Specialists help you avoid some of these common challenges and ensure you make the strongest recovery possible following joint replacement surgery. For assistance before or after your surgical procedure, reach out to our team today at (612) 339-2041.

Dr. Andy Masis, PT
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