If you’re at the point where you are considering hip, shoulder or knee replacement surgery, there’s a pretty good chance that you are experiencing some daily pain or discomfort. Joint replacement surgery can significantly improve function and decrease or even eliminate joint pain, but this process won’t happen overnight. You’ll be uncomfortable at times during your months-long recovery, and it’s important that you don’t let this discomfort get in the way of your rehab goals. With that in mind, we want to use today’s blog to spotlight five ways you can work to effectively manage pain during your recovery from joint replacement surgery.
Pain Management Tips After Joint Replacement
Although the surgical process itself will not be painful as a result of the anesthesia that will be used, you’ll begin to notice some discomfort as the medication wears off and you wake up from surgery. Pain is typically worse in the first few days after surgery, but if you know how to manage it, you’ll be able to keep your recovery program on track. Here’s what we recommend when it comes to pain management after joint replacement surgery.
- Come In With Appropriate Expectations– The intro to this blog helps to set the stage for what we try to convey to clients. There will be pain and discomfort after surgery, but things will slowly start to get better. If you assume your joints are going to feel 30 years younger as soon as you hop off the operating table, you’re in for a surprise. Having mismatched expectations for post-op discomfort and what is needed from you during your rehab can get your recovery off to a rocky start. Expect some discomfort and prepare to confront it head on, and we’re confident it won’t be overwhelming.
- Talk With Your Doctor About Pain Medication Schedule– There’s a good chance that you’ll be given some type of prescription medication to help with pain management in the first week or two after your procedure. Make sure you understand exactly how to take these medications so that they can be the most effective. Perhaps you’ll be told to take them at regular intervals, or maybe you’ll want to take them at the first sign that discomfort is increasing. Knowing how to take your medications, and having a plan for tampering off of them as you progress through your recovery, can help to keep post-op pain at bay when it’s at its worst.
- Harness Ice And Heat– Ice packs and heat pads can also be immensely helpful at managing discomfort during the early stages of your recovery. Cold packs are great for limiting swelling and inflammation that can cause discomfort in the immediate aftermath of the physical trauma of surgery, and later during your rehab you may find that heating pads prove more beneficial as they open up blood vessels and make it easier for heathy blood to aid in the tissue healing process. Effective use of ice and heat can keep discomfort at a minimum during the early stages of your rehab.
- Early PT– Although you’ll get individualized advice from your treating surgeon, there’s a good chance that they’ll want you up and moving or performing physical therapy either the same day or the day after your operation. Beginning a physical therapy routine shortly after your procedure will be uncomfortable, but this short-term discomfort is worth it for the long-term pain relief it will provide. Early PT helps to reestablish comfortable range of motion, improve flexibility and develop strength in the joint and the supportive structures, all of which will help increase the joint’s overall function. Early PT can help you recover sooner and to a fuller extent with less pain.
- Stay Active– When you’re recovering at home and long after your rehab plan has ended, make it a point to remain active in your daily pursuits. Regular exercise and activity can keep your artificial joint strong and flexible, whereas living a sedentary life can cause the joint to weaken and become stiff, which can lead to painful movement. Although your rehab program will eventually end, you can keep joint discomfort at bay by striving to remain active long after your surgery is complete.
Don’t fear discomfort after your joint replacement procedure, embrace it. Know that if you follow your physical therapy directions and commit to an active lifestyle that your discomfort levels should only continue to fade until you’ve reached maximum recovery. If you’re considering joint replacement surgery, or you have questions about overcoming a different physical ailment, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.