Total Joint Replacement Educational Series Part 13: Swelling and Bruising After Total Knee and Total Hip Replacement
Posted Oct 10 2008 2:12pm
· You may have swelling
and bruising around the knee or hip and down into the lower leg after your
total joint replacement.
· Bruising may last for
up to 6-8 weeks. This is part of
the normal healing process.
· Being on the blood
thinner after surgery can contribute to this bruising too. However, this medication is very
important so please continue to use it as you are directed.
· Swelling of the leg,
and down into the foot, can sometimes last for two or three months.
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THE
SWELLING AND BRUISING:
· Elevate the leg when
you are not doing your exercises or when you are resting.
· For the first two to
three weeks after your surgery, ice your knee or hip for 20 minutes every hour
and also after exercising. This
will help to minimize both the swelling and the bruising. After a total knee replacement, using
your CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) will improve your range of motion, make
your knee feel better and reduce swelling.
· Bruising may last for up to 6-8 weeks. This is part of the normal healing process.
· Being on the blood thinner after surgery can contribute to this bruising too. However, this medication is very important so please continue to use it as you are directed.
· Swelling of the leg, and down into the foot, can sometimes last for two or three months.
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THE
SWELLING AND BRUISING:
· Elevate the leg when you are not doing your exercises or when you are resting.
· For the first two to three weeks after your surgery, ice your knee or hip for 20 minutes every hour and also after exercising. This will help to minimize both the swelling and the bruising. After a total knee replacement, using your CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) will improve your range of motion, make your knee feel better and reduce swelling.