This sensation of changed sleeping pattern persists for about six weeks after Total Knee Replacement. It is better to be active during the day staying awake with distractions like playing with grandkids, watching television, and light activity. The cause of this could be pain medications and recovery from anesthesia. Talk to your doctor about it, and you might need a mild sedative during your night. It is also comfortable to sleep with a pillow between one’s legs during nights.

Metallic clicks are standard after total knee because the plastic component of the knee cap against the metallic component of the femur (thigh bone) can cause clunky noises. The parts are firmly fixed, and you should not worry about minor noises unless it causes severe pain and difficulty to walk. This noise is more noticed when patients are climbing stairs.

It is honestly a difficult question to answer for the physical therapist as well as the surgeon because the primary determinant of discarding walking aid is- the patients themselves. If recovery has been excellent, with no medical co-morbidities, some transition directly to cane at the time of discharge and discard walking aids by suture removal. It is essential to know one’s strength and gradually reject aids if they are confident. The thumb rule is to wean out of walker by two weeks and avoid using cane by six weeks.

Swelling after joint replacement is a very commonly noticed complaint. It is due to the disruption of lymphatic drainage as well as the lack of calf pump action. Patients will see swelling 2-3 months after surgery, and it is more towards the end of the day. Elevation of legs on pillows at night, performing regular calf pumps at night are all helpful in decreasing the swelling.

One should avoid driving a car for six weeks after total knee arthroplasty. The problems are of reflexes and the ability to shift feet from the accelerator to Brake. Studies have shown that people regain those reflexes by six weeks. One should also be careful when either sitting or driving a two-wheeler after two months after Knee replacement.

Immediately following total knee replacement, your surgeon will opt to give antibiotics for a couple of days. After that, Antibiotics need to be taken only when undergoing an invasive procedure like tooth extraction or cavity filling. There is a small controversy regarding this antibiotic usage, but most Orthopedic surgeons recommend Antibiotics before dental work to be taken 1 hour before the invasive procedure. We use Amoxicillin 1gm orally 1 hour before the procedure.

Generally, it is advisable to wait 2-3 weeks before resumption of sexual activity as pressure on the knee joint can be painful until the tissue heals. There is no specific time limit as there is no risk of prosthetic dislocation as can happen in the hip replacement.

The need for repeat surgery after a TKA is 1% every year, which means that at 15 years there is an 85% chance of survivorship.

It is a point of considerable debate even in the orthopedic community. There are no defined guidelines for blood thinners for Indian patients. Please talk to your surgeon about the duration and type of blood thinners that are needed. The medication might range from Low molecular weight heparin, warfarin, rivaroxaban, or aspirin. Each drug has its advantage and disadvantage, and please ensure you have had explicit instruction from your doctor regarding the same.

Range of motion is one aspect of outcome after total knee replacement. Most people require 70 degrees of flexion to walk normally on level ground, 90-100 degrees to climb and get downstairs and about 105 degrees to get out of a low chair. Squatting in an Indian style toilet is generally not recommended after a total knee replacement. Sitting cross-legged on the floor for a short duration for rituals and customs will not affect the structural integrity of the replaced knee.