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Contacting Your Physician's Staff:

For your convenience, you may contact your Physician's staff by email. For patient privacy staff can not contact you back by email. Please included your phone number and our staff will call you back with in 24 hours.
If your physician's staff email is not listed above, please contact staff by phone - 256.881.5151. Thank you.
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Patient Education

Knee Replacement

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Knee replacement surgery is an option for patients with severe arthritis that have tried other options, such as prescription anti-inflammatories and physical therapy, but the pain persists and interferes with normal daily activity.  A knee replacement removes the worn portions of the knee and replaces them with a plastic and metal implant.  There are two types of knee replacements, a partial knee replacement and a full knee replacement.  Your physician will discuss which type of replacement best suites your needs.  A short hospital stay is required for knee replacement surgery followed by physical therapy to help regain strength and motion in the knee.  A successful outcome is highly dependent on the patient’s dedication to physical therapy and how well they follow their orthopaedic surgeon’s instructions following the first few weeks after surgery.  Recovery from a knee replacement will take some time.  A patient is usually in physical therapy from 8-12 weeks.  Below are a few tips patients can use to help prepare their home following their discharge from the hospital:

  • If you live alone, plan for someone to stay with you for the first few days.
  • Prepare your rooms by placing items at arms’ length on the counters to avoid straining or bending.
  • Remove rugs and secure power cords which could cause you to slip.
  • Consider setting up an area where you will spend most of your recovery.  Have everything you will need (medications, tv remote, lamp, pillow, etc.) close by and within arms’ reach.


Also see:
Cartilage Repair and Transplantation