Page 27 - total-knee-packet

Why does my thigh hurt so bad after surgery/why is my thigh bruised?
This probably is due to the tourniquet that could have been used during surgery. The pain and/or bruising will resolve on
their own in the coming days.

How long do I have to wear compression stockings?
You may be given compression stockings from the hospital. These can aid with swelling control and blood flow but are
very difficult to take on and off. Dr. Eccles is ok with not using them if you don’t want to. Either way, you will need to
control swelling with sufficient icing and elevating as described.

Do I have any sleeping restrictions?
No, if you don’t lay directly on the incision causing too much pressure early on, there aren’t any true restrictions. You can
bend your leg, extend your leg, or lay on your side or back based on your comfort.

Why is getting a good night’s sleep so difficult?
This is a very common complaint after a joint replacement. The most common reason for sleep disruption is pain. Up to
half of all patients report this issue. You can take pain medication before bed, limit caffeine use, and try adding in
melatonin or Benadryl. Sleeping improves over the weeks of recovery.

What are the implants made from?
The parts have greatly improved over the years. Generally, the femoral component is made from cobalt-chromium (CoCr)
and the tibial component is made from titanium. The plastic insert that is placed in between is made from highly
crosslinked polyethylene.

What holds the implants to the bone?
There are two ways that this can happen and Dr. Eccles will choose the most appropriate way for your specific knee. The
gold standard method is to cement the metal onto the bone ends with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Another
technique is to “pressfit” or use cementless fixation implants which rely and allow for the bone to grow onto them over
time.

What do I do about paperwork I need filled out?
If you need any FMLA paperwork, Short-term disability paperwork, or any other paperwork for your employer, please
make arrangements to get that to us as soon as possible. You can have it either delivered, faxed, or mailed to our office.
This paperwork takes 7-10 days to be processed and failure to get it to us in a timely manner could result in reduction of
benefits from your employer. This is your responsibility. OrthoArizona does charge a processing fee for this.

26