Page 7 - total-knee-packet

Please purchase a bottle of chlorhexidine gluconate (Hibiclens®) at any pharmacy prior

to your surgery. You do not need a prescription for this.

USE THE SOAP WITH THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS:

• You will shower 3 times with the soap: two days before, the night before, and the morning of surgery.
For example:
o If your surgery is on Monday, you will shower with the soap Saturday evening,
Sunday evening, and early Monday morning.
o If your surgery is on Thursday, you will shower with the soap Tuesday evening,
Wednesday evening, and early Thursday morning.

• First, wash your hair with your regular shampoo and conditioner and rinse.
• Use a clean cloth and apply the CHG soap to your body from the jaw down. Do not get
CHG soap in your eyes, ears, nose, or mouth.
• Wash your entire body for 3-5 minutes and pay special attention to the area where
you will have surgery. Do not scrub your skin hard.
• Rinse your body. Do not use any other soap after using the CHG soap.
• Pat your skin dry with a clean towel after each shower.
• Dress in clean clothes with clean bed sheets.
• Do not apply lotions or powder after using CHG soap. It is ok to use deodorant or
antiperspirant.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Physical Therapy (PT) plays a crucial role in helping you maximize the outcome of knee replacement surgery. You will
need this 2-3 times a week for around 4-6 weeks after surgery. This is to help you regain motion in your knee and
help you start to strengthen it. You have around 6 weeks to get your motion back before the scar tissue sets up and
locks your knee into the range of motion that you obtain. Make sure that you and your therapist are checking your
motion and that you are constantly improving your range of motion week after week.

There are various OrthoArizona PT locations across the
valley. However, for ease, Dr. Eccles recommends
going to the therapy location nearest to your home
that has many 5-star Google reviews.

You will be given a paper referral prescription in your
packet that you can take to the location you choose.

We recommend starting therapy 2-4 days after surgery.
• If you have surgery on Monday, you could start
therapy on Wednesday.
• If you have surgery on Thursday, you should start therapy on Monday.

Remember to work on motion on your own every day!

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