Your recovery is an essential part of achieving the best possible outcome from surgery. The information below outlines what to expect in the early stages of healing and when to seek medical advice.
Key Recovery Instructions
- Keep the surgical dressing clean and dry
- Use ice regularly to reduce swelling
- Elevate the leg when resting
- Take pain medications as prescribed
- Begin physiotherapy exercises early
Wound Care
- Keep the dressing clean and dry
- Leave the dressing in place unless advised otherwise
- Showering is usually permitted as Dr Pai uses waterproof dressings. If you prefer additional protection, purpose-designed waterproof limb covers are available from pharmacies and medical suppliers
- Avoid creams or lotions near the incision
Pain Management
You will be offered pain medication straight after your operation. Good pain control makes it easier to cough, move, walk and become steadily more active, and those activities are what drive your recovery.
- Take prescribed pain medication as directed
- Ice the knee regularly
- Discomfort is normal in the early recovery phase
Swelling and Ice
Swelling is a normal part of healing after knee surgery. Applying ice regularly helps reduce inflammation, ease discomfort and improve mobility. An ice brace (such as RE3) or a continuous cold-therapy system like Game Ready can make icing more comfortable and convenient in the early stages of recovery.
- Apply ice for 20 minutes at a time unless instructed otherwise
- Elevate the leg when resting
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy plays a key role in recovery after knee surgery, helping restore movement, rebuild strength and guide a safe return to normal activities.
- Follow the exercise program provided in accordance with Dr Pai’s instruction
- Early movement helps prevent stiffness
Warning Signs Requiring Review
Please contact our rooms on (03) 8657 0595 promptly if you develop:
- Increasing redness, warmth or swelling around the wound
- A temperature above 38°C lasting more than 12 hours
- Persistent wound discharge
- New calf pain associated with swelling
- Loss of mobility following a fall
- Rapid worsening of stiffness or inability to bend the knee
If you are concerned about your wound, take a photo and send it to our rooms before seeing anyone else, so Dr Pai can review it first.
Chest pain or shortness of breath needs urgent assessment in the closest emergency department, not our rooms.
Outside clinic hours, contact the ward where you were admitted and ask for the charge nurse. If someone is unrousable or breathing very slowly, call 000.
Early assessment allows timely management of complications.
Follow-Up
Your first review appointment is typically scheduled two weeks after surgery. At this visit, Dr Pai will assess wound healing, review progress and discuss rehabilitation.
If you have concerns about your recovery, please contact our rooms.