How Long Does it Take to Return to Work after Knee Replacement Surgery?

Good knees have been proved to be an essential part of an active and healthy lifestyle and it no more remains a secret. But, when arthritis occurs, especially osteoarthritis, your ability to flex your knees and to bend can become restricted due to pain, damage and inflammation. As time passes, the damage progress and life seem to be difficult and painful.

Knee replacement surgery is a surgical method to replace a knee joint to relieve from disability and pain. It is also called as knee arthroplasty. It is mainly performed for osteoarthritis, and also for other knee problems like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Patients having a severe deformity in their knee joints from advanced rheumatoid arthritis, long-standing osteoarthritis or trauma, the surgery seems to be more complicated and carry higher risk.

This surgery can be done as a partial or a total knee replacement procedure. Usually, in this surgery, the damaged joint surface of the knee is replaced with plastic and metal shaped components to allow continual motion of the knee.

Knee Replacement Surgery Success Rates

According to American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, their study reveals that 90 percent of the patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery have experienced less pain. Most of them are able to perform their day to day routine activities with ease and stay active all day long. Often, it was seen that the patients could resume their activities like walking and playing golf which they had given up years ago when they had arthritic pain.

Well, the knee replacements actually lasts over a decade. Currently, knee replacement surgical method is being used more for younger people having osteoarthritis (OA) and other degenerative conditions of the knee. It is observed that even after 20 years 85 percent of artificial knees still work. The reason that this procedure is so popular is because of its endurance.

People between the age ranges of 50 to 80 have undergone knee replacement surgery. And the average age comes about to be 70. Among these, 60 percent are women. The procedure is highly successful and is considered relatively effective and safe.

Time Required to Return to Work after Knee Replacement Surgery

Many patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery are curious to know about when they can resume their normal activities and can return to work. A desire for a speedy recovery is common among patients; less appreciated and understood is the value of recovery time itself. Provided, a patient’s fast recovery is uncomplicated, people can get back to their office within six weeks.

Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery

A least of 3 to 6 months is required for recovery from knee replacement surgery. But for a full knee replacement surgery recovery, it takes around 8 to 10 months. The degree of movement of rehabilitation depends on your body weight, your ability to manage pain and the strength of your body before surgery. Other variables include factors like age of the patient and the type of surgery performed.

The ability to return back to your work completely depends on your job requirements. People dealing with physical kind of jobs are often out of work for 3 to 6 months. Patients who hold administrative positions and desk jobs return to work within 6 weeks. Going back to work too soon makes it difficult for long-term recovery. Your pain needs to be managed so that you can get around independently. Under these criteria, within a month or two most patients are able to return to their work.

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