Severe knee pain can have a significant impact on your life, making even simple tasks difficult. If you have tried non-surgical treatments but are still experiencing pain, total knee replacement surgery might be a good option for you. Knowing what to expect before and after knee replacement surgery can help you heal faster and return you to a pain-free life.

Before recommending knee replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will perform a physical examination and tests to determine whether you are a good candidate for surgery. During the exam, your doctor will evaluate your knee's range of motion and strength and how it aligns with your leg. Additional tests include X-rays to get a picture of the damage to the knee and, in some cases, an MRI to get a better view of the bone and soft tissues of the knee. You will also likely have blood tests to ensure you are in overall good health before having surgery.

If you have a chronic health condition, such as heart disease, you may need additional evaluations to let doctors know whether you are healthy enough to go through surgery and recovery. Your doctor will also determine if your legs are strong enough to support your new knee and go through physical therapy.

After you make the decision to have surgery, you can do a few things in advance to help ease recovery. During the weeks leading up to surgery, follow your doctor's instructions on what medications you can or can't take. You might also want to see a physical therapist, who can give you exercises to do before surgery to strengthen your muscles and help you practice using a cane, walker or crutches correctly. It's also important to prepare your home:

• If possible, set up your bed on the first floor, and make sure your bed is low enough so that your feet touch the ground when you sit on the edge.
• Put items you use frequently, as well as canned or packaged food, in easy-to-reach places so you don't have to bend down low or get on your tiptoes to reach them. 
• Make meals ahead of time to store in the freezer or buy frozen single-serve meals.
• Keep a chair with a firm back in rooms you use frequently. This will give you a sturdy place to rest when you need to.
• Outfit your bathroom with items that can prevent falls, such as safety bars in the shower, a shower chair, a sponge with a long handle, and a nonskid rug. 
• Remove tripping hazards, such as loose throw rugs or cords on the floor. 
• Purchase other items that can help you as you recover, such as a reacher to access items on high or low shelves, and a shoehorn with a long handle.
• Make sure you have plenty of essentials, such as toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, and canned goods, on hand.

If you don't have anyone to help take care of you when you return home, ask your doctor about having a professional caregiver service come to your home. This person can help you bathe, cook, run errands, and do other daily activities in the days after surgery.

Many patients may recover well enough after surgery to go home the same day. Others may require an overnight stay.  Pain is normal after surgery, and your doctor might prescribe pain medication to help relieve discomfort. Your doctor might also take measures to prevent blood clots, such as prescribing blood thinners or giving you support hose.

You will likely begin exercising your knee within hours after surgery. A physical therapist will work with you on strengthening exercises that will help restore mobility in your knee.

Once you return home, it's essential to follow your doctor's instructions. Take care of your surgical site, eat well, and follow your exercise plan. Within three to six weeks following surgery, you should be able to do most normal daily activities. However, full recovery can take up to a year.

Notify your doctor right away if you notice any signs of infection, including fever, chills, swelling, or drainage from the wound. To determine if an infection is present, your doctor might order X-rays as well as do blood tests and a knee joint aspiration to analyze fluid for infection. The sooner an infection is treated, the less chance it will spread into the joint itself. You may need only antibiotics if the infection is detected early enough.

By taking good care of yourself after surgery, your new knee can last many years. More than 90% of knee replacements are still functioning well after 15 years.