Recovery Timeline After Unicompartmental Knee Replacement: What to Expect

In case you are going to have a Unicompartmental Knee Replacement (UKR) surgery, you might would want to know how much time it is going to take you for getting better. This is a kind of surgery which only replaces one part of the knee- allowing the recovery to be quicker and effective than a full knee replacement. Now, let’s have a look at what you can expect during the recovery and how much time it takes for you to get back at the normal life.

What is Unicompartmental Knee Replacement?

If we are talking about UKR Surgery, it is a replacement which takes place when the doctor replaces one part of your knee instead of the whole knee. This is usually for people who have pain in just one part of the knee, (maybe from arthritis). One good thing about UKR is that it is faster, effective and less painful than a full knee replacement.

Key Phases of Recovery After UKR Surgery

Want to know what will happen after your surgery and how much time every phase will take? Here’s a quick overview:

Phase 1: Right After Surgery (First Few Days)

• Rest and Relax: After surgery, you'll need to rest and not put weight on your knee. You might need crutches or a walker to help you move around.

• Pain Relief: Some pain is normal after surgery, but your doctor will give you medicine to help.

• Ice and Elevation: To reduce swelling, keep your knee up and use ice. This will help your knee heal faster.

Phase 2: Getting Moving (Week 1 to 2)

• Gentle Exercises: You’ll start doing some easy exercises to help your knee move better. These exercises are important to keep your knee strong.

• Swelling and Bruising: It’s normal for your knee to be swollen and bruised. This will go down over time.

• Walking: You can start walking with help from crutches or a walker. Slowly, you will be able to put more weight on your knee.

Phase 3: Getting Stronger (Week 3 to 6)

• More Exercises: Your exercises will get a bit harder as your knee gets stronger. Your physical therapist will help you with these.

• Walking Without Help: By now, you might be able to walk without crutches or a walker. You’ll be walking more and more each day.

• Meniscus Repair Surgeon: If you have any other knee problems, like damage to your meniscus (the cushion in your knee), a Meniscus Repair Surgeon can help fix that. This will make your knee even stronger.

Phase 4: Full Recovery (3 Months to 1 Year)

• Back to Normal: After 3 to 6 months, many people can go back to regular activities, like walking and climbing stairs. It may take up to a year for some people to feel 100% better.

• Sports and Heavy Exercise: If you want to do high-impact sports, like running, it may take a little longer to get back to that. Your knee needs to be fully healed before doing these activities.

Preparing for Recovery After UKR Surgery

While it can take some time for recovering from Unicompartmental Knee Replacement, most of the people are likely to feel better than they did with a full knee replacement. The key aspects are to follow your doctor’s advice, do your exercise and be patient- and soon, you will be on your feet- walking again comfortably and doing your daily rituals!

If you have any questions or want to know more, book a consultation with Dr. Chinmay Gupte. He can help you understand your recovery and give you the best advice for your knee surgery. Take it easy, stay positive, and soon, you’ll be back to enjoying your normal activities!