Physical Therapy and Exercises

One of the most important things you can do to help your recovery is to stay active with therapy. These exercises can be painful, but they are very important to you getting the most out of your total joint replacement!

​

Post-Operative Visits

After your surgery, you will be scheduled for a post-op visit at two weeks.  This will be with one of Dr. Waddell's physician assistants. You will then have a 6 and 12 week post-op visit to check your progress.

​

In most cases, there will be no staples or sutures to remove after your surgery.  Dr. Waddell uses dissolvable sutures in most cases that you will never see on the surface of your skin.

​

Restrictions

Restrictions will be based on your individual surgery.

​

Global restrictions will include no smoking after surgery and no alcoholic beverages while taking pain medication. 

​

For total hip replacements, Dr. Waddell will give you a list of positions you should avoid with your hip. This will be based on the approach used for your total hip replacement.

​

After both hip and knee surgery, most patients can return to driving after about 2-3 weeks.  This will be determined at your two-week post-op visit.  No patient should ever drive when taking pain medication.

​

Wound Care and Signs of Infection
Your wound should heal on its own very well. You do not need to place any creams or ointments on the wound. The dressing from surgery usually can stay in place until you come to clinic. You can soak in a tub after four weeks.

​

Signs of infection include a fever, new redness around the wound, discharge, new warmth at the wound.  Please call Dr. Waddell or his on call team if you have any concerns about this. 

​

​