Have you decided to move forward with having knee replacement surgery? While you may be prepared for what the surgery entails, the recovery process is just as important. Here are tips for a speedy recovery so that you can regain function and strength in your knee.

Follow All Your Doctor's Orders 

Everyone's knee surgery is different, which is why it's important to follow all your doctor's orders for what to do. While there are some good tips that apply to all knee replacements, your doctor will have the best tips for recovery based on your specific needs. For example, your surgery may have had complications and require special care that you won't easily find advice on elsewhere.

Manage The Swelling And Pain

It's common to experience swelling and pain after your knee replacement surgery, which is why it is important to know how to deal with it. It's important to apply ice packs to your knee, making sure to follow instructions from your doctor on how long to leave the ice pack on and how long to rest before reapplying it. You can also use over-the-counter medications to help reduce the pain. Your doctor may prescribe you a stronger pain relief medication if you need it, so don't be afraid to ask if your recovery is rough. 

Attend Physical Therapy

You may be tempted to just rest and avoid putting any stress on your knee, but it's important to participate in physical therapy as recommended by your doctor. The exercises you learn will help your knee become stronger and properly heal. You can also get guidance on exercises that you can do at home, which will help speed up your recovery.

Eat Healthy

Being immobile after knee replacement surgery can make it difficult to stay healthy with what you eat. Keep in mind that you're moving a lot less, so stay away from junk food when you can. Make sure your diet is filled with plenty of lean protein, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Your body is going to need all the nutrients it can get to help rebuild tissue in your knee.

In addition, maintaining a healthy weight is going to help reduce the amount of stress on your replacement knee. You can't out-train a bad diet, so eating healthy will be the best way to reduce your weight and make it easier on both of your knees.