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Hospital Stay Your Hospital Room Reva's corner:
Some knee patients go home the day of surgery or the 2nd day. It varies with the patient's prior condition. Your nurses will provide skin care during every shift, removing your support stockings only at bath and bedtime. Be sure to tell your nurse if you have any numbness, tingling or pain in any of your lower extremities. Usually a physical therapist will visit you to prep you for your first therapy session, answer any questions you may have and review some basic exercises with you. The exercises, which you may find difficult at first, are designed to build leg strength and facilitate your recovery. You'll also be taught how to walk, sit, stand and lie down without injuring your new prosthetic knee. A physical therapy technician will also fit you with a Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine. This device automatically slowly and steadily bends and straightens your leg to help improve circulation and decrease swelling. The CPM will begin at 30 degrees of knee flexion and be increased 10 degrees each day. You will use this machine periodically during your hospital stay to help accelerate your rehabilitation. If the CPM unit causes excessive discomfort, contact your nurse. You may also use a Sequential Compression Machine (SCM), which helps promote blood flow by circulating air into a plastic sleeve wrapped around your leg. A staff member will normally review your medications with you, as well as teach you how to spot the signs and symptoms of a potential blood clot. A representative may visit to discuss discharge plans. Your nurse will review the previous day's instructions and may discuss proper wound care. 
Your IV fluids may be stopped on the second day following your surgery, and following a visit from your surgeon, your incisional drain (if you have one) and urinary catheter will be removed. You'll be encouraged to use the toilet to keep your bowels and bladder functioning normally. Since it's important to begin using your new knee, you'll get out of bed and begin walking (ambulation) with the help of your physical therapist during a morning and afternoon session. You'll also be encouraged to sit in a chair 3 times during the day. An occupational therapist will visit to teach you how to perform everyday tasks safely and introduce you to some adaptive equipment designed to help make those tasks less strenuous. Your nurse will review the previous day's instructions and may discuss proper wound care. On the third day of your hospital stay, your pain medication pump will be discontinued. Your nurse will change your dressing and teach you on how to care for the incision site at home, cleaning your incision daily with peroxide and covering it with a clean dressing. You'll be able to visit the bathroom with the aid of a walker, but if you haven't yet had a bowel movement, your nursing team will put you on a bowel program until your discharge. You'll also continue your morning and afternoon physical therapy sessions, performing mat exercises and walking 3 times per session. Finally, you'll likely receive your discharge orders and instructions. If you are not discharged to your home, you'll go to a rehab unit, extended care or skilled nursing unit at the hospital, or another care facility. Your nurse will review permitted activities, incision care, medications and follow-up doctor appointments with you before you receive written discharge instructions. Next: Your Healthcare Team 
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