Learning About Your Health

Total Knee Replacement: Caring for Yourself at Home

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Your Checklist for Going Home

This information will help you manage your care at home. Review this checklist carefully before you go home. If you have any additional questions, please ask your doctor, nurse, or therapist.

  • Plan your transportation home.
  • Schedule the date for your next doctor's appointment.
  • Get your medication(s).
  • Know what medication to take, its purpose, and possible side effects.
  • Understand the danger signals related to your operation. Call your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms before your next appointment.
  • Know your activity limitations.
  • Know how to change your dressing (if you have one).

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Arranging Transportation Home

  • You should be able to go home safely in a family member or friend's car.
  • An RN Case Manager will help you make arrangements if you need a ride home or help getting up the stairs. Most insurance plans will not pay for transportation home.

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Making a Follow-up Appointment After Your Surgery

Your surgeon will see you in the office about 6 weeks after your surgery. Call the surgeon’s office to make an appointment.

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Understanding Your Medications

  • Your doctor will usually order a pain medication when you go home.
  • If you are told to take the pill(s) as needed for pain, try to take them before doing exercises and before your therapy appointments. If the pain medication does not control your pain, please let your doctor know.
  • Constipation is a common side effect. A stool softener, increasing the fiber in your diet, fluids, and activity can all help.
  • Some medications may be expensive and insurance coverage varies. Let your doctor know if you have difficulty filling your prescriptions. There may be alternative medications that are less expensive.

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Recognizing Danger Signals

Call your doctor before your next appointment
if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Pain in your knee that is getting worse
  • Pain or swelling in your calf or leg
  • Redness, heat, or drainage at the surgery site
  • Fever over 101°F

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Planning Your Activity

  • Do not sit for long periods because it may cause swelling of your ankles and feet.
  • Do not lie in bed with a pillow under your knee. This will interfere with regaining full knee mobility.
  • Follow your home exercise program given to you by the hospital physical therapist.
  • Everyone recovers differently. Please check with your surgeon about when to return to work and to start driving.

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Caring for Your Surgical Incision

  • Keep your incision clean and dry until all the staples or stitches are removed.
  • The staples or stitches will be taken out about 10-14 days after your surgery. Your doctor, a nurse or therapist will remove the staples or stitches.
  • Do not apply cream or ointment to the staples or stitches unless instructed to do so by your surgeon.

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Tips on Bathing

  • You may shower once your incision completely stops draining.
  • Do not take tub baths.

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About Your Diet

  • A balanced diet is important for your general health and healing.
  • After knee replacement surgery you should resume your regular diet.
  • Be sure to ask your nurse if you would like information about what foods you can eat to prevent constipation.

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Home Health Care Services

An RN Case Manager will meet with you if you need home therapy, equipment, or extra help at home. The RN Case Manager will help you find out what services your insurance plan pays for and, if needed, will help arrange them.

Visiting Nurse, Physical and/or Occupational Therapy: You may be scheduled to have home health care services. The agency will call you to set up a time to come for the first visit. Staff will visit you on a short-term basis. The focus of home health care is to help you adjust at home to the physical changes following surgery.

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Scheduling Your Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapy

  • Your surgeon may give you a prescription for outpatient therapy before going home from the hospital. It is up to you to call the outpatient therapy program to make an appointment.
  • California Pacific Medical Center has outpatient therapy services. The telephone number for outpatient therapy at the Pacific Campus is (415) 600-3395. The telephone number for Davies Campus outpatient therapy is (415) 600-6120.
  • Ask your doctor, case manager, or in-patient therapist for outpatient therapy services in your area.

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Evaluating Your Equipment Needs at Home

Walking Aides

  • You will be given a walker or crutches for use at home before you leave the hospital.
  • You can begin using a cane when instructed by your physical therapist.
Bathroom Equipment
  • You may be given a commode before you go home. In some cases, an item will be delivered to your home before you leave the hospital.
  • You may purchase a bath or shower bench. Insurance, including Medicare, does not cover the cost of the bath bench. Your hospital or home therapist can help you decide which style bench would be best for you.
Adaptive Equipment
  • An occupational therapist will evaluate your need for adaptive equipment.
  • Special adaptive equipment will be ordered for you before you leave the hospital. Insurance plans, including Medicare, do not cover the cost of most adaptive equipment.


Developed by the Center for Patient and Community Education in association with the Department of Outcomes Management at California Pacific Medical Center. Last updated: 6/04.

© 2002 - 2008 California Pacific Medical Center.

Funded by: A generous donation from the Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Ciocca Foundation.

Note: This information is not meant to replace any information or personal medical advice which you get directly from your doctor(s). If you have any questions about this information, such as the risks or benefits of the treatment listed, please ask your doctor(s).

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