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Improve your quality of life, reduce your pain
If you are living with chronic knee pain that isn’t getting better with physical therapy and medications, you may need a knee replacement. Getting knee replacement surgery can improve your quality of life.
How does knee replacement help?
Your knees take a lot of impact from everyday activities. This stress wears down the shock-absorbing cushion that covers each part of your knee.
Knee replacement repairs the rough and bumpy surfaces of a damaged knee. This restores movement and reduces or eliminates your pain.
Who benefits from knee replacement?
Your care team examines your knee and talks with you about your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend total or partial knee replacement surgery if you:
Have severe knee pain that limits your everyday activities
Have moderate to severe knee pain while resting, day or night
Are no longer as mobile as you want to be
Long-lasting knee inflammation and swelling that doesn’t get better with rest or medications.
Have severe osteoarthritis
Overview of knee replacement
Treatment process
Preparing for knee replacement surgery
The UW Health joint replacement surgeons and orthopedic team have developed a care plan to guide you through your preparation, hospital stay and recovery from surgery.
Your care team and support person
Our goal is to provide you with the care and support needed to get through your joint replacement and back to the things you love to do. A Total Joints Nurse Coordinator is available to ensure a smooth transition from surgery to recovery. We also encourage you to choose a family member or friend who can act as a personal support person or "coach" as you go through the joint replacement process.
TotalCare for surgery patients
Patients who are scheduled for surgery in Madison have access to this free online educational system that provides you and anyone you designate with information before and after surgery. TotalCare includes checklists and reminders to guide you through the joint replacement process, educational materials, informative videos and patient self-reports that provide your orthopedic team with feedback.
What happened during knee replacement surgery?
Before scheduling your surgery, your knee replacement team determines if you need a partial or total knee replacement. If both of your knees need to be replaced, your care team decides if it’s best to repair both knees at the same time or separately.
During surgery, your doctor:
Removes the damaged parts of the knee
Covers the ends of the shin and thigh bones with plastic and metal parts
Covers the underside of the kneecap with a plastic part
Your new knee parts move together smoothly.
What to expect after surgery
You may spend a night in the hospital or go home the same day as your surgery. Afterward, you can expect to spend at least six weeks in recovery. During this time, you will:
Complete daily physical therapy exercises — Your active participation in a rehabilitation program is a major factor in the success of your surgery. You will need to perform exercises to restore movement in the knee joint and strengthen the surrounding muscles.
Return to driving after three weeks
Start to perform your normal daily activities on your own
It may take six months to a year before you fully recover.
Locations
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Patient stories
Hear how knee replacement helped our patients
Getting you back to the activities you enjoy
Joint pain, a broken bone or other conditions that affect how your body moves can sideline you from the activities you enjoy. Our orthopedic specialists can treat your orthopedic needs.
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