Swelling

At this RECOVERY HUB you will find guidance on your road to recovery.

Use this resource as a quick guide to common questions, concerns, and expectations for your early recovery after surgery.

Remember, Dr. Deans' team is a call away for further guidance and clarification.

Expected after surgery - but worth managing well.

Swelling after hip or knee replacement is normal. It can occur around the surgical area and travel into the thigh, calf, ankle, and foot. Knee replacement swelling can persist for weeks or months and often increases temporarily after therapy or a busy day.

Start Here

Use ice or your cooling sleeve/device frequently, including before swelling becomes uncomfortable.
Elevate the operative leg above heart level when resting when practical.
After knee replacement, do not place a pillow directly behind the knee; support the ankle/heel so the knee can straighten.
Use TED hose or compression socks most hours of the day.
Get up or move your knee at least every 45-60 minutes while awake instead of sitting for long periods.
Take your prescribed anti-inflammatory medication if one is part of your plan.
Unless you have been told otherwise by your doctor, increase protein intake around the time of surgery (see nutrition).
Consider the use of hesperidin and diosmin, naturally occuring bioflavinoid supplements, around the time of surgery.

Use Swelling as Feedback

If activity causes a large increase in swelling that lasts into the next day, you probably did too much. Reduce the next session slightly, then rebuild gradually.

Both Leg Swollen?

Swelling in both legs may not be from the surgery alone. If both legs are significantly swollen, contact your primary care clinician or our team for guidance.

Call / Seek Urgent Help

Call us promptly for a swollen operative leg with marked calf tenderness, significant warmth/redness, a history of blood clots, or missed blood-thinner doses. New calf pain plus shortness of breath or chest pain is an emergency.

Your own discharge instructions and medication list always take priority. This guide is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice.

Institutional Clarification

This website is operated independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of Nebraska Medicine or the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Any clinical work performed in partnership with those institutions is conducted separately under institutional policies, governance, and privacy practices.