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Knee replacement: what the first three months look like

Illustration of a knee joint
Medically reviewed by

Dr. Harsha Vardhan, MS, FIJRConsultant Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon

Last reviewed · 8 min read

Modern knee replacement aims to get you walking with support on the day of surgery. The work that determines your final result, though, happens over the following three months.

Dr. Harsha Vardhan

Consultant Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon

MBBS, MS (Orthopaedics), FIJR

13 YrsIOA Member
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The timeline

1

Days 1–3

Walking with a frame or sticks, beginning knee-bending exercises, and pain control.

2

Weeks 2–6

Physiotherapy several times a week. Most people move from a frame to a stick during this period.

3

Months 2–3

Walking unaided, stairs with more confidence, and a gradual return to normal routine.

Important

Calf pain, breathlessness or a hot swollen leg after surgery needs immediate assessment to rule out a clot.

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When should I see a doctor about joint replacement?
Book a consultation if symptoms persist, get worse, wake you at night, or come with bleeding, fever or unexplained weight loss. Anything that does not settle within a few weeks is worth having looked at.
Will I need surgery?
Often not. Many conditions settle with medication, physiotherapy or a change in daily habits. Surgery is discussed when simpler measures have been tried, or when the problem is structural.

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Sources & references

Published · Last reviewed · Next review due March 2027

This article is published for general education. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an in-person consultation. If you are worried about a symptom, please speak to a qualified doctor.

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