Pain Medication

• Your doctor may prescribe a pain medication such as Lortab to help you through your initial recovery. Take it as prescribed, but do not wait for the pain to become too intense; it may not be effective once the pain has reached a certain level.
  
  

Healthy Eating

• You can help your wound heal faster if you take care of yourself from the inside out. Make sure you fill up on lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat proteins.
  
  

Wear Compression Stockings

• These will apply pressure to the legs after your surgery and assist the blood to flow properly, reducing your risk of developing blood clots.
  
  

Use Ice Packs

• This will help reduce swelling and relieve pain. Apply an ice pack to your knee for 20 minutes once every hour.
  
  

Prevent Falls

• Your doctor may have provided you with crutches, a knee brace or walker to help you get around--use them. These will help stabilize you while you walk, reducing your chances of falling and fracturing your leg.
  
  

Physical Therapy

• You may need to begin doing low-impact exercises such as bending your knee or stretching your leg. These exercises will help strengthen the bones and muscles in your knee, and can help your knee heal quicker.