• You will continue to take medications as prescribed by your doctor.
  
• You will be sent home on prescribed medications to prevent blood clots. Your doctor will determine whether you will take a pill (Warfarin or coated aspirin) or give yourself an injection. If an injection is necessary, your doctor will discuss it with you, and the nursing staff will teach you or a family member what is necessary to receive this medication.
  
• You will be sent home on prescribed medications to control pain. Plan to take your pain medication 30 minutes before exercises. Preventing pain is easier than chasing pain. If pain control continues to be a problem, call your doctor.

• Continue to walk with crutches/walker.
• Bear weight and walk on the leg as much as is comfortable.
• Walking is one of the better kinds of physical therapy and for muscle strengthening.
• However, walking does not replace the exercise program which you are taught in the hospital. The success of the operation depends to a great extent on how well you do the exercises and strengthen weakened muscles.
• If excess muscle aching occurs, you should cut back on your exercises.

• For the next 4-6 weeks avoid sexual intercourse. Sexual activity can usually be resumed after your 6-week follow-up appointment.
  
• You can usually return to work within two to three months, or as instructed by your doctor.
  
• You should not drive a car until after the 6-week follow-up appointment.
• No shower or tub bath until after staples are removed.
• When using heat or ice, remember not to get your incision wet before your staples are removed.

Keep the incision clean and dry. Also, upon returning home, be alert for certain warning signs. If any swelling, increased pain, drainage from the incision site, redness around the incision, or fever is noticed, report this immediately to the doctor. Generally, the staples are removed in three weeks.

If at any time (even years after the surgery) an infection develops such as strep throat or pneumonia, notify your physician. Antibiotics should be administered promptly to prevent the occasional complication of distant infection localizing in the knee area. This also applies if any teeth are pulled or dental work is performed. Inform the general physician or dentist that you have had a joint replacement. You will be given a medical alert card. This should be carried in your billfold or wallet. It will give information on antibiotics that are needed during dental or oral surgery, or if a bacterial infection develops