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Having a Knee Replacement

When to get medical help

Call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest emergency department if you have:
  • pain in your chest
  • trouble breathing or are short of breath

Call your case manager if you:

  • have more pain, swelling, and tenderness in your leg (and lying down with your leg raised in a straight position for at least 20 minutes doesn’t help)
  • are still taking pain medicine 6 weeks after surgery
  • notice your incision (cut from surgery) is red, hard, hot, and swollen, or is draining
  • have redness or pain in your lower legs, even when resting
  • have a temperature over 38.5°C or chills
  • have sudden pain, less range of motion in your knee, and can’t put any weight on your operated leg
  • have blood in your stool (poop), urine (pee), or in the fluid you cough up
  • have a nose bleed that won’t stop
  • have a lot of bruising that doesn’t seem to be going away (It’s normal to have bruising above and below the incision for 3 weeks after surgery.)

If you can’t reach your case manager or someone else on your healthcare team, call your family doctor or Health Link at 811.

Call your family doctor if:

  • you have diarrhea (loose stool) that doesn’t stop after a few days
  • your healthcare team makes any changes to your prescription medicines after your surgery
  • you have any questions or concerns about your health that aren’t related to your surgery

Tell your case manager if you see your family doctor or go to the emergency department for anything related to your knee surgery.​​​​

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