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Swelling and ice

Weeks 1 to 2

Swelling after a knee replacement is normal and can last for weeks, sometimes months. It is part of healing, not a sign that something went wrong.

What helps: rest with your leg raised on a stool or pillows several times a day, and cool the knee for about 15-20 minutes at a time with ice wrapped in a thin cloth - never ice directly on the skin. Keep moving little and often; long periods of sitting still make swelling worse.

Contact your clinician promptly if your calf becomes painful or swollen, the wound becomes hot or leaks fluid, you develop a fever, or the swelling suddenly gets much worse. These are the same warning signs the app asks you about.

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