After Knee Replacement: When to Call Your Surgeon

After your knee replacement surgery, it’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions.

When to call your health care provider

During recovery, call your health care provider if you have:

• Excessive pain or swelling in the knee or calf

• Pain that is ongoing and not helped by over-the-counter pain relievers

• A feeling of looseness or instability in the knee joint

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, which may be a sign of infection

Preventing infections

An infection in another part of your body can harm the new joint. Call your surgeon or primary care doctor if you think you have an infection. Also, call if you schedule a medical or dental procedure. You may need to take antibiotics to prevent infection.