DO NOT go up long flights of stairs during this eight week period. DO have someone with you the first time you go up a long flight of stairs after the first eight weeks. DO NOT put any kind of pad or pillow behind your knees when you wear your immobilizer. The exercises the physical therapist taught you should be continued as instructed until you return for your eight week evaluation. To get the total benefit of knee replacement and to regain the quality of life that was once yours, you need to make a serious commitment to exercise and you must stay active.
Consistent exercise is the key.
You should continue your exercise program even on those days when it may seem difficult. DO use an ice pack on your knee for soreness or pain for twenty minutes, several times a day. Meals DO eat a well-balanced diet so that your body has proper nutrition to help it heal and to restore strength. It is not unusual to have a decreased appetite following surgery. If you do notice a change in your appetite, you might find food more appealing by eating five small meals spaced throughout the day.