About this topic
After an injury or surgery to your knee, your doctor may want you to keep your leg straight. To help you do this, your doctor will have you wear a special type of knee brace called a knee immobilizer. Unless your doctor tells you differently, you will be wearing your immobilizer all of the time except when you are washing. It is very important to keep it on while you are sleeping so you do not twist or bend your knee. ‚
General
Putting on Your Knee Immobilizer ‚
- Lay out your immobilizer on a flat surface such as a couch or bed. Open it with the top end of the brace closest to you.
- Put your injured leg on top of the brace and line up your knee with the pad in the back of the brace.
- Close the brace and begin tightening the straps starting at the bottom of the brace. If your immobilizer has a hole in the front, your kneecap should fit into that space.
- When you stand up, the brace should not slide down the leg. If it does, you will need to start over and refasten the straps on the immobilizer. If the brace rubs on your skin and bothers you, the fit of your immobilizer may need to be checked.
Activity ‚
Your doctor may limit how much weight you can put on your injured leg. You may need to use crutches, a walker, or a cane to help you walk safely. This will also take pressure off of your knee. When you are not up on your feet, it is a good idea to keep the leg raised to help with pain and swelling. Unless your doctor tells you differently, move your ankle back and forth during the day to avoid blood clots. With your leg propped up, pretend you are pushing up and down on an imaginary gas pedal. You should do this for a few minutes every hour that you are awake. If at any time you feel more pain in your leg, especially in the back of your calf, let your doctor know right away. ‚
Pain and Swelling ‚
If you are having pain and swelling from your injury or surgery, there are a few things you can do to help. ‚
- Using ice on your injured knee can lower swelling and pain. In order to use ice, you will have to take off your immobilizer. With your leg propped up, place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the injured part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- The pressure from the knee immobilizer can help keep the swelling down and lessen your pain. If you still have swelling, wrapping a compression bandage around the knee under the immobilizer may help.
- As much as you are able, keep your leg raised above your heart by propping your leg up on a pillow.
- Your doctor may order drugs for pain relief. Be sure to ask your doctor what is needed for you.
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What care is needed at home?
Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do. ‚
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
- You have more pain and swelling.
- Your immobilizer does not fit the right way.
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you how to put on my knee immobilizer and about what activities are OK for me to do.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain or swelling or my immobilizer does not fit the right way.
Where can I learn more?
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/exercise-fitness/injury-rehab/knee-bracing-what-works.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚