Healing Factors

• For optimum healing, you need to maintain consistent contact with your doctor and be aware of possible complications including blood clot, pneumonia and infection. You should also be under the care of a physical therapist.
  Factors such as your age, weight, the seriousness of the injury and your overall health before the surgery factor into how easily and quickly you heal after knee surgery. Depending on each individual's makeup, healing may be very quick and painless or may involve complications.
  
  

Things You Can Control

• Rest and remain on crutches until your doctor says you are ready to go without them. This is a simple (but difficult to do, especially when you want your life back on track) recommendation that anyone can follow, theoretically. Just remember to take it easy and slow, and keep your long-term goal (total healing) in mind.
  Do the exercises suggested by your physical therapist and keep your leg elevated as often as possible in the week following surgery.
  
  

Your Health After Surgery

• Ideally before surgery, but certainly after surgery, you should take a good quality multivitamin and increase your intake of fresh fruits and green vegetables. Consider drinking a green drink each morning or having a fresh fruit smoothie to start your day. The more fruits and vegetables you can eat during this time, the better--five servings a day is a minimum.
  Wheat germ oil (available at health stores) can be applied daily to the scar once it has healed to reduce permanent scaring.