After any kind of knee surgery, your surgeon will recommend several things you can do to speed recovery and prevent complications such as infection.
If you follow these guidelines, your chances of getting back to normal faster are much greater. These simple steps include drinking lots of water and staying ahead of swelling by elevating your leg when seated.
You should also avoid strenuous activity until your doctor gives the go-ahead. You will probably be given a list of other exercises for strengthening your muscles around the knee.
Surgery may be necessary to cure knee problems. It is very important for you to know about nutrition after surgery in order to have a successful recovery.
The following are some things that you should know about nutrition for your knee surgery recovery process.
1-Protein
It is important to consume enough protein. Protein will help with your body's ability to rebuild damaged tissue and keep your muscles healthy while you recover.
If you are not able to consume meat, then consider soy, beans or eggs for some of your protein intake.
2-Iron
Iron is essential in helping red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body; low iron levels can cause muscle weakness and fatigue. You should eat plenty of foods that contain iron like lean beef, spinach, raisins and liver.
3-Vitamin C
Vitamin C may improve the healing process after knee surgery. Vitamin C is a popular supplement used by many people worldwide. It is known to promote immune function, healthy skin and boost energy levels in many individuals.
The recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C for an adult over 19 years old is 90mg per day, though the RDA can be higher or lower depending on your age or activity level.
If you are recovering from knee surgery, vitamin C may help. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage.
Researchers found that people who took vitamin C supplements for one week after having total knee replacement surgery had decreased pain and swelling compared to those who did not take the supplements.
Taking a vitamin C supplement in addition to your regular diet or following any other recovery plan cannot hurt, but it will likely only be beneficial if you do it before and after your operation.
4-Fibers
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that your body can't digest. However, it does provide useful functions. Fiber helps ease bowel movements, lowers cholesterol and improves heart health.
This essential nutrient also regulates your digestion and keeps you feeling full so you don't overeat. Some fiber-rich foods are more effective than others at providing benefits to your knees after surgery.
Cherukuri, a researcher from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, says that this is because muscle weakness and pain can prevent people from engaging in physical activity. He suggests that patients do not reduce their fiber intake after knee surgery.
Fibers rich foods For Knee Surgery Recovery Cherukuri explains: “Fiber-rich foods are a great way to help manage your weight. They also have other potential benefits for people with osteoarthritis or those who have had knee replacement surgery”.
Fibrous foods include whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes. A high-fiber diet can help you to feel full for a long time. It also helps in preventing constipation.
5-Calcium
Some knee injuries may require surgery. Surgery is used to fix torn cartilage or ligaments, for example. Or sometimes it’s used to remove bone spurs that are causing pain and making it hard for you to move around normally. When you have knee surgery, your doctor might recommend taking calcium supplements before, during and after the procedure.
This helps reduce your risk of experiencing complications like blood clots or osteoporosis related fractures. It also helps speed up your recovery time so that you can return to normal activities more quickly without any problems along the way.
6-Vitamin D
Vitamin D increases the body's ability to absorb calcium. This is important for recovering from knee surgery, because the loss of bone mass that occurs after surgery leaves patients with weaker bones. A study found that patients who took 1,000 IU of vitamin D a day had stronger bones after six months than those who did not take vitamin D.
It’s a fact that vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium. So, if you have a low blood level it can lead to osteoporosis and other ailments. Also bone health is an important factor in knee surgery recovery.
There are two types of vitamin D: ergocalciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3). Both forms are effective in raising your levels, but it’s believed that D3 is more effective at preventing diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
7-Zinc
"If you are healthy, getting extra zinc is not necessary," says Michael Lynch, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "But if your diet is poor or you have another health problem that affects nutrient absorption -- like chronic diarrhea or inflammatory bowel disease -- then it might be a good idea to take some zinc."
Zinc is an essential mineral that your body uses to promote the growth of cells. It also plays a role in wound healing and immune function.
Zinc supplements are available over-the-counter, but if you think you may be deficient, or want to treat zinc deficiency, talk to your doctor before taking any zinc supplements. If you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, ask your doctor about using daily doses of up to 50 mg of zinc.
For other orthopedic conditions, such as knee surgery recovery after meniscus repair or ACL reconstruction, other forms of zinc may be beneficial for managing pain and inflammation
8-Omega 3
If you are recovering from knee surgery, it is important to take omega-3 fish oil supplements. The best time to start taking your omega-3 fish oil supplement is before the surgery occurs.
Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, but they also play a role in healing damaged tissue.
People who have had knee replacement surgeries tend to experience more complications during recovery if they don't get enough omega-3s in their diet because this can inhibit proper healing after surgery.
Summary
Healthy diet is an important factor to be in good health especially after surgery whatever the type of surgery so don't ignore it.
By. Dr.Fatma Ragab
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