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Health Information and Tools > Health A-Z >  When You’re Having a Knee Replacement: When You Need to Get Help

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When You’re Having a Knee Replacement

When You Need to Get Help

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​​​​​​​​​​​​Call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest emergency department if you have:

  • pain in your chest​
  • trouble breathing or are short of breath​​​​

​​​​​Call your Case Manager if:

  • you have more pain, swelling, and tenderness in your leg (lying down with your ​leg raised in a straight position for at least 20 minutes doesn’t help)
  • your incision becomes red, hard, hot, and swollen, or is draining
  • you have redness or pain in your lower legs, even when resting
  • you have a temperature over 38.5​°C or chills
  • you have a painful “click” in your knee or you suddenly have less movement in your knee
  • your leg begins to curve outward, around or below your knee (bow-legged)
  • your leg begins to curve inward at the new knee so that when you stand, your knees are together but your ankles are apart (knock-kneed)
  • you have blood in your stool, urine, or in the fluid you cough up
  • you have a nose bleed that won’t stop
  • you have a lot of bruising that doesn’t seem to be going away (Bruising is normal above and below the incision for 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.)

If you can’t reach your Case Manager or someone else on your healthcare team, call your family doctor or call Health Link at 811.

​​​​​Call your family doctor if:

  • you have diarrhea that doesn’t stop after a few days
  • your prescription medicine changes after surgery
  • you have any other medical concerns not related to your surgery

Please make sure you tell your Case Manager if you see your family doctor or go to the emergency department about anything related to your knee surgery.

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Current as of: May 6, 2019

Author: Bone and Joint Health Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services