Ms. (Dr.) Samantha Tross
Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon
First Black Female Orthopaedic Consultant in the UK
When considering knee replacement, it's natural to have questions — and lots of them. Here are the answers to some of the most common concerns patients bring to their consultations.
"How painful is recovery?" Modern pain-management techniques make recovery far more comfortable than people expect. Multimodal pain relief, combined with ice therapy and early mobilisation, keeps discomfort manageable and usually improves rapidly over the first few weeks.
"When can I return to work or driving?" Most people return to driving after six weeks, once they have good control of the leg and can perform an emergency stop safely. Returning to work varies — office roles may resume within 4–6 weeks, while physical jobs take longer.
"Will I be able to kneel?" Many patients can kneel after knee replacement, though it may feel different or slightly uncomfortable at first.
"Will the knee set off airport scanners?" It's possible, but not guaranteed. Security staff are familiar with joint implants and may perform a quick handheld scan.
Knee replacement is a big decision, but asking the right questions — and receiving clear answers — helps you feel prepared, confident and ready for recovery.