Show Notes
What really happens after you leave the hospital following a knee replacement? In this episode of The Joint Replacement Podcast, I walk through the first month of recovery week by week—including the physical challenges and the psychological transition that patients may not expect. We cover: • Week 1: Survival & Stability — pain, swelling, disrupted sleep, fatigue, and learning to accept help • Week 2: Variability — why recovery isn't linear and why a bad day doesn't necessarily mean you're going backward • Week 3: The Emotional Dip — when progress can feel slow, motivation falls, and discipline becomes especially important • Week 4: Momentum — when walking, strength, pain, and confidence may begin to noticeably improve I also explain the “false plateau,” why doing too much on a good day can backfire, and why pain or swelling after increased activity can sometimes be feedback rather than failure. The first month after knee replacement isn't just physical recovery. It's a transition from dependence to independence—and from uncertainty to confidence. If you're preparing for knee replacement, recovering now, or helping someone through the process, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for those critical first four weeks. For general educational purposes only. Individual recovery varies. Always follow the recommendations of your own surgical team.
More from The Joint Replacement Podcast
Is anterior hip replacement really better than posterior hip replacement? Does robotic surgery make a meaningful difference? And why aren't more patients receiving partial knee replacements? Dr. Matthew Sloan welcomes Dr. Charles Lawrie, fellowship-trained hip and knee replacement surgeon at Baptist Health South Florida and President of the Anterior Hip Foundation. Together, they discuss the evidence behind modern hip and knee replacement surgery, including: Why anterior hip replacement has grown in popularity and whether the benefits persist beyond early recovery
When celebrities and professional athletes need joint replacement surgery, what do they look for in a surgeon? Is it advanced technology, surgical experience, personalized attention, or the recovery process? Dr. Matthew Sloan welcomes Beverly Hills orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jason Snibbe, who has performed more than 12,000 surgeries and serves as managing partner of DOCS Health. In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Snibbe explains how he built a high-touch orthopedic practice, why he became an early adopter of robotic surgery, and how he approaches the technical controversies surrounding modern hip and knee replacement. They discuss robotic versus conventional knee replacement, cementless fixation, subvastus surgery, functional alignment, patellar resurfacing, direct superior hip replacement, dual mobility implants, partial knee replacement, and the importance of protecting the knee during early recovery. Dr. Snibbe also shares why he left a hospital that refused to purchase a robotic surgical system and how that decision ultimately led to his involvement in building a physician-owned orthopedic hospital designed around the entire patient experience. The conversation also tackles insurance reimbursement, surgeon independence, conservative treatment of arthritis, and why the best surgical decision is sometimes not to operate at all. A central theme: The best joint replacement experience is about more than the surgery itself. It's about trust, precision, communication, and recovery. A compelling conversation for patients considering joint replacement and surgeons interested in the future of orthopedic care. Hosted by Dr. Matthew Sloan. Learn more at MatthewSloanMD.com/blog.
Could better nutrition before surgery mean a smoother recovery afterward? In Episode 60 of The Joint Replacement Podcast, Dr. Matthew Sloan welcomes Dr. Sagar Desai, a Toronto-based orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle reconstruction and founder of Proven Therapeutics. Together, they explore an often-overlooked part of surgical preparation: nutrition. How much protein should patients eat before hip or knee replacement? Can specialized supplements reduce muscle loss or complications? Should patients really fast from midnight before surgery? And what does the evidence actually show? Dr. Desai discusses the science of immunonutrition, his experience developing a surgical nutrition supplement, and the challenges of translating research into clinical practice. The conversation also explores total ankle replacement versus ankle fusion, the controversy surrounding surgical treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures, minimally invasive bunion surgery, and the unique demands of treating professional athletes. Whether you're preparing for joint replacement, recovering from orthopedic surgery, or simply interested in optimizing surgical outcomes, this episode offers a wide-ranging discussion about preparation, recovery, and modern orthopedic care. Guest: Dr. Sagar Desai Host: Dr. Matthew Sloan Learn more at MatthewSloanMD.com Educational purposes only. Dr. Desai is the founder of Proven Therapeutics. Product-specific benefits have not been independently established in this episode.
Can an orthopedic surgeon design a better hip replacement implant than the major medical device companies? Dr. Kurtis Biggs decided to find out. In Episode 59, Dr. Matthew Sloan interviews Dr. Biggs, a fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeon from Naples, Florida, who developed his own femoral stem, taking it from a hand-drawn sketch at his kitchen counter to FDA clearance and implantation in patients. They discuss why he believed traditional hip implants could be improved, how he designed the Xerxes femoral stem to better accommodate natural hip anatomy, and the challenges of developing and manufacturing an entirely new orthopedic device. Dr. Biggs shares his early experience with approximately 130 implantations, including complications, revisions, and preliminary clinical observations. They also explore how long hip replacements really last, whether cementless or cemented stems are better, the advantages and limitations of anterior hip replacement, and how large medical device manufacturers influence which innovations reach patients. Most importantly, they confront a critical question: What evidence do we actually need before calling a new hip implant better than an established one? An inside look at surgical innovation, medical device development, and the future of hip replacement. Note: The Xerxes femoral stem has received FDA 510(k) clearance, but long-term clinical outcomes and comparative superiority remain unproven. Learn more at MatthewSloanMD.com and subscribe to The Joint Replacement Podcast for weekly conversations about hip and knee replacement.
Are health insurance companies making money by denying patients the medical care they need? Dr. Matthew Sloan welcomes Bryan Khoo, a Stanford graduate and incoming medical student at Washington University whose investigations into healthcare economics and insurance company practices have attracted national attention, including responses from Mark Cuban. They explore why American healthcare continues to become more expensive, how prior authorization decisions are made, why some insurance denials are never appealed, and the growing controversy surrounding Medicare Advantage. Bryan shares his perspectives on artificial intelligence in insurance reviews, post-surgical payment denials, corporate consolidation, physician reimbursement, and the future of independent medical practices. The conversation also examines how insurance company financial incentives may influence patient access to surgery and what reforms could help restore the physician-patient relationship. Who should control medical decisions: doctors or insurance companies? Editorial Disclaimer: Specific insurance company and healthcare business names have been redacted from portions of this interview because Dr. Sloan and The Joint Replacement Podcast have not independently verified the underlying studies, statistics, or allegations discussed. The guest's research findings and opinions are his own and should not be interpreted as independently verified conclusions or established findings of misconduct. Follow Bryan Khoo on LinkedIn and subscribe to The Joint Replacement Podcast for more conversations about healthcare, joint replacement, and medical innovation.