Wound Care After Knee Replacement: What Healing Looks Like and When to Call Your Team

The first time most people really look at their new knee is in the bathroom mirror at home, a day or two after discharge, dressing peeled back a corner, breath held. There is a long vertical line down the front, a little swollen, a little purple at the edges, sometimes weeping a faint pink onto the gauze. Almost everyone has the same thought: is this what it is supposed to look like?

Usually, yes. But the honest answer is that wound care after knee replacement is less about doing clever things to the skin and more about not doing the wrong ones, then paying attention. The incision sits directly over a joint that bends thousands of times a week, in skin that has relatively little padding, above a metal-and-plastic implant that must stay free of bacteria. That combination makes this one of the more closely watched wounds in orthopedics.

This guide walks through what the skin is doing in each phase, what is normal, what is not, and where the popular advice goes wrong. The decisions stay with your surgical team; the aim here is to help you understand what they are asking of you and why.

What wound care after knee replacement actually involves

Strip away the jargon and the job has four parts: protect, observe, keep dry, and report. Everything your team asks of you fits into one of them.

Protection starts in the operating room. After the implant is placed, the surgeon closes the deep layers with absorbable sutures (stitches that dissolve on their own over weeks) and then closes the skin with sutures, staples, skin glue or adhesive strips. A sterile dressing goes over the top. Many teams now use a waterproof dressing designed to stay in place for a week or longer, which means fewer changes and fewer moments when bacteria could reach the skin.

Observation is the part patients do at home. According to MedlinePlus discharge guidance for knee joint replacement, you are asked to look at the incision each day for changes in redness, drainage, warmth or the way the edges sit together. You are not diagnosing anything; you are acting as an early warning system for the people who will.

Keeping the wound dry matters because a damp environment softens the skin edges and encourages bacterial growth. Dry does not mean airtight, though. Modern dressings are breathable while still blocking liquid.

Reporting is the step people skip because they do not want to be a nuisance. Surgical teams take the opposite view: a phone call about a small change is far easier to manage than an infection that has had a week to establish itself. The CDC notes that most surgical site infections declare themselves within about 30 days of an operation, so this window of attention is finite and worth taking seriously.

One more principle underlies all four: do less. The skin already knows how to heal. Your role is to remove obstacles, not to accelerate the process with products.

Knee replacement incision healing stages: what the skin is doing week by week

A surgical wound moves through the same biological phases as a scraped knee, just on a larger scale and with more at stake underneath. Knowing the phase helps you interpret what you see.

Typical timing	What the body is doing	What you may notice
Days 0–3	Bleeding stops; inflammation begins as immune cells arrive	Pink or light red fluid on the dressing, warmth, swelling, bruising spreading down the shin
Days 3–14	New tissue and small blood vessels fill the gap; skin edges knit	Drainage slows then stops; edges look sealed; itching; a firm ridge along the line
Weeks 2–6	Collagen is laid down and reorganized; scar strengthens	Scar is raised, red or purple, sometimes tight when bending
Months 3–12	Remodeling; scar softens and fades	Line flattens and pales; numbness beside the scar may persist

Timings are typical ranges drawn from NHS and Mayo Clinic recovery guidance, not deadlines. Your own wound may run a few days ahead or behind without anything being wrong.

Two things in that table surprise people. The first is bruising that migrates. Blood released during surgery follows gravity, so a bruise that appears on the calf or even the ankle a few days later is usually tracked blood, not a new problem. The second is the ridge. A healing incision often feels like a firm cord under the skin for several weeks. That is organized scar tissue, and it usually softens with time and with the bending exercises your physical therapist prescribes.

The phase that matters most for infection risk is the first two weeks, when the skin barrier is still incomplete. That is why the rules around dressings, showers and touching are strictest early and relax as the scar matures.

How long to keep a knee replacement incision covered

The short version: keep it covered for as long as your surgical team tells you, and no longer than that on your own initiative. The long version depends on how the skin was closed.

With staples or non-dissolving sutures, the dressing typically stays on, with scheduled changes, until the clinic removes them. NHS knee replacement recovery guidance places that removal around 10 to 14 days after surgery. Some teams send patients home with a single waterproof dressing designed to remain untouched for that whole stretch, checked at follow-up. Others ask for changes every few days or when the dressing becomes loose, wet or soiled. Both are legitimate approaches; what matters is following the one you were given.

With skin glue or adhesive strips, the surface is sealed at the time of surgery. A light dressing is often used for comfort and to protect clothing for the first week or so. Strips are usually left to fall off on their own rather than being pulled, because peeling them early can lift the fragile new skin beneath.

Once the edges are fully sealed and any staples are out, many teams allow the incision to be left open to the air. A dry, closed incision does not heal faster under gauze; the covering is there to protect against friction from clothing and against contamination while the barrier is incomplete.

Should you cover it if it opens? Yes, with a clean dry dressing, and call the team the same day. An incision that gapes, even slightly, has lost its seal and needs assessment rather than home management.

Two practical habits help. Wash your hands before touching anything near the wound. And when changing a dressing, touch only the edges of the new one, never the pad that will sit on the skin.

When can I shower after knee replacement, and when can I soak?

Showering and soaking are different questions with different answers, and mixing them up is one of the more common reasons a healing incision runs into trouble.

A brief shower is usually permitted fairly early, often within the first few days once the team confirms the dressing is waterproof or gives you a method for keeping the incision dry. MedlinePlus discharge instructions describe letting water run over a closed incision, avoiding direct spray, and patting the area dry afterward rather than rubbing. If your dressing is not waterproof, teams often suggest covering it with plastic wrap taped at the edges, or waiting until the first dressing change to shower at all. Ask, because practice varies.

Soaking is a different matter. Baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, lakes and the ocean all place the incision in standing water that may carry bacteria, and prolonged wetting softens the skin edges. Mayo Clinic guidance is to avoid submerging the incision until it is fully healed and the team has cleared you, which for many people is several weeks. NHS advice makes the same point about swimming. Hot tubs deserve particular caution because warm water harbors bacteria that thrive at body temperature.

A few details make showering safer. Sit on a shower chair if balance is uncertain; a fall in the first weeks is a bigger risk to the new joint than a splash of water. Keep the water lukewarm rather than hot, since heat increases swelling in the leg. Do not scrub the incision, apply soap directly to it, or pick at scabs that loosen under the water.

If the dressing does get soaked through, replace it with a clean dry one if you have been shown how, and let the team know if the skin beneath looked different from the day before.

What should you never put on an open wound or healing incision?

The instinct to treat a wound with something is strong, and the products marketed for it are many. For a surgical incision over a joint replacement, the safest list of things to apply is short: nothing, unless your team says otherwise.

Hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol are the classic offenders. Both kill bacteria, but they also damage the new cells trying to bridge the wound, and alcohol stings enough that people stop cleaning properly. MedlinePlus wound care guidance advises against using them on healing surgical wounds for exactly this reason. Antiseptic iodine solutions belong in the same category unless specifically prescribed.

Antibiotic ointments seem sensible but are generally not recommended on a closed surgical incision. They keep the surface moist, which can soften the edges, and they can cause contact skin reactions that look worryingly like infection. Any ointment or cream should go on only at the direction of the surgical team.

Powders, including talc and cornstarch, cake into the wound and can trap bacteria. Essential oils, herbal balms and household remedies such as honey or vinegar are not tested for use over an implant and can irritate or introduce contamination. Medical-grade honey dressings exist, but they are a clinical product applied by clinicians for specific wound types, not a kitchen shortcut.

Lotions and scar creams have their moment, but it comes later. Once the incision is fully sealed and any staples are out, gentle moisturizer and sun protection on the scar are usually fine, and many teams encourage them. Silicone sheets or gels are sometimes suggested for scar appearance; evidence for them is modest and they are optional, never required.

Skip the glue-on stickers and decorative tape as well. Adhesives can lift fragile skin when removed. The wound needs less than you think it does.

Does walking speed up wound healing? What movement really does for the incision

Walking after knee replacement is not primarily a wound treatment, yet it is one of the more useful things you can do for the wound. The connection runs through circulation.

Healing tissue needs oxygen and nutrients delivered by blood, and it needs the fluid that leaks into the tissues, causing swelling, to be carried away. Calf muscles act as pumps for both. Every step squeezes blood back toward the heart, reduces pooling around the knee and eases the pressure that makes an incision tight and puffy. NHS recovery guidance encourages getting up and moving, with support, from the first day or two after surgery, and it lists reduced swelling and lower blood clot risk among the reasons.

That clot connection deserves emphasis. A blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, where a clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the calf) is a recognized risk after joint replacement. Movement is a core part of prevention, alongside whatever clot-preventing medicine your team prescribes.

So does walking make the incision close faster? Not in any measurable way beyond keeping conditions favorable. What it prevents is the swelling that stretches the skin edges and the stiffness that makes bending painful later. It will not knit skin overnight, and more is not better. Long walks in the first weeks tend to increase swelling, which is the opposite of the goal.

Bending the knee is a separate matter. Physical therapy exercises deliberately flex the joint, and the incision will feel tight while you do them. A gentle pulling sensation is expected. Sharp pain along the line, or a wet feeling under the dressing after exercise, is a reason to stop and report it.

Movement is a dose, like anything else. Frequent short walks around the house, spaced across the day, serve the wound far better than one heroic outing.

What is the fastest way to heal a knee wound? An honest answer

People search this question hoping for a product or a trick. The evidence-based answer is duller and more reassuring: there is no accelerator, only a set of conditions the body needs, and most of them are within your control.

Nutrition sits at the top. Wound healing builds new tissue from protein, and it uses vitamin C, zinc and adequate calories to do so. Appetite is often poor for a week or two after surgery, so eating smaller protein-rich meals more frequently is a reasonable strategy. Supplements beyond a normal diet have not been shown to speed healing in people without a deficiency, according to NIH Office of Dietary Supplements summaries; talk to your team before adding any.

Blood sugar control matters for everyone, not only people with diabetes. High glucose impairs the cells that fight infection and build tissue. If you have diabetes, your surgical and diabetes teams will usually want tighter-than-usual monitoring in the weeks after surgery.

Not smoking is arguably the single most powerful choice. Nicotine constricts small blood vessels and carbon monoxide displaces oxygen, starving the healing edge. Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic guidance both identify smoking as a major factor in delayed wound healing after joint surgery. Stopping even in the weeks around the operation helps.

Sleep, hydration and managing swelling with elevation round out the list. None is dramatic. Together they are what a fast-healing wound looks like from the inside.

What does not work: extra dressing changes, antiseptics, ointments, heat lamps, or peeking hourly. Each of these adds friction, moisture or bacteria. The fastest wound is usually the one left alone in the right conditions, watched from a slight distance by someone who knows what a problem looks like.

Who heals more slowly, and who may be asked to wait for surgery

Surgeons think about wound healing long before the first cut. Part of the pre-operative assessment is identifying factors that slow skin recovery or raise infection risk, and sometimes addressing them before scheduling the operation. Knowing which ones apply to you explains why your wound care instructions may be stricter than a neighbor’s.

Diabetes is the most common. Elevated blood sugar reduces immune cell function and blood flow to the skin. Many teams ask for a measure of longer-term glucose control before booking surgery and may suggest optimizing it first.

Smoking, as above, impairs oxygen delivery. Some teams ask patients to stop for a period before and after the operation; this is a medical request grounded in wound biology, not a judgment.

Higher body weight is associated with more tension on the skin closure and a larger fat layer with relatively poor blood supply, both of which can slow sealing. Teams discuss this respectfully and individually; it is one factor among several, not a barrier in itself.

Medicines that suppress the immune system or inflammation, such as long-term corticosteroids or certain drugs used for rheumatoid arthritis, can delay healing. Decisions about pausing or continuing them belong to the prescribing clinician and are made case by case; never adjust them yourself.

Previous surgery on the same knee, thin or fragile skin, poor circulation in the legs and untreated skin infections elsewhere on the body are further reasons a team may want extra time or precautions.

Being asked to wait is not a refusal. It is the team stacking the odds toward a wound that seals cleanly, because an infection around a knee implant is a far harder problem to treat than a delayed operation.

Signs of infection after knee replacement: what surgeons watch for

Infection is uncommon after knee replacement, but it is the complication surgical teams worry about most, because bacteria that reach the implant can be difficult to clear. This is not a self-diagnosis list. It is a guide to what is worth a phone call, so that a clinician can decide.

Redness that spreads. A thin pink margin along the incision is normal in the first week. Redness that widens day by day, feels hot, or tracks away from the line in a streak is not.

Drainage that changes character. Pink or clear fluid that tapers off over the first few days is expected. Fluid that increases after it had been decreasing, becomes thick, cloudy, yellow or green, or develops an odor should be reported, as should any drainage still present after the first week or so. The CDC lists drainage, redness, pain and fever as the cardinal features of a surgical site infection.

Wound edges that separate. Even a small gap means the barrier is open.

Fever. MedlinePlus discharge guidance for knee replacement advises calling if your temperature exceeds 101°F (38.3°C). Chills or feeling generally unwell alongside a changing wound carry the same weight.

Pain that worsens rather than improves. Discomfort should trend downward over the first two weeks. A knee that becomes more painful, more swollen or harder to bend after a period of improvement warrants assessment.

Timing matters. Most surgical site infections appear within 30 days, but infections around implants can occasionally declare themselves months later, often as new pain and stiffness without dramatic skin changes. That is why teams ask you to mention dental work, skin infections or unexplained joint pain even long after the scar has faded.

The threshold for calling should be low. Clinicians would rather examine ten normal wounds than miss one early infection.

Drainage, bruising and numbness: what usually turns out to be normal

A good deal of what alarms people in the first two weeks is the body doing exactly what it should. Knowing the ordinary versions helps you spend your worry where it belongs.

Drainage in the first few days is common. The knee has been opened, bone has been cut, and fluid collects in the joint. Some of it finds its way out along the incision as a thin pink or straw-colored liquid, sometimes enough to spot the dressing. The pattern to expect, per MedlinePlus guidance, is a steady decrease, with the dressing coming off dry by the end of the first week or so. A dressing that is dry for two days and then wet again is the version to report.

Bruising can be dramatic. The skin over the shin and calf may turn deep purple, then green and yellow, over two to three weeks. This is blood released during surgery tracking downward under gravity. If you are taking a medicine to prevent blood clots, which most patients are for a period after joint replacement, bruising may be more extensive; that is an expected effect of thinning the blood, not a sign the wound is failing. Bruising that is rapidly expanding, very tense, or accompanied by a hard swelling that grows should be checked.

Numbness beside the scar, especially on the outer side of the knee, is very common. Small skin nerves are cut during the incision and take months to regrow, if they do fully. Many people describe a patch of altered sensation that persists indefinitely without causing problems. Tingling and occasional sharp twinges along the line are part of nerve recovery.

Itching is another good sign, oddly enough. It reflects nerve regrowth and histamine release in healing tissue. Resist scratching; a cool compress over the dressing helps.

Warmth around the whole knee, without spreading redness or fever, commonly lasts for weeks to months after joint replacement and reflects ongoing healing inside the joint rather than infection.

Swelling, ice and elevation: protecting the wound from the inside

Most of the pressure on a healing knee incision comes from beneath it. Swelling inside and around the joint pushes outward on the skin, tightens the edges and slows the return of fluid to the circulation. Managing that swelling is wound care by another name.

Elevation is the simplest tool. The leg needs to be higher than the heart for gravity to help, which in practice means lying down with the foot on pillows rather than sitting with the leg on a footstool. Many teams suggest several sessions a day in the early weeks, particularly after walking or exercises. Keep the knee supported straight rather than propped with a pillow behind it, since the joint can stiffen in a bent position.

Ice reduces swelling and dulls pain. It should go over the dressing or a cloth, never directly on the incision, and never for so long that the skin becomes numb, because cold injury to already-fragile skin is a real risk. Mayo Clinic recovery guidance describes cold therapy as a standard part of the first weeks; the specific pattern comes from your team.

Compression is sometimes used in the form of a stocking or a wrap, mainly for clot prevention and swelling control. It must not sit in a tight band above or below the knee, and anything that leaves deep marks or causes tingling should be loosened and reported.

Heat is the one to avoid early. Warm baths, heating pads and hot tubs all increase blood flow and swelling and, as noted, introduce moisture and bacteria. Later in recovery, once the scar has matured and the team agrees, gentle warmth before stretching can help stiffness.

A knee that swells more each day, rather than fluctuating with activity, is worth mentioning. So is swelling in the calf that feels different from the knee itself; that pattern needs same-day assessment for a clot.

What people often get wrong about wound care after knee replacement

Myths around surgical wounds are durable, partly because some of them were standard advice a generation ago. Here are the ones that cause the most trouble.

Letting it breathe helps it heal. A dry, closed incision does not need air; it needs protection from friction and contamination until the barrier is complete. Uncovering early on your own is a gamble with nothing to win.

Cleaning it with peroxide or alcohol keeps infection away. Both damage new cells. Clean water and the dressings your team recommends are the evidence-supported approach.

Antibiotic ointment is a safe extra. On a closed incision it adds moisture and can trigger a rash that mimics infection. Use only if prescribed.

Bruising down the leg means internal bleeding. It almost always means tracked blood from the operation, especially in someone taking a clot-preventing medicine. Rapidly expanding or tense swelling is the exception worth calling about.

A warm knee means infection. Warmth over the joint is common for months. Warmth combined with spreading redness, drainage or fever is the pattern that matters.

More walking heals faster. Frequent short walks help circulation; long walks increase swelling. The dose matters.

Scabs should be removed to check underneath. Scabs are the body’s own dressing. Picking them reopens the surface.

Once staples are out, the wound is done. The skin is sealed but weak. Scar strength builds over weeks, which is why soaking, kneeling and vigorous scar massage are usually delayed until the team clears them.

Fever is the only sign that counts. Implant infections can present as increasing pain and stiffness with little skin change. Any reversal in your recovery trend deserves a call, temperature or not.

It is too minor to bother them. Clinicians consistently say the opposite. Early calls are how good outcomes happen.

Questions to ask your care team before you go home

Discharge instructions arrive in a flurry, often while you are tired and sore. Having a list ready turns a rushed conversation into one you can act on. These are the questions patients most often wish they had asked.

• How was my skin closed: staples, sutures, glue or strips? When and where will they be removed, and who do I contact if the appointment is delayed?
• Is my dressing waterproof? Can I shower over it, and if so, how do I dry it afterward?
• Should I change the dressing myself? How often, with what, and what should I do if it comes loose or gets wet before the next scheduled change?
• What amount and color of drainage is expected, and for how many days? At what point does drainage become a reason to call?
• Is there anything I should put on the incision, or anything I should definitely avoid?
• When can I take a bath, swim or use a hot tub?
• How will the clot-preventing medicine I am taking affect bruising, and what does a worrying bruise look like versus an expected one?
• If I have diabetes, what blood sugar range are we aiming for during healing, and who manages that?
• Which of my regular medicines could slow healing, and has that been reviewed?
• What number do I call for wound concerns, including evenings and weekends, and when should I go to an emergency department instead?
• When can I kneel, and when can I start any scar care such as moisturizer or massage?
• Are there activities I should avoid because they stress the incision, such as certain exercises or sleeping positions?

Write the answers down or ask for them in writing. Two weeks from now, when you are looking at a dressing and wondering, you will be glad you did. Bring the same list to your first follow-up so nothing gets lost between visits.

When to call your doctor: red flags after knee replacement

Call your surgical team the same day, without waiting for a scheduled appointment, if you notice any of the following. None of these means something is definitely wrong; all of them mean a clinician should look.

• Redness spreading outward from the incision, or a red streak tracking up or down the leg.
• Drainage that increases after it had been decreasing, becomes thick, cloudy, yellow or green, develops an odor, or persists beyond the first week or so.
• The wound edges separating or opening at any point.
• A temperature above 101°F (38.3°C), or chills, as described in MedlinePlus discharge guidance.
• Pain, swelling or stiffness in the knee that is getting worse after a period of improvement.
• A dressing that repeatedly soaks through, or a hard, tense, rapidly enlarging swelling under the skin.
• Calf pain, swelling, warmth or tenderness in either leg, which can signal a blood clot.
• Numbness, tingling or color change in the foot, or an inability to move the toes normally.

Seek emergency care immediately, by calling emergency services, if you develop sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, fainting, or a rapid heartbeat. These can indicate a clot that has traveled to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which is a medical emergency after joint surgery. Heavy bleeding that soaks through dressings and does not slow with firm pressure also warrants emergency assessment.

Later signs matter too. New pain, warmth or swelling in the replaced knee months or years after surgery, particularly following a dental infection, skin infection or illness, should prompt a call to your orthopedic team, because implant infections can arrive late and quietly.

If you are unsure whether something counts, that uncertainty is itself a reason to call. The team would rather reassure you than hear about a problem after it has grown. Every decision about treatment, including whether to start antibiotics, return to the operating room or simply watch and wait, rests with the clinicians who examine you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to heal a knee wound after replacement surgery?

There is no accelerator; the fastest healing comes from removing obstacles. Eat enough protein and calories, keep blood sugar controlled, avoid smoking, elevate the leg to limit swelling, and leave the dressing alone between scheduled changes. Antiseptics, ointments and extra dressing changes tend to slow healing rather than speed it. Your surgical team can advise on nutrition or supplements if you have a known deficiency.

Does walking speed up wound healing after knee replacement?

Walking supports healing rather than speeding it directly. Calf muscles pump blood and fluid out of the leg, which reduces the swelling that stretches the incision and lowers blood clot risk. NHS guidance encourages early, supported movement for these reasons. Frequent short walks are the goal; long outings in the first weeks usually increase swelling, which works against the wound.

Should I cover an open wound on my knee after surgery?

Yes. If the incision opens at any point, place a clean, dry dressing over it and call your surgical team the same day. An open surgical wound over a joint implant has lost its barrier against bacteria and needs professional assessment rather than home care. Do not apply ointments, antiseptics or household products to it while waiting to be seen.

What should you never put on an open wound or healing incision?

Avoid hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, iodine antiseptics, antibiotic ointments, powders, essential oils, honey from the kitchen, vinegar and adhesive tape directly on the skin, unless your team specifically prescribes something. These products damage new cells, add moisture, cause skin reactions or introduce contamination. MedlinePlus wound guidance recommends plain water and the dressings your team provides.

What are the knee replacement incision healing stages?

The wound passes through inflammation in the first few days, tissue formation and sealing over roughly two weeks, scar strengthening over weeks two to six, and remodeling over several months to a year. Expect pink drainage early, then a firm raised ridge, then gradual softening and fading. Timings are typical ranges from NHS and Mayo Clinic guidance, and individual wounds vary by several days.

How long should I keep a knee replacement incision covered?

Keep it covered for as long as your surgical team instructs, typically until staples or sutures are removed around 10 to 14 days, according to NHS guidance. Some teams use a single waterproof dressing for that whole period; others schedule changes. Once the edges are sealed and closure materials are out, many teams allow the incision to be left uncovered.

When can I shower after knee replacement?

Many people can shower within the first few days if the dressing is waterproof or the team gives a method to keep the incision dry. Let water run over rather than spray directly onto the area, and pat dry. Soaking in baths, pools or hot tubs is different and is usually delayed until the incision is fully healed and cleared by your team, often several weeks.

What are the signs of infection after knee replacement I should report?

Report spreading redness, drainage that increases or becomes thick, cloudy or foul-smelling, wound edges separating, a temperature above 101°F (38.3°C), or pain and stiffness that worsen after improving. The CDC identifies redness, drainage, pain and fever as the cardinal features of surgical site infection. Only a clinician can determine whether an infection is present, so a low threshold for calling is appropriate.

Is it normal for my incision to feel numb or itchy?

Yes, both are common. Small skin nerves are cut during the incision, leaving a patch of altered sensation beside the scar that may take months to change and sometimes persists without causing problems. Itching reflects nerve regrowth and healing chemistry in the tissue. Avoid scratching; a cool compress over the dressing helps. Numbness spreading into the foot or toes is different and should be reported.

Why is my whole knee still warm weeks after surgery?

Warmth over a replaced knee frequently lasts for weeks to months because the joint is still healing internally, and by itself it is not a sign of infection. The pattern that matters is warmth combined with spreading redness, new drainage, fever, or pain and stiffness that are getting worse rather than better. Mention persistent warmth at follow-up so your team can track it alongside your other progress.

References

• NHS: Knee replacement, Recovery
• MedlinePlus: Knee joint replacement, discharge
• MedlinePlus: Surgical wound care, closed
• CDC: About Surgical Site Infections

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.