Two things to buy before your surgery date — both of them fight the same enemy.
Swelling is the thing that makes a knee replacement hard. It causes pain, pain limits motion, and limited motion is what leaves people with a stiff knee.
Everything on this page attacks swelling. Get both of these before your surgery date — not after, when you will not feel like shopping.
1. A compression garment
Compression is an important part of swelling control. You should buy one of these two options to help with swelling after surgery. You do not need both.
Reparel Leg Sleeve
Patients generally like the Reparel sleeve if they don't have upper thigh measurements over 24 inches. It goes from your ankle to the upper thigh.
Buy it at reparel.com and use the TRIA20 discount code on their website for 20% off.
EdemaWear Stockinet
The EdemaWear sleeve is cooler and is constructed to milk the fluid out of your leg. It fits from the foot to the upper thigh, and it works at any size.
| Upper thigh | Order this size |
|---|---|
| Over 24″ | Medium (yellow stripe) |
| Under 24″ | Shaped (grey stripe) |
Measure your upper thigh before you order either one. Both products are sized from that measurement, and a garment that doesn't fit won't help you. If you are close to the next size up, pick the larger size.
Compression Garments — Full Guide
Side-by-side comparison, both sizing charts, ordering details, and the TRIA20 code. PDF · 3 pages
2. Diosmin & hesperidin
These are flavonoids — compounds derived from citrus fruit, sold over the counter as a dietary supplement. They have been used for years to treat leg swelling, and they are well tolerated.
Taking it before and after surgery is better than only afterward. Same logic as the rest of this protocol: get ahead of the swelling rather than chase it.
What the research shows
A 2025 randomized trial found that patients taking diosmin with hesperidin after knee replacement had substantially better early knee bending — 104.9° of flexion at two weeks, compared with 91° without it. That is nearly 14 degrees, during exactly the window when motion matters most.
An honest note on the evidence. A larger 2023 multicenter trial (330 patients, 13 hospitals) confirmed that diosmin reduces swelling and reduces pain during movement — but that trial did not find a significant difference in range of motion.
So: two good trials agree it reduces swelling and pain with motion. One found a real flexion benefit; the other did not. I think it is worth taking on the strength of the swelling and pain data alone — and the flexion result may well be real. I would rather tell you that than have you find it yourself and wonder what else I glossed over.
How to take it
Buy 4 bottles — one bottle per month, for 2 months before surgery and 2 months after.
Tell us you are taking it, and check with us first if you take a blood thinner (including aspirin you started on your own), are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have liver disease. It is well tolerated, but it is still something you are taking, and it needs to be on your medication list.
Diosmin & Hesperidin — Full Guide
The evidence, dosing, where to buy, and who should check with us first. PDF · 2 pages
The other four ways
Swelling is managed six ways in total. The two above are the ones you have to buy. The other four are free:
- Elevation — toes above nose. This is most of the battle.
- Ace wraps
- Icing — a cooling machine or ice packs
- Controlling your activity — the step limits, which patients underestimate more than anything else in this protocol
Anti-inflammatory medication is the sixth, and that comes from your written plan.
