Operating on the tissues sets off a natural protective reaction. The body rushes extra blood and immune cells to the site to begin repairing it, and it is this defence mechanism that triggers the inflammation around the operated area.

The inflamed tissues activate the nerve endings nearby. They fire an electrical message along the nerves up to the brain, which reads it as pain, an alarm meant to make you protect and rest the area.

During inflammation, the small blood vessels become more permeable and let fluid seep into the surrounding tissues. This fluid slowly builds up around the joint, and that accumulation is the oedema, the swelling that stiffens movement.

Lasting pain, restricted mobility and having to rely on others can wear on morale, sleep and confidence. This emotional dimension is a real part of recovery, and it deserves as much attention as the physical symptoms.