Instruct patient and caregiver regarding self-management of total knee replacement. Instructed patient about how is life different after a knee replacement it’s also normal to have temporary swelling, pressure and/or bruising in your ankles and feet, and these may last for a few months. Here are a couple things you can do to help: ice your knee (always cover ice packs in a towel to avoid frostbite, wear compression stockings, elevate your leg with a pillow, ankle exercises verbalized.