How to Prepare for Hip Replacement Surgery

You've been advised to have hip surgery. Before the surgery you want to find out as much as you can about the procedure and what to expect in the post-operation phase of the hip replacement. Your surgeon will be able to prescribe you a lifestyle change, and advice on how to adapt to it. Here are some steps to learn how and what to ask your surgeon before hip replacement surgery.

Instructions

• 1

  Schedule a pre-operation physical to meet with your regular doctor before the surgery. This is usually standard procedure, and your doctor should have you book an appointment a few days before the operation to go over any final questions and concerns you have.

• 2

  Research the procedure so you can learn about it in layman's terms before you talk to your doctor. You can ask someone you know who has had the procedure how it was performed on them. Hip replacement surgery usually leaves a person with a 12 to 18 inch scar. There is a less invasive method which will leave a smaller scar, promote a quicker recovery time and a shorter hospital stay. Visit Web sites like WebMD to gain more information (see Resources).

• 3

  Gather questions from your research. Compile a list of questions to bring to your pre-operational physical, and don't hold back. You want to know everything about the procedure, because it's going to be a part of the rest of your life.
  • How long does the procedure take?
  • How long until you will be able to walk, lift and bend?
  • What are the possible complications?
  • Will I need to donate my own blood before the surgery?

• 4

  Be specific with your questions and don't be shy. You want to know exactly how the procedure will be done, what your new hip will look like, the rate of success for the operation, what activities you will be able to do, how long you are likely to need to recover, warning signs of problems and anything else you should expect.

• 5

  Ask your doctor who the surgeon is, and find out the surgeon's qualifications. Ask how many hip replacement surgeries the surgeon has performed and their success rate. Have faith that the surgeon is qualified to perform the operation, but getting to know him or her before the surgery might relieve some of your concerns.

• 6

  Write down all the information you obtained, and review it before your surgery to make sure you know what you are likely to encounter after the procedure. This will help you put to rest your concerns and make you think of more questions, if necessary.