How to Prepare for Joint Replacement Surgery

Preparation, education, continuity of care and a preplanned discharge are essential for positive results when having any type of joint replacement surgery. You should learn what to expect every step of the way, what you need to do to prepare and how to care for your new joint. Consultation with your physician, nurse, therapist or other health care provider on all aspects of your surgery and recovery is essential.

Instructions

• 1

  Learn who will be caring for you. Understanding who the health care team is and what they do is just the first step in educating yourself about your surgery. Your team could include:
  * Orthopedic Surgeon: The surgeon of your choice will be performing your surgery and managing your care. Along with his team, he will be working with the nurses and therapists on staff to ensure that you are healing properly and recovering quickly.
  * Primary Medical Doctor: Your primary doctor needs to be consulted after your surgery is scheduled. He will oversee any lab work and perform a physical at least 2 weeks before surgery. He will also assist the surgeon in managing your recovery.
  * Anesthesiologist: The anesthesiologist is responsible for administering the anesthesia and monitoring you during surgery. He will also be working with your surgeon on any pain management that may be needed for you during surgery.
  * Nursing Staff: The nursing staff at the hospital include registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN) and certified nursing assistants (CNA). They will work with you to manage your pain after surgery and during your hospital stay. They will be frequently monitoring your condition and helping you to make a swift recovery.
  * Physical Therapist: A physical therapist will be helping you regain your mobility, range of motion and strength after surgery. He will ensure that you are able to move about properly, maintain your balance and are able to complete a series of exercises that you will do after discharge.
  * Occupational Therapist: An occupational therapist will help you to regain your independence after surgery. He is responsible for making sure you are able to perform activities you need for daily living, such as bathing, dressing and cooking.
  * Discharge Planner: A member of the hospital staff will be working with you to guarantee you are ready to be discharged when the time comes. He will work with your medical team and in most cases, assist you in planning any alternative home-care arrangements that might be needed.

• 2

  Research your surgery. Whether your procedure will be on your hip, knee or shoulder there are often many techniques and applications available. Talk over your options with your orthopedic surgeon and then research the procedure so that you understand what your limitations could be, the recovery time and what you can do to make the recovery progress better. Remember, your goal--and that of your health care team--is to get you back into your daily activities as quickly as possible.

• 3

  Plan ahead for when you return home after surgery. Check each room in your home and make adjustments to the arrangements. Clear pathways so that you will have easy access to the bedroom, bath, living room and kitchen. Remove throw rugs and electrical cords from any pathways. Organize your kitchen so items are easily accessible without having to reach for them. Precook meals so they are easily reheatable. Prearrange your clothing so it is easily reached from your bed.

• 4

  Pack for your hospital stay. This will allow you to guarantee that you have everything you need at hand. The following is a general list that may help you prepare. Use this only as a guide and add any additional requirements or suggestions that your hospital or surgeon recommends.
  * Personal hygiene and grooming items, including toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant and an electric razor
  * Comfortable clothes that are easy for you to dress in. They can include shorts, culottes, button shirts and socks. Pack several changes of underclothes.
  * Comfortable shoes with non-skid bottoms. These can be flat shoes, tennis shoes or well-fitted slippers.
  * List of medication you are on. DO NOT bring your medication. Your medication will be provided for you and is covered by your insurance.
  * Current photo ID
  * Dentures, hearing aids, eye glasses, and contact lenses with solution
  * Books, magazines, simple craft projects, small music player or laptop computer. Please note--the hospital is NOT responsible for loss of any electrical equipment or personal items.
  * Copy of your Advanced Directives and Medical Power of Attorney
  * Insurance cards

• 5

  Consider your diet. A healthy, well-balanced diet is vitally important both before and after surgery. It will give your body the energy it needs to heal and help fight infection. As in all things related to your surgery and health, please consult your physician as to the proper diet for you. The following is just a general guide to help you in maintaining a well balanced, nutrient-rich diet that is necessary to enhance your body's healing ability.
  * Grains: 6 to 10 servings daily. 1 serving = 1 slice of bread
  * Vegetables: 5 services daily. 1 serving = 2 cup of raw vegetables or ½ cup cooked vegetables or juice.
  * Fruits: 3 to 4 servings daily. 1 serving = 1 medium apple, banana or orange, 1 cup raw fruit or ½ cup cooked fruit or juice
  * Dairy: 2 to 3 servings daily. 1 serving = 1 cup of milk or yogurt, 1 ½ oz of cheese.
  * Protein: 2 to 3 servings daily. 1 serving = 3 ounces of cooked meat, ½ cup of cooked peas or beans
  * Fiber: 25 to 35 grams of fiber each day
  * Fluids: 6 to 8 glasses of water per day

• 6

  Begin your recommended exercises as soon as possible after your surgery has been scheduled, preferably at least 1 month in advance of your surgery date. Exercise is essential for a complete recovery from your surgery. These exercises help you to improve muscle strength and flexibility. This in turn will help you recover faster. Your orthopedic surgeon will provide you with directions that will strengthen the muscles influenced by your replacement. Some of these could include:
  * Arm Strength: Armchair pushups, arm curls, tricep extensions and weighted arm raises.
  * Leg Strength: Heel slides, knee flexions, leg raises, knee extensions, ankle pumps
  * Hip Strength: Hip abduction and adductions, gluteal sets (butt squeezes)