Many people who have joint replacement surgery wait many weeks or months before their operation takes place. This is a good time to learn as much as you can about the surgery itself and also about what will happen during your recovery and rehabilitation.
You and your family should start thinking about what kind of help you will need once you get home and also about re-arranging your surroundings to make things easier and safer for you. Making these plans well before your surgery means you won’t have to worry about them so much later on.
This is also a good time to think about your overall health and fitness. Being as fit as possible before undergoing a joint replacement may help you recover more quickly. If your doctor has suggested you lose weight, try making some changes to your diet and be as active as possible. If you still smoke, this is a good time to quit -- smoking interferes with healing and may slow down your recovery.
Before Your Surgery
This is a good time to start thinking about what Assistive devices you will need after your operation... more
The Pre-Operative Visit
Most hospitals will ask you to come in several weeks before your joint replacement surgery is scheduled to review your situation and talk about what will happen... more
The Week Before Surgery
During your pre-operative visit, you were told which medications should be stopped in the week before surgery. Follow this advice carefully... more
The Day of Surgery
It’s the night before your operation and you are probably feeling nervous and excited. Here’s what you should know... more