Preparing for Joint Replacement: A Patients’ Guide

Joint replacement surgery is now a routine procedure. However it is still a major operation and it is important to prepare yourself physically and mentally beforehand so you can recover more quickly and experience the best possible outcomes.

Here is our general guide to joint replacement surgery, along with some specific tips on preparing for particular types of surgery.

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Find out about the procedure

You are here reading this blog and that is a great start! By finding out all about the procedure you are going to have you will know what to expect and what questions to ask your orthopaedic surgeon.

Googling is great but make sure you stick to authoritative websites such as those created by NHS providers and private orthopaedic specialists. Asking people who have had the procedure can sometimes be helpful too.

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Build up your fitness

If you are having a knee or hip replacement, losing weight before the procedure if you are overweight will help to reduce the strain on your new joint.

Building up your upper body strength will also make it easier to use crutches or a walking frame after your operation. And, exercising will help you to feel better and manage the pain more effectively while you are waiting for surgery.

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Plan ahead

You will need to arrange for someone to take you and bring you home from hospital after your operation. You may also need to make modifications to your home environment to make thins easier to access.

Tell work in plenty of time before your surgery date to allow them to make arrangements to cover for you while you are recovering.

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Get people to help you

People are normally really willing to help out in whatever way they can so don’t be afraid to ask for support. If you are lacking a good support network, make sure you discuss this with your medical team before surgery.

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Read your patient information carefully

Before the procedure you will be given detailed information about what will happen, where to go and what to bring with you. Please make sure you read this carefully in advance and if you are unclear about anything, ask the orthopaedic team.

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Hip and knee replacement

After hip replacement or knee replacement surgery, you may struggle to climb stairs for a while so we recommend creating a sleeping area on the ground floor and arranging your home so that everything you need in the first few days is easily accessible so you don’t need to move around very much.

You may need to move furniture to allow you to walk around easily with crutches or a walking frame. And make sure you move any loose rugs or items on the floor that you could trip over.

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Shoulder replacement

You will need to avoid having a shower for around a week after all types of joint replacement surgery. It is advisable to wash your hair before you come into hospital as this may be difficult after shoulder replacement surgery.

You will also need to avoid reaching, so before you go into hospital arrange your kitchen so that pots, pans, utensils and foods you use regularly are easily accessible. Rather than buying large packets of food, opt for smaller, lighter packets or divide them up into smaller packets.

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Whatever type of surgery you are having, we will do whatever we can to ensure that everything goes smoothly and you have the best possible outcomes.

By taking a few simple steps to prepare yourself beforehand, you can help us to help you regain your mobility and enjoy a good quality of life again.

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