Preparing For Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common and popular forms of joint replacement surgery. More than half a million people in the United States each year undergo this surgery. You might be surprised and say, "Wow, that's a big number!" Yes, since the number of people who lose their knees due to serious medical problems like osteoarthritis and other possible causes like accidents is rising.

If you are reading this article, you may be a knee arthroplasty candidate and want to learn how to prepare for knee replacement surgery. As doctors say, the better you are getting ready for this operation, the easier and shorter your recovery period will be. This article describes everything you need to know about getting ready for knee replacement surgery.

Signs That You Need To Have Knee Replacement Surgery

Why do patients need knee arthroplasty, and is it necessary? In patients with knee osteoarthritis, the cartilage at the ends of the knee joint bones wears out after a while and causes the two bones to rub against each other. This condition causes severe joint pain and stiffness, making it difficult for the patient to perform everyday activities over time and with delays in treatment. Doctors always insist that you don't let things go that way, as you have no other option than a knee replacement. But how? They agree that if you see a doctor early on, medicine, physiotherapy, and occasionally corticosteroid injections will slow or stop the progression of joint wear. Otherwise, the orthopedic surgeon will have to replace the damaged joint with an artificial joint, which will have both advantages and disadvantages for you. Knee replacement surgery is a complicated procedure with a challenging healing period, so you need to be mentally, medically, and physically prepared before surgery.

Mentally Preparing For Knee Surgery

Doctors believe that mentally preparing for knee surgery is more important than other measures because worries and expectations can deter people from having surgery. To do this, you must first answer any doubts or concerns you might have about knee surgery before deciding on a surgery date. To do this, visit your doctor to obtain complete and detailed information about important issues such as the risks of knee replacement surgery, the longevity of knee replacements, and the quality of life after surgery. There have been cases where some patients had expected to perform strenuous activities after surgery, such as when they were healthy. But when they later realized that such a thing was not possible and that they should have limitations, they were depressed. In addition, it is important to know that implants do not last forever. After 15 to 20 years, depending on your care, you may need to have secondary joint replacement surgery. Once you have alleviated your concerns, schedule your surgery date with your doctor and ask her/him to help you prepare for knee replacement surgery.

Medically And Physically Preparing For Total Knee Replacement Surgery

A few weeks before surgery, you need to follow a few essential steps to have an easy operation without side effects. According to statistics, patients who are well prepared before the procedure are more likely to have a successful operation and improve in a short time. Some things you should consider a few weeks before surgery:

1- Stop Taking Medications

You must stop taking the following medications two weeks before the operation to avoid complications during the procedure and for a few days after:

• Anticoagulants such as aspirin, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Immunosuppressant medications;
• Opioid pain medications
• Supplements such as vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, glucosamine, and fish oil.

2- Control Your Weight

Orthopedists say that if you want to recover faster, you should be physically fit. Therefore, try to get rid of your excess weight by doing some special exercises under the supervision of your doctor a few weeks before the surgery.

3- Quit Smoking Or Other Tobacco Products

Two weeks before surgery, quit smoking. Since nicotine increases the probability of bleeding during surgery, it also raises the risk of infection and blood clot formation following surgery.

4- Avoid Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol can have risky interactions with anesthetic drugs and be life-threatening. Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages at least one week before the operation.

5- Dental Evaluation

Make an appointment with a dentist before the surgical day. Since bacteria from the teeth due to a dental procedure may enter the bloodstream and cause infection in the artificial joint area.

6- Exercises To Prepare For Knee Replacement

There are various and particular exercises to prepare for knee replacement. Before surgery, seek the help of a physiotherapist to ensure that these exercises are performed correctly.

Get Your Home Ready

One week before the operation, prepare the home environment for the recovery period; for this purpose, you can:

• Prepare a room for yourself on the first floor;
• Remove extra items from the hallways so you can move around in a wheelchair or crutches;
• Attach railing to your bathtub and stairs;
• Set a raised toilet seat;
• Make all the equipment you need available;
• Ask your spouse or friends to be with you during this time.

What Do You Bring To The Hospital For Surgery?

The day of surgery has come, and you must pack your things and go to the hospital the day before the procedure. You should pack the following items:

• Comfortable clothes that do not put pressure on your knee when changing;
• Personal items such as toothbrushes and deodorants;
• Slip-on shoes and a knee-length robe;
• All medical documents and test results.

Summary

Although you all know that knee replacement surgery is a complicated and expensive operation and requires a few months of rest at home, you can spend this process with ease of mind if you prepare well before the surgery. To have surgery with a healthy mind and body, ask your doctor any questions or doubts about surgery. You can also get a lot of helpful information from reliable sources and websites. Remember that you may face difficulties during the procedure and in the days after if you do not prepare for knee replacement surgery.