Knee replacement or hip replacement surgery can be frightening for many patients. Patients may therefore postpone joint replacement surgery and have to live with severe pain. However, fears often stem from lack of information and misleading information.
It should not be forgotten that learning the right information about surgery and making the necessary preparations is one of the most important steps in overcoming fears.
It is very important to prepare emotionally, mentally and physically before the surgery. When you make these preparations correctly, both the success rate of your prosthesis surgery will increase and your postoperative recovery process will be easier. You can read the rest of our article to learn what you should pay attention to before joint replacement surgery.
Contents:
- What You Need to Know Before Surgery
- Preoperative Health Check
- Controlling Medical Conditions
- Preoperative Medication and Supplement Use
- Home Preparations
- Final Preparations One Day Before Surgery
What You Need to Know Before Surgery
It is very important to get detailed information about the surgical procedure you will undergo. To do this, you should ask your doctor anything you are curious about or do not understand, and get additional information from reliable sources. Thus, you can be prepared for what you need to do before surgery, what you will experience during the operation and your postoperative recovery process. With this information, you can feel safer and take the necessary precautions against a negative situation.
Here are some questions you can ask your doctor about knee replacement or hip replacement:
- What are the short and long-term risks if I do not have surgery (or postpone it)?
- What is the success rate of the proposed surgery?
- Can there be any complications after surgery?
- Which surgical approach (treatment methods) do you use? Does this approach make a difference in the success of the surgery?
- How long will I be in hospital?
- What should be considered after implantation?
- Which symptoms should I watch out for after surgery?
- Who should I contact if I have any problems after the surgery?
Above are the questions that patients are most curious about before surgery. However, the questions may vary from person to person. In addition, the answers to some questions may differ depending on the state of health. Therefore, you should not hesitate to contact your doctor for the most accurate answers specific to your situation.
Preoperative Health Check
Knee replacement and hip replacement surgeries are elective surgeries. That is, they do not require urgency and can be planned several weeks or months in advance. Arrangements can therefore be made for you to undergo surgery in your best health. For example, if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure or hypothyroidism, additional treatments may be used to control it and surgery may be postponed for a while.
Being physically ready for surgery will increase your chances of a good outcome and reduce your risk of surgical complications.
Preoperative Medical Evaluation
Many factors are evaluated when deciding whether a knee replacement or hip replacement surgery is suitable for you. Some tests and examinations are scheduled in the 30 days before surgery. Your tests will include medical history, physical examination, blood tests, electrocardiogram, stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac scintigraphy, X-ray and urine sample.
The results, checked by the doctor, show whether your body is ready for surgery and whether there are any conditions that need attention.
Below are the issues you should share with your doctor before surgery:
- Advice from your previous doctors
- Dietary restrictions or allergies
- Chronic diseases
- Previous illnesses
- Medicines and supplements you take
- The doctors and health professionals you see
- Previous surgeries
- Previous treatments (e.g. cancer treatment)
- Your smoking and alcohol use
It is very important that you discuss all aspects of your health with your doctor. Thus, necessary measures can be taken in time and many risks can be avoided. It also makes it easier to manage your surgery and recovery.
Controlling Medical Conditions
Some patients may have more than one condition at the same time. Some of these conditions can be chronic and need to be kept under control. Especially if you need knee replacement or hip replacement surgery, you should approach the following diseases with caution.
Diabetes (Diabetes)
If you have diabetes, you should talk to your doctor about the best way to control your blood sugar before surgery. Uncontrolled diabetes can slow the healing of your surgical wound. It can also pose a high risk of infection, kidney and heart problems.
Anemia (Anemia)
Anemia can increase the risk of heart and wound complications during surgery. Therefore, your red blood cell count should be checked before surgery. If the count is low, your doctor will guide you to increase your red blood cell levels before surgery. In addition, you should discuss with your doctor plans for managing blood loss after surgery.
Varicose Veins, Leg Swelling and Blood Clots
Surgery and post-operative immobility increase the risk of blood clots forming in your legs. Blood clots can cause pain and swelling. It can even spread to other parts of your body, especially your lungs.
If you or your family members suffer from blood clots, varicose veins or leg swelling, you should inform your surgeon. In some surgeries, blood thinners or compression devices for your legs may be used to help prevent blood clots.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
If you have high blood pressure, you should talk to your surgeon and primary care physician about your medications. You should have your blood pressure checked several times in the days before your surgery. Your blood pressure must be kept under control with medication until the day of surgery. If it cannot be controlled, your surgery may be postponed.
Heart Diseases
Heart disease must be under control before joint replacement surgery. Your surgeon may refer you for a stress test, heart ultrasound (echocardiography) and heart scintigraphy to assess whether there is a risk to your heart health. In particular, people with coronary artery disease or arrhythmias, who have had a heart attack or are at high risk of having a heart attack should have these tests.
If you are at risk, your joint replacement surgery can be postponed and you can start treatment for your heart condition first.
Bone Resorption (Osteoporosis)
Bone resorption is an important problem for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery. Your surgeon will order a bone density test to diagnose whether you have osteoporosis. If there is mild osteoporosis, joint replacement surgery can usually be performed. However, in severe osteoporosis, the bones may not support the prosthesis. In these cases, osteoporosis should be treated first and joint replacement surgery should be postponed.
Hypothyroidi
Hypothyroidism can slow the healing process after joint replacement surgery and increase the risk of complications. However, this does not prevent surgery. You should consult your doctor to keep hypothyroidism under control. You can have joint replacement surgery by adjusting the dosage of medication, checking your hormone levels more frequently and taking additional precautions to reduce the risk of infection.
Dental Treatment
If you have dental problems, you should make an appointment at least six weeks before the surgery and complete all your procedures. In the three months after the operation, you should not undergo any dental procedures. This is because during dental procedures (such as tooth extraction or gum treatment), bacteria can enter your bloodstream and cause infection inside the joint prosthesis. Completing your dental treatments before surgery will reduce your risk of infection.
Preoperative Medication and Supplement Use
In the period before your surgery, you should share all medications and supplements you are taking with your doctor. Some medicines may need dose adjustment or may need to be stopped for a while. Below is some information about the use of medicines and supplements before surgery that your doctor may recommend:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): You should stop taking medicines (NSAIDs) such as Naproxen, Ibuprofen and Aspirin before surgery. This is because these medicines can increase the loss of blood during surgery by preventing blood clotting.
- Supplements: If you are taking supplements, you may need to stop many of them before surgery. These include vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, glucosamine and fish oil. These supplements may increase the risk of bleeding.
- Blood thinners: Blood thinners also increase the risk of bleeding, so you may need to stop taking them.
- Other Medications: Some types of antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can affect anesthesia before surgery. So it may be necessary to discontinue their use.
Weight Control
Weight control is very important for knee or hip joint disorders and forms part of the treatment. Because overweight has a number of negative effects on both joint disorders and general health.
Excess weight puts stress and pressure on your joints. This can cause you to experience more pain when you move. In addition, if you are overweight, there are some risks associated with knee or hip replacement surgery. Chief among these risks is the increased likelihood of complications (e.g. infection).
Dropping to the appropriate weight before surgery helps to reduce your risk of complications and shorten your recovery time. You can relax because the stress on your joints is reduced. For example, if you lose 4 kilograms, the load on your knee is reduced by approximately 18 kilograms.
You can start exercising and reorganize your diet to control your weight.
Exercises
You may not be able to move enough because of a problem with your hip or knee joint. However, when you don’t use your muscles, they become weak and you have more difficulty when you want to move. The surgery will solve the problem in your joint. Nevertheless, you should exercise before surgery to properly support your joint. Preoperative exercises have many benefits for your recovery:
- The exercises increase your muscle strength, endurance and flexibility. Thus, you can more comfortably perform the exercises recommended for the postoperative period.
- If you learn the exercises correctly before surgery, you will not need to relearn them in the postoperative period. Of course, your exercise program may change after surgery. However, you can continue more easily with the exercises you know.
- Exercises that strengthen your upper body can make it easier for you to use orthopedic supports such as crutches after surgery.
- Exercises before surgery can help you lose weight. This can reduce the pressure on your knee or hip joint. This can help to reduce your pain and help you move more easily.
If you experience very severe pain, it may be difficult to perform the exercises. In this case, you can consult your doctor and find out what exercises are suitable for you or what you can do instead of exercise.
Nutrition
The other way to control weight is to adjust your diet. For this, you can first consult your doctor and dietitian. They will guide you to the most suitable diet for you.
You can follow the general recommendations listed below for your diet:
- Reduce your portions.
- Drink enough water.
- Eat at regular times.
- Eat your food slowly.
- Research how many calories are in what you eat.
- Follow a nutritious and balanced diet.
If you have a chronic condition, your doctor and dietitian may recommend an appropriate diet. Therefore, you should definitely consult a specialist in nutrition. You can achieve more successful results with a customized diet that fits your weight loss goal.
Smoking and Alcohol Use
Smoking and alcohol use bring many problems in terms of orthopedic surgeries. Smoking is a major cause of many preventable diseases.
Most people know that smoking is linked to conditions such as heart disease and cancer. However, the negative effects of smoking on bone, muscle and joint health are not well known. However, smoking leads to negative results from orthopedic surgeries and prolongs the recovery period. Because nicotine has harmful effects on the cells that contribute to bone formation and blood flow.
The most common complications caused by smoking are as follows:
- Delayed healing of wounds
- Infection
- Respiratory problems during or after surgery
- More scar tissue development at the wound site
If you consume alcohol intensively and continue to consume alcohol before surgery, the success rate of your surgery will decrease. According to one study, people who consumed alcohol heavily before surgery experienced the following conditions:
- Longer hospital stay after surgery
- Higher complication rate
- Needing more blood transfusions
- Higher risk of infection
Researchers have found that patients who quit smoking and drinking alcohol or do not use them at all have better results in orthopedic surgeries. In order to regain your health and minimize possible risks, you should definitely quit smoking and alcohol before surgery.
Home Preparations
It will take a certain amount of time to recover from joint replacement surgery. It is therefore very important that your home is safe and comfortable during the recovery process. You should also take precautions to avoid falls and bumps. An accident at home can delay your recovery and cause pain.
Preparing your home before surgery makes your daily life easier and safer after surgery. These changes should be maintained until the healing process is over.
Here’s what you can do to make your home more comfortable and safe:
- Remove Items You May Trip Over to Prevent Falls: Items such as carpets, electrical cables and children’s toys can cause you to trip or slip. So take care to keep the floor as clean as possible.
- Create Large Areas You Can Walk: You may need to use a walker or crutches for a while after surgery. When using this equipment inside the home, be careful to create large spaces.
- Keep the things you need close by: After surgery, you may have difficulty bending or reaching. To bend or reach as little as possible, you can keep frequently used items close by. You may also find it easier to use a holding device.
- Use Grab Bars in Your Bathroom: The bathroom can be a risky place for falls. You can make your bathroom safer by placing grab bars in appropriate places.
- Limit your living space: If you live in a two-story house, going up and down the stairs can be challenging. Also, moving back and forth between rooms can cause fatigue. So, especially for the first few weeks, you can limit the space you spend time in to one room.
- Keep a night light next to your bed: You should have a lamp next to your bed and keep it on throughout the night. Because when you wake up at night and need to go to the toilet, you may not be able to see in the dark and fall.
- Arrange Assistive Equipment: After surgery, there is equipment to help you with certain activities such as walking, dressing and using the toilet. This equipment helps to keep you safe while you are recovering. Examples include crutches, walkers, sock-wearing aids, toilet risers and bathtub seats.
- Identify People to Help You: When you arrive home after surgery, you will need someone to help you. We recommend having a family member or friend with you at all times, especially during the first week.
- Take the necessary precautions if you live alone: If you have not arranged for someone to help you after surgery, you may find it difficult to do your own work. But you can take measures to make it easier for you. For example, you can do the grocery shopping before surgery and store easy-to-cook meals in the freezer.
- Plan Your Transportation: You will not be able to drive on your own or use public transportation during your treatment. Therefore, you should arrange for a family member or friend to provide transportation to and from the hospital and home.
Final Preparations One Day Before Surgery
The last 24 hours before your surgery will be a busy time, filled with many preparations. You can use the checklist below to make sure you don’t forget anything:
- Shower the night before your surgery. Your doctor may recommend antibacterial soap or another medicinal product. This will help reduce the risk of infection.
- You can shave the area to be operated on according to your doctor’s advice.
- Any tear in your skin can allow bacteria to enter your body and cause an infection. So check every part of your skin, including the groin area, under the breasts, behind the knees and under the armpits. Tell your doctor if you see any abnormalities.
- Do not use cosmetics such as make-up and nail polish before going to the hospital.
- Do not consume any food or drink at least 8 hours before surgery. If you eat it, you may feel nauseous and vomit after anesthesia. Complications can also occur, although very rarely.
- Prepare a bag to take to the hospital. The following items should be in the bag:
- Non-slip and comfortable bedroom slippers
Conclusion
Preparation before joint replacement surgery is a critical stage that affects the healing process. When you make the necessary preparations physically, emotionally and mentally, you can greatly increase the success of your surgery and prevent many complications.
The decision to have surgery is an anxious process for many patients. We aim to reduce your anxiety as much as possible and support you to prepare for the surgery in the best possible way. Therefore, in this article, we have prepared a general guide on preoperative health checks, chronic diseases, medication, exercise, nutrition and home preparations.
If you have any other questions about the pre-operative period, you can contact us via our website or social media accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medications should I stop before surgery?
During the pre-operative examination, you should list all the medications you are taking on a piece of paper and send it to your doctor. Your doctor may recommend that you stop taking your regular medicines for a while. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naproxen, Ibuprofen and aspirin and some supplements should be stopped before surgery. If you are taking blood thinners, your doctor may recommend another blood thinner instead of the one you are taking.
What are the types of anesthesia and which one is right for me?
Types of anesthesia: include general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, local anesthesia and sedation. Many factors are considered when determining which anesthesia is right for you. These factors are: Your age, height, weight, body mass index, chronic diseases, serious operations, medications and allergies. Then the necessary tests are performed and the most appropriate type of anesthesia is determined.
Which tests will be performed before surgery?
Before the operation, a number of tests are performed to assess your body’s readiness. In addition, if you have a chronic condition, it should be taken under control so that it does not interfere with the surgery. Therefore, for a detailed evaluation, medical history, physical examination, blood tests, electrocardiogram, exercise test, echocardiography, cardiac scintigraphy, X-ray and urine test are performed before surgery.
When should I have my last meal before surgery?
You should stop taking any food or drink at least 8 hours before your surgery. Otherwise, you may feel nauseous and vomit after the anesthesia applied so that you do not feel pain and pain during surgery. Complications can also occur, although this is rare.
What should I wear on the day of the operation?
The clothes you choose for the day of surgery are important for you to be comfortable and to have a smooth surgery. On the day of surgery, you should wear comfortable and loose clothes, and you should not wear any jewelry or accessories. For this, you can choose clothes such as tracksuits or pajamas. You should also get non-slip and comfortable slippers for your hospital stay.
Do I need to do a special skin cleansing before the surgery?
You should first listen to your doctor’s advice about cleaning the area to be operated on. Because it can make suggestions specific to the process you will enter. For example, your doctor may ask you to shower and clean with antibacterial medical products the day before surgery. You may also need to shave the area to be operated on the day before.
