Preparing for Total Joint Replacement

With total knee and hip replacement surgery volumes on the rise, more patients are preparing

for these surgeries than ever. If you are a patient who will be undergoing one of these

procedures in the near future, there are many things you can prepare for ahead of time that

will make your recovery much smoother. The first week or two after your joint replacement

can be stressful and uncomfortably, so preparation is key. Here are a few things to keep in

mind as you get ready for surgery.

Your Home

Each home has a unique layout and collection of possible hazards for you after surgery. Let’s go

room by room and consider some changes that may be helpful.

Entire House

Before discussing particular rooms of the house, we’ll first cover a few points that apply to

every room in the house. Perhaps the most important aspect of your safety after joint

replacement is the avoidance of falls. Your mobility will be significantly restricted after surgery

and your house must accommodate your limitations. You will begin walking with the assistance

of a walker. Ensure that walkways are wide enough for you to maneuver with the walker and

even practice with the walker in your home before surgery to find tight turns or obstacles that

may not have been immediately apparent. Attach a basket or holder of some kind to the front

of the walker where you can place items such as your cell phone. Avoid carrying items in your

hands initially so that you can completely use both hands on your walker. Consider putting

away throw rugs or loose items on the floor that may be tripping hazards. Declutter areas

where you will be spending time so you will have room to place items within reach.

Living Room

Many patients will spend the majority of their first couple of weeks after surgery in their living

or family rooms. Consider setting up your favorite chair or side of the couch with frequently

used items within reach. If possible, choose a location where the seat height is not too low and

your knees are not higher than your hips when you sit. Additional cushions on the seat or

furniture elevators are other options to raise the seat height of existing furniture. Also,

consider choosing a seat with a foot rest that can be extended, especially after knee

replacement surgery. This will help keep the leg elevated and decrease swelling. Alternatively,

several pillows or cushions can be used to elevate as well. Be sure that you have easy access to

frequently used items, such as TV remotes and your cell phone or cordless phone.

Bedroom

Another room of the house where you will likely spend extra time during recovery is your

bedroom. Ensure that proper lighting is present and think about night lights in darker areas to

avoid tripping when heading to the bathroom at night. Additionally, think about the number of

stairs you will need to use on a daily basis if your bedroom is not on the main level. You will

want to avoid any situation where repeatedly going up and down flights of stairs would be

required. Perhaps you will want to relocate your bedroom to the main level for a short period

of time, if needed. Alternatively, you may simply arrange your schedule to only go up and

down the stairs one time throughout the day.

Bathroom

Think carefully about the location of bathrooms in your house and their proximity to the places

where you will spend most of your time. You will want to avoid having to go up or down stairs

each time you need to use the bathroom. Also, you will want to be close to the bathroom to

avoid rushing and increasing your risk of falling. In the bathroom, consider installing safety

handles in your shower or bathtub. Avoid slipping hazards with specially designed shower mats

and non-slip bath mats. Also, shower chairs and hand-held shower heads can be quite helpful

as well. An elevated toilet seat or bed-side commode are other items that may be needed, too.

Kitchen

Following surgery, standing for long periods of time can be difficult in the early stages. As a

result, you should prepare your kitchen for your recovery as well. Keep frequently used items

such as a coffee maker, frying pan, and a pot for boiling water on the counter or stove instead

of stored in lower cabinets so they can be easily accessed. Consider preparing several meals

before surgery or purchase pre-made frozen meals that can simply be heated without much

effort. Stock plenty of food for the first couple of weeks after surgery, since your ability to drive

and maneuver around stores will be limited. Alternatively, have a few meals delivered so you

do not need to prepare anything at all.

Your Life After Surgery

Just as important as preparing your house for your recovery is preparing other aspects of daily

life. Next, we will explore a few other topics that are essential to ensure an easier recovery.

Assistance

Your ability to perform simple activities of daily living, such as cleaning, cooking, taking care of

your yard, and carrying for family and pets will be limited after surgery. If you have a spouse or

other family member living with you, then hopefully you have a willing helper during this time

of need. However, there may not be anyone available for that assistance, so you might need to

lean on others for help as well. Other options include friends, neighbors, house cleaners, and

landscapers that you may need to call upon for a short period of time. Depending on your

surgeon’s preferences, you may also have a home health professional coming to your home,

who will help with your post-operatively exercises, mobilization, and looking for safety

concerns within your home.

Family

While having family members around after surgery can be quite a big help for many patients,

they can create some problems as well. Avoid having small children around in the early stages,

as they can be tripping hazards, are unaware of your condition, and may lead you to risk your

own safety if you see that they are in need of help themselves. Also, if you have pets, consider

having them stay elsewhere initially, as they also can cause falls and require being fed and let

outside multiple times per day. If no family will be staying with you after surgery, think about

calling someone more frequently to simply check in, let your loved ones know how you are

doing, and giving yourself opportunities to ask for more help if needed.

Medical

One other key aspect in your recovery revolves around the post-operative medical care directly.

You will be taking several medicines after surgery to help with the difficulties of surgery, such as

pain, swelling, prevention of blood clots, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Try to obtain your

medications a day or two before surgery, so they will be at home and easily accessed when you

need them. While pain medications work very well, they can have significant side effects. You

may feel quite dizzy, lightheaded, and nauseous from the medications themselves. This can

increase your likelihood of falls, accidents, and need to get to the bathroom quickly, so take

extra care initially until you know how the medications are affecting you.

Medications are only one component of your medical treatment, however. Icing and elevation

of the operative leg can also greatly assist in swelling prevention and treatment. Frequent

mobilization is important in the prevention of blood clots and in improving your mobility after

surgery. Try to walk short distances every 1-2 hours throughout the day as opposed to only

getting up a few times but for longer periods of time. Approach your post-operative

rehabilitation exercises with as positive of an attitude as possible despite their discomfort, as

they are vital in your overall recovery. Lastly, let your surgeon’s team know if you are having

significant difficulty with medication side effects, as other medicines may be needed in certain

situations.

Conclusions

Joint replacement surgery is a major commitment from you as the patient in your overall

health. In the immediate post-operative period, the surgery requires significant planning,

rearranging, and flexibility from you as the patient and from many other people surrounding

you. When planned well, however, you will have a significantly higher chance of a great

outcome and avoid the potential complications discussed above. Hopefully, this blog will

provide a guide for that planning and assist you in your recovery, so you can get back to the

activities you love as quickly as possible.