How to Prepare for Knee Surgery: Secrets to a Successful Knee Surgery
There are many things you can do to prepare for your knee surgery. Being proactive about your treatment can often dramatically shorten your recovery and reduce your risk for any complications.
Medical Evaluation & Tests
In order to prepare for your knee surgery, you will need to have a complete physical examination by your family physician before surgery. The exam will help assess your health and identify any conditions that could interfere with your knee replacement surgery or recovery.
This is where you should discuss any medications you are taking to find out which ones may need to be temporarily discontinued until after the knee replacement. Your exam will also most likely include diagnostic tests like blood and urine lab work and a cardiogram. While preparing for your knee surgery, it may also be a good idea to donate your own blood should you need any after your surgery.
Preparing Your Skin and Leg for Knee Surgery
Prior to surgery, make sure your knee and leg are free from any kind of skin infections or irritation in general. Your lower leg should not have any chronic swelling either. If any of these conditions are present before your replacement surgery, make sure to contact your orthopaedic surgeon right away.
Dental Evaluation
Although the incidence of infection after knee replacement is very low, an infection is potentially possible if bacteria enter your bloodstream. You should consider treating significant dental diseases (including tooth extractions and periodontal work) before your total knee replacement surgery to minimize your risk of infection during recovery.
Social Planning
Although you will be able to walk on crutches or with a walker soon after your surgery, you will most likely need help with normal every day activities like cooking, shopping, bathing, and doing laundry. So when preparing for your knee surgery, make sure your spouse or a friend will be available to help you out for a few weeks. If you live alone, your doctor’s office can help you make advance arrangements to have someone assist you at home. They also can help you arrange for a short stay in an extended-care facility during your recovery.
Home Planning
When figuring out how to prepare for your knee surgery, don’t forget the things you can do around the house to make it more recovery-friendly. Things that can make your home easier to navigate during your recovery are handrails in the shower/bath and on your stairways, a chair with two arms and a footstool, and a bench or chair for sitting in the shower. Also consider a toilet seat riser with arms if you have a low toilet at home and be sure to remove all loose carpets or stray cords that may trip you up.
