How to Best Prepare for Your Knee Replacement Surgery
Is knee replacement surgery on your calendar or are you considering scheduling one soon? If so, this post was written specifically for you to alleviate all the stressors and potential obstacles you could face. Many people are unaware that there are a series of steps you should take to best prepare for your knee replacement surgery. Do yourself a huge favor and start preparing now. It can make your recovery go a whole lot easier, faster, and smoother.
1. Plan Ahead
Even though your surgery isn’t tomorrow, you should still start planning to reduce the amount of stress and last-minute running around after your surgery when you should be focusing on your recovery. Life can become stressful for a couple of weeks following any surgical procedure because of the abrupt decline in your ability to perform daily activities normally. This will allow you to put all your focus on recovery to give yourself the best chance of having a successful outcome.
2. Ask Questions
Questions for Choosing Surgeon
You have the choice to choose your orthopedic surgeon who will be performing your knee replacement surgery. Unfortunately, like every other healthcare provider, not all surgeons are the same. Some surgeons implement more up-to-date approaches which have far more superior long-term outcomes than others. I have compiled a list of questions you may want to ask when choosing the right surgeon for your knee replacement: How many procedures have you done in the past? When did you do your most recent procedure? Do you have any past patient testimonials of your work? What are the expected limitations you’ve seen following surgery? Will you recommend rehab for me after surgery? Can I choose my own physical therapist?
Questions for Knee Replacement Surgery
There are many different approaches a surgeon can take when performing your knee replacement surgery. The approach taken for your knee replacement surgery is mostly at the discretion of the surgeon based on your specific presentation, the surgeons past success rate and current research driven evidence of one procedure showing to have more favorable outcomes than another. I have also compiled a list of questions you may want to ask when discussing your options for choosing a specific surgical approach: Will I need a partial or total knee replacement? Will I need surgery on one or both knees? Will I have any weight bearing limitations after surgery (and if so for how long)? Will you use staples or glue to close the incision? Which approach have you seen to have the best long-term outcomes? Will I need another knee replacement in the future (and if so, about how many years from now)? What type of anesthesia will you use? How long will the surgery take? Could I have the surgery as an outpatient without a hospital stay? Will you prescribe physical therapy after this type of procedure? When can I start driving again? When can I go back to work? When will my first follow up with you be?
3. Get Some “Prehab”
Prehab is a great option to start learning specific exercises that will help to strengthen weak muscles, improve joint range of motion, and improve flexibility before you go in for surgery. Research studies have shown countless times that those who participate in a comprehensive prehab program with a physical therapist before surgery have been shown to have significantly better outcomes following surgery than those who do not. Ask your doctor or physical therapist which specific exercises he/she recommends immediately after your surgery, so you can start right away on your recovery. If your heavy, try your best to drop some weight to lessen the amount of stress on your knees. You can also work your arms and upper body to make it easier to get around using crutches or a walker after your surgery. A physical therapist can also help to size up your crutches or your walker and train you how to use it ahead of time to make it an easy transition after surgery.
4. Quit Smoking
If you smoke cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products, you may want to consider quitting smoking or significantly cutting down on your consumption when preparing for your surgery. Smoking significantly slows down recovery and tissue healing times. It also raises your risk of complications and infections both during and after surgery.
5. Write It All Down
Chances are within the next couple weeks you’re going to be continuously asked the same questions about your medical and insurance information while preparing for your knee replacement surgery. Write down a quick list of commonly asked information for your own convenience including: all medications/supplements, past medical history, past surgical history, insurance policy/member numbers, doctor’s name/phone number, and emergency contact information.
6. Line Up Help
Trust me on this one, you’re going to need some help following your knee replacement surgery. Most people don’t realize the temporary limitations they will be facing following any surgical procedure. If you live on your own, contact friends and family (or paid help) to stay with you for a while. These people will be able to assist helping you with transportation, preparing meals, bathing, dressing, caring for pets, and getting the mail each day.
7. Get Your Home Ready
Move things in your house so it’ll be easier to get around when you’re less mobile. You might need to set up a temporary bedroom on the first floor. Clear your hallways to make room for crutches or a walker. Consider installing safety rails in the bathroom. Keep everything you need — from your phone to your coffee maker – within easy reach.
8. Find A Good Physical Therapist
Physical therapy is a significant part of your recovery following knee replacement surgery. By the end of the whole recovery, you will be very familiar with physical therapy starting from day one at the inpatient level. Immediately following your surgery at the hospital, a physical therapist will come into your room and help you get out of bed and start putting weight through your surgical leg. Then you will work up to learning how to walk using crutches or walker and then the stairs to start preparing for your discharge home.
Once you are discharged home from the hospital, you will be referred to outpatient physical therapy. There are more than likely going to be many local physical therapy clinics in your area. Often, you have the choice when choosing your physical therapist. Do your homework and research ahead of time when finding the right therapist to help with your recovery. Again, like we discussed earlier with surgeons, not all physical therapists are the same. Look up online reviews of the clinic. Call the clinic and ask to speak directly with the physical therapist. Will they let you come in for a “discovery visit” or speak in person to the physical therapist so you can get a feel for them as a person and the clinic itself? Do they take your insurance, or do they offer competitive self-pay options? Do they have the necessary equipment to help with your recovery? How much time will you spend with the physical therapist each session? How many times per week will the therapist see you? Are they available by phone or email when you’re not in the clinic? Do they have testimonials from past patients who had success with them after surgery? Do they often see patients after total knee replacement? How clean is the facility? It’s crucial to ask all these questions when choosing the right physical therapist to help you recover from knee replacement surgery to ensure you have the best possible outcome.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Garrett Desrosiers PT, DPT
Garrett is the CEO and Co-Owner of ProResults Physical Therapy Inc. in San Marcos, CA (North San Diego County). Garrett has been helping on-the-go active adults and athletes across the south western United States return to a pain-free active lifestyle without medications, injections, surgery or making unnecessary trips to the physician’s office since 2015. He graduated in 2013 with his Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology then went on to receive his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Husson University in 2015. After working for three years in multiple fast paced outpatient orthopedic physical therapy clinics, Garrett quickly realized he was not able to provide the elite quality care he knew his clients deserved. Garrett felt clients were more than just a number or diagnosis and that in order to provide the time, empathy, passion, and high-quality treatment they deserved, starting his own private practice was the only option. Garrett is committed to helping every client make the best decision in regard to their health. His unique, personalized, eclectic, multifaceted approach takes those individuals who have decreased their activities or stopped being active all together to a real solution.