When your injuries or the deterioration of your joints is severe, your doctor may recommend knee replacement surgery to help improve the quality of your life. Knee replacement is a serious surgical procedure, complete with rehabilitation to heal and learn to walk again. Some of the things that you do to prepare for your knee replacement surgery can make your recovery and rehabilitation easier and more effective. Make sure you understand the procedure and get your home in order so you can recover in a safe and convenient way.
Step 1
Go to all of your presurgery doctor's visits and talk about the surgery and what it will entail. Ask your doctor about things like recovery time, pain level and pain management. You may also need to make arrangements for an extended hospital stay. Know what to expect during the surgery so you feel comfortable with the procedure.
Step 2
Assemble your medical information, suggests the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Because knee replacement is an extensive and expensive surgery, you'll need to know your insurance information, any allergies or sensitivities you have for medications, your family history, personal contact and emergency contact information, the medication you currently take, and legal documents, including a will and durable power of attorney if you have one.
Step 3
Ask your doctor about diet restrictions in the days before your surgery. Depending on the surgeon's preferences, you may be asked to fast for 12 hours before your surgery, notes Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee. Regardless of your surgeon's requests, you should avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours before your surgery, as it can interact with your general anesthetic. Try and eat a healthy diet in the weeks leading up to your surgery, as a healthy body at the ideal weight will respond better to the surgery and recovery process.
Step 4
Call your health insurance company to make sure you don't have any surprises when it comes to the bill for the knee replacement surgery, suggests a Johns Hopkins Medical Center Health Alert. You need to be clear on what the insurance will cover and what it won't during and after surgery. For instance, your insurance may cover the actual surgery, but rehabilitation equipment may need to be paid for out of pocket. A customer service representative for your insurance company will be able to outline your benefits and explain their coverage.
Step 5
Plan for the rehabilitation process by prepping your home to make it easier for you to move around. This may entail moving your bedroom downstairs so you don't need to navigate stairs, installing safety bars and rails in the shower, removing cumbersome carpets and rugs and arranging a comfortable seat and footstool so you can keep your knee elevated, suggests MayoClinic.com. It may also help to fix some freezer meals so you needn't cook in the few days following your surgery.
