Your doctor told you that you need a total knee replacement surgery for knee arthritis, and now you have a big decision to make. While knee surgery can be quite effective, it’s also invasive, expensive, and comes with the risk of not adequately reducing your pain.
Before you commit to surgery, we encourage you to see if you’re a candidate for the iO-Core™ procedure. iO-Core™ is changing the way we treat arthritis for long-lasting relief. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that treats the root cause of arthritis, not just the symptoms. Learn more about the iO-Core™ procedure, then call us to see if you’re a candidate.
If you choose the surgery route, there are several important steps you should take in the days and weeks leading up to the procedure. We have some helpful tips on where to focus your attention to ensure that your surgery and recovery period progress without a hitch. Keep reading to learn more.
7 Steps to Take Before Your Surgery
We recommend taking the following actions to ensure your joint replacement surgery is as smooth and successful as possible.
1. Decrease medication use per doctor’s orders. Before joint replacement surgery, your doctor may ask you to cut down or stop taking certain medications, including opioid medications, steroids, blood thinners, and NSAIDs (which affect blood clotting). If you use any vitamins, nutritional supplements, or alternative medicines, let your doctor know beforehand. You may need to stop using those as well surrounding your surgery.
2. Cut down on smoking and alcohol use. Prepare your body to be in the best condition possible for knee surgery. Smoking and tobacco use slows down the healing process and increases the risk of post-op complications like infections and blood clots. Excessive alcohol use can interfere with anesthesia and medications, slow down the healing process, and increase the risk of post-op infections. If you smoke or drink heavily, talk to your doctor well ahead of surgery to discuss methods for cutting back or quitting completely.
3. Strengthen your knee joint. Some research suggests that exercising and strengthening the knee joint prior to surgery can lead to less knee pain and better joint function following surgery. Ask your doctor or physical therapist about the types of exercises you can safely perform in the weeks and days leading up to your procedure. You may also benefit from upper body strengthening to help you prepare for rolling a wheelchair, using crutches, and lifting yourself up after surgery.
4. Prepare your home’s exterior. Prepare the outside of your home to be safe and secure. If you have steps leading to the front door, make sure the steps and railings are in good condition to reduce the risk of slip and falls. Make sure the driveway and walkways are clean and clear, and take note of uneven areas to avoid. If you normally do the yardwork yourself, arrange for someone else to take care of it during the months you’re recovering.
5. Prepare your home’s interior. Prepare the inside of your home to be safe and secure. Some of these preparations could take a few weeks to get in place, so start making arrangements as early as you can.
- If you have a bedroom on the second or third floor, make a temporary bedroom on the first floor to avoid the difficulty of navigating stairs for the first few weeks. Make sure you have everything you need arranged downstairs before surgery day.
- Remove clutter, cords, and loose rugs from any area where you’ll be walking. This reduces the risk of falling and hurting yourself.
- Make sure you have a comfortable chair with good back and neck support, and a footstool, situated in the living or family room. You’ll need a lot of time to rest and elevate your knee during the recovery period. Keep a lamp, phone charging plug, books, the TV remote, and other entertainment within easy reach on a side table.
- Make some safety adjustments in the bathroom. Install a shower bar, shower mats, and a shower seat to reduce your risk of slipping and falling. If you have a low toilet, you may need a seat riser.
- Prepare big batches of meals ahead of time and store them in the freezer and fridge to eliminate the need to cook. Make food that’s easy to grab and heat up.
6. Modify your normal schedule. You won’t be able to participate in your normal activities for a few weeks to months. Make sure you arrange for time off work if necessary, and cancel any non-urgent appointments.
7. Put a support system in place. It takes a village, right? After knee replacement surgery, you’ll need help from family, close friends, and other loved ones. Make sure you have someone to drive you home from surgery and get you situated at home. Make arrangements with your support system for help buying groceries, running errands, child care, pet care, cooking or bringing by meals, basic cleaning, and doing laundry. You may also need some temporary assistance with personal grooming tasks like bathing and dressing. Finally, coordinate transportation to and from doctor’s appointments, physical therapy appointments, and anywhere else you need to go. And don’t forget to ask friends to come by for company! You may find yourself bored and restless at home while you’re recovering.
What to Expect After Knee Replacement Surgery
After surgery, you’ll probably have some knee pain, stiffness and swelling — all of this is completely normal and expected. One of the best things you can do after knee replacement surgery is start walking as soon as you’re able. Early movement helps reduce pain and stiffness and speeds up the recovery process.
When it’s time to return home, follow your doctor’s instructions regarding how much weight you can bear on your knee and how active you can be. You’ll have an assistive device like a walker, cane, crutches or a wheelchair to help you move around.
You’ll likely experience some pain and discomfort for a few weeks. You can use over-the-counter or prescription medications, ice and heat therapy, and rest and elevation to help reduce knee pain.
Physical therapy is the most important component of recovering from total knee replacement surgery. Your therapist will work with you to improve your strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance and endurance. Work hard in physical therapy and commit to doing exercises and stretches your therapist asks you to do at home. Your rehab progress determines how soon you can return to work, sports, exercise and your normal activities — so give it your all!
As you regain strength and full functionality in the new knee joint, you’ll be able to return to an active lifestyle. With proper care and treatment, your new knee can last anywhere between 10-20 years.
About The iO-Core™ Procedure
The iO-Core™ procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that combines orthopedics and biologics to treat degenerating cartilage and underlying bone and tissue damage caused by arthritis and joint injuries. Many people who were told they needed a total joint replacement surgery have found long-term pain relief and greater mobility from iO-Core™ instead.
If traditional treatment methods aren’t effective for your pain, iO-Core™ may be a viable option. The procedure is covered by most insurances. Contact our team today to learn more and see if you qualify.