Hip replacement surgery has an incredible success rate in reducing pain and improving one's quality of life. It is deemed one of the most successful operations in modern medicine, leaving most patients wishing they had done the surgery sooner. Preparing for surgery can increase the likelihood of a positive outcome and help your surgical recovery go smoothly. To help you get ready, here is a general guide on how to prepare for hip replacement surgery.
- Prepare Your Home Before the Surgery: A toilet seat lift and shower chair can help keep you safe during those trips to the restroom. Adjusting your bed height and rearranging your daily necessities like clothing, kitchen, and bathroom items to easy to reach areas is helpful. Remove tripping hazards like rugs and cords, and having a grabber tool handy is also preferable.
- Quit smoking: Smoking can prevent bones, tissue, and skin from healing and can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infection. Research shows that if you quit smoking before surgery, your risk of complications goes down significantly.
- Lose excess weight: Your doctor may recommend losing a few pounds before your hip replacement surgery to help aid in a smooth recovery. Set specific weight-loss goals with your surgeon to ensure you reach your goals healthily and successfully.
- Minimize Infection Risk: If you have diabetes, ensuring your blood sugar level is optimized is very important. Female patients are asked not to shave their legs with a razor for five days before and until two weeks after the surgery. Minor nicks caused by the razor can increase the bacterial load on the skin. Lastly, all patients should use a Hibiclens shower the night before and the day after surgery.
- Avoid blood thinners: If you take blood thinners (anticoagulant medications), the doctor who prescribed them will determine how long before surgery you should stop.
- Identify a caretaker: Make arrangements to have someone transport you safely home after surgery and to stay with you for a few days.
- Physical therapy: Arranging for physical therapy before surgery can help strengthen the hips, providing adequate support to the implant while helping to increase mobility.
Studies have shown that if your mind and body are ready for surgery, you may sleep better and have less anxiety and pain1. The hospital stay may also be made shorter by your preparedness. To make an appointment or for more information on hip replacement surgery, contact our office during our scheduled office hours at (561) 496-6622.
David N. Buchalter, MD specializes in hip replacement surgery at an advanced level of care, integrating the newest cutting-edge surgical and nonsurgical techniques, with proven traditional methods of treatments. The physicians at South Palm Orthopedics are committed to providing the highest level of orthopedic care to each and every patient each and every time.