Joint replacement preparation and recovery
TMC Orthpaedics offers a comprehensive joint replacement program designed to help you achieve the best possible outcome from your surgery.
Call 911 if you are seriously injured or feel you need emergency care. Emergency responders will help you decide the best course of action.
Restoring movement, improving your quality of life
Our team of experienced surgeons and health care professionals will guide you through every step of the process, from pre-operative education and planning to rehabilitation and recovery.
We understand that joint replacement surgery is a big decision. That's why we are committed to providing you with the personalized care and support you need to feel confident and informed throughout your journey.
Resources
1. Check. Are you cleared for surgery?
Talk to your primary care provider and any specialist providers (ex. heart doctor, kidney specialist) to get clearance for surgery
2. Sign up for the pre-operative surgery class at TMC.
TMC Orthopaedic Center offers classes to help patients who are undergoing spine surgery, or surgery to replace their knee or hip. Our goal is to help you become as prepared as possible for your surgery and hospital experience. Patients and those who will be caring for them are encouraged to attend.
The two-hour class gives an overview of what to expect:
- Before your surgery day
- During pre-op
- On your surgery day
- During post-op
- When you get home
Classes are Mondays, 9-11 a.m., at the TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower, third-floor classroom. You will also have an opportunity to take a tour of the TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower, including the fourth-floor recovery area, immediately after the class. The tour lasts an additional 15 mintues.
To register, call (520) 324-2075.
If it is not possible to attend the class, it is especially important to review all the materials provided here. You should start preparing your house for your post operative recovery now.
3. Start preparing your home for your post-operative recovery now.
Video: Preparing your house for after joint replacement surgery
4. Start pre-operative exercises
Many people become less active due to joint discomfort, as a result the very muscles that will help you support and move your body become weak. Once you have surgery your joint discomfort will be addressed, but you will need a regular exercise program to strengthen and stretch your muscles around that new joint. Your recovery will be improved dramatically if you begin an exercise program at this point. Here are a few exercises to try every day. If they cause discomfort stop doing that exercise.
Video: Pre-operative hip exercises
Video: Pre-operative knee exercises
1. Identify a surgery buddy
You will need a friend or relative as a surgery buddy. This video will help you identify what a surgery buddy needs to do.
Video: Who is your surgery buddy?
2. Prepare now to improve recovery after surgery
Many people are concerned with how much discomfort they will feel after surgery. In this video Jesse Wild, M.D., and Rebecca Mello, R.N., discuss pain management after surgery, and steps you can take prior to surgery to help with pain.
Video: Pain management after surgery
Things to do:
1. Attend pre-anesthesia testing
If you are scheduled for a surgery or procedure at TMC, you will be contacted by telephone prior to your surgery date. Following this phone call, you may need to schedule an in-person appointment for further testing, such as if you are undergoing general anesthesia. This assessment is, in part, to ensure you are able to undergo anesthesia. TMC will contact you up to two to three weeks before your surgery to schedule this pre-anesthesia testing appointment.
Bring the following information to this assessment:
- Dates of past health problems and any surgical procedures.
- Bring all current medications, vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter medications that you are taking. If unable to bring in the medications, please provide a complete list, preferably from your pharmacy, of current medications including name, dose, how you take it and directions. Include any vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter medications.
- Results of any recent lab tests, EKGs or chest X-rays.
- Current insurance information. If applicable, patients may pay their co-payment at this time or may be directed to the financial counselor for payment arrangements.
- Medical power of attorney
- Living will
We may need to ask patients to complete certain tests (such as blood draws, urine analyses, chest X-rays and EKGs) if these tests have not already been completed, or if previous tests do not meet anesthesia requirements because they are out of date or incomplete. The test results give your surgical team the most current information on your present health prior to surgery.
For scheduling questions of Pre-Anesthesia Testing, call (520) 324-1446.
For other questions call (520) 324-1446, Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.; toll-free in-state, call 1-800-362-7004 or out-of-state 1-800-526-5353, and ask for ext. 4-1446.
Please note, if you show up to your scheduled procedure and have not undergone pre-anesthesia testing, your case may be delayed for needed testing with the potential that the case gets canceled if results show that it would be unsafe for you to go under anesthesia. you can find out how to schedule your pre-anesthesia appointment here.
2. Choose a physical therapist
Schedule an appointment for one week after your surgery date. Check out TMC's Outpatient Therapies for physical therapy.
3. Keep up with your exercises.
Get a front-wheeled walker and check out the video on how to use a front-wheeled walker.
Video: Using a front-wheeled walker
Fill out your pharmacy selection sheet
Check out this video to familiarize yourself with our unit and the process.
Video: Orthopedic surgery at TMC: What to expect during your inpatient or outpatient stay
Preparing your skin for surgery
- Wash your bedding and pajamas so they are clean.
- Shower in the evening using the hibiclens wash as directed in the video and put on clean pajamas.
Tomorrow is the big day. Pack your surgery bag and shower with hibiclens again. Remember, do not eat or drink after midnight.
After surgery it's important to look out for the following issues and reach out to your doctor as appropriate.
Video: What to look out for after joint replacement?
Video: Homemade ice pack
Our joint replacement program provides educational resources to help you understand each step of the surgical journey. This includes information about:
- Pre-operative planning: What to expect before your surgery, including tests, medications, and exercises.
- The surgical procedure: What to expect on the day of surgery, including anesthesia and pain management.
- Recovery: What to expect after surgery, including physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Your hospital stay should be short and sweet. You will want to prepare for one night stay at the hospital.
Make sure you pack:
- Comfortable clothes
- A pair of shoes that are comfortable and have a back (such as sneakers) NOT flip flops or slippers
- Toiletries (such as brushes, deodorant, face cream) NO perfume or scented lotions
- A walker with 2 wheels, NO 4-wheeled walkers (they are not safe enough after surgery)
- Charger for your cell phone
- If you use a CPAP please bring that and we will put it on you after surgery when you are sleeping
- Please bring inhalers, eye/ear drops, chemotherapy meds, organ transplant meds, depression/mood stabilizers and medication you NEED the name brand version of. NOTE: Please bring the original bottle/packaging. We will plan to use TMC's inventory of medicine for other medications, this may include generic versions.
Experienced surgeons: Fellowship-trained and board-certified surgeons in orthopaedic surgery. They have extensive experience performing total joint replacements and are committed to using the latest surgical techniques to minimize pain and improve recovery times.
Personalized care: We will work with you to develop a personalized care plan that meets your individual needs and goals. This plan will include education about your condition, the surgical procedure, and what to expect during recovery.
Comprehensive rehabilitation: Our rehabilitation team will work with you to help you regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion in your joint.
Patient education: We believe that education is essential to patient empowerment. We offer a variety of educational resources to help you learn more about joint replacement surgery.
Whether you are considering hip replacement, knee replacement, or another type of joint replacement surgery, our program can help you get back to the activities you love.
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This health information is provided by the
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education & Research.
