How to prepare for your upcoming procedure

Congratulations-- deciding to have surgery is not always an easy task. I completely understand the fears you may have, but rest assured that I will treat you as if you were a member of my own family, and my outstanding team at Orthopedic + Fracture Specialists will also be there for you through every step of this process.

Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step toward a successful result. Understanding the process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems. In order to get the best results of your surgery, I need you to follow some guidelines both before and after the operation.

Before surgery, you will need you a complete physical examination to make sure you don’t have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or its outcome. Routine tests, such as blood tests and X-rays, are usually performed a few weeks before any major surgery.

Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor and your family physician to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery.

If you are overweight, losing weight before surgery will help decrease the stress you place on your new joint. However, you should not diet during the month before your surgery.

If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications or warfarin or any drugs that increase the risk of bleeding you will need to stop taking them one week before surgery to minimise bleeding.

If you smoke, you must stop. This will help to reduce your surgery risks and improve your chance for a successful outcome.

Have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems treated before surgery to reduce the risk of infection later.

Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron.

Report any infections to your surgeon. Surgery cannot be performed until all infections have cleared up.

Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry.

Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won’t have to reach and bend as often.

Remove all loose carpets and tape down electrical cords to avoid falls.

Make sure you have a stable chair with a firm seat cushion, a firm back and two arms.

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