Knee surgery encompasses many different types of procedures, from knee ligament construction to knee replacement. Whichever type of knee procedure you are undergoing, you need to do some preparation for the day, and the following days, weeks, or months that you will be in recovery.
Before your scheduled knee surgery, the orthopedic surgeon should discuss with you what the procedure entails, as well as details about your recovery. Let’s talk about how you should prepare for knee surgery.
Knee Surgery Preparation
Knee surgery can be a daunting prospect, and many patients are put off by the demands of surgery and recovery. However, advances in surgical techniques have made it possible for doctors to make only small incisions and minimize disturbance to surrounding healthy tissues, in what’s called minimally invasive surgery. These are usually outpatient procedures, which means you go home on the same day as the procedure and have a more comfortable and faster recovery.
With the right preparation, your knee surgery and recovery can go smoothly. Here are some tips on how to get ready for your knee surgery:
Get All Your Ducks in a Row
Make sure you have everything you need in terms of insurance, paperwork, and any logistics taken care of before the big day. This will help reduce stress on both you and your family leading up to the surgery. In addition, arranging everything beforehand allows you to put all your focus on your recovery after the surgery.
Ask Your Doctor Specific Questions About the Surgery
Once you have decided to move forward with surgery, take some time to research the different types of procedures available and what might be best for your particular case. You should also look into the surgeon’s experience and success rates with this type of surgery. For instance, the latest innovation used in knee replacements is called MAKOplasty®, involving the use of robot-assisted technology, which greatly improves surgical accuracy and yields better outcomes. If you are interested in this, ask if you are eligible for the procedure.
Ask Your Doctor About Specific Instructions
It is important that you understand exactly what the procedure will entail and what kind of recovery period to expect afterward. This will help manage your expectations and allow you to better prepare mentally and emotionally for the experience. There may be some medications you need to stop taking a week before surgery, such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and aspirin, which can affect blood clotting. In addition, you may need support and assistance in the days after the surgery, such as assistive devices or a loved one to lean on. It’s best to prepare for this requirement ahead of time.
Prepare Physically and Emotionally
Surgery can be both physically and emotionally demanding, so it’s important to prepare yourself both mentally and physically before undergoing the procedure. This may include things like eating healthy, getting in shape, quitting smoking, and avoiding stress to ensure you are in the best condition for surgery.
Knee Surgery in Bismarck, North Dakota
Preparing for knee surgery should never be done by the patient alone. The orthopedic surgeons at The Bone & Joint Center work closely with our patients and help them fully prepare for their surgery. We regularly perform knee surgeries and our methods have been streamlined to provide consistently successful outcomes for our knee surgery patients.
To schedule a consultation with one of our knee surgeons, call our office today at (701) 946-7400 / (866) 900-8650 or use our convenient online appointment request form.
