If you have finally decided to get total knee replacement surgery, you can follow some instructions to prepare yourself for that.
Preparation for the surgery?
Yes, you read it right. Preparation for knee replacement surgery is very important for a quick return to normal life.
So, keep reading this blog and start your preparation for your total knee replacement surgery.
Some Important Instructions To Prepare Yourself For Total Knee Replacement
You can make several small changes in your home and personal life to prepare yourself for knee replacement surgery.
Stop smoking
Smoking makes it more difficult for the body to fight off infections and can prevent the healing of bones, tissue, and skin. Some studies suggest that if you give up smoking before surgery, your chance of complications decreases. So, quit your smoking habit to speed up your recovery from total knee replacement.
Don’t go for dental care
Dental procedures should not be scheduled within six weeks before surgery or until three months after surgery. Your replacement joint could become infected if oral bacteria get into your bloodstream.
Adjust your medications
Avoid using blood thinners in the days before your surgery to prevent complications. Only take the meds your surgeon has prescribed.
Exercise to strengthen your body before surgery
It is important to strengthen and condition your body before surgery to help you recover. For example, building your upper body strength can make it easier to operate a wheelchair and other assistive devices.
Moreover, exercise before knee replacement surgery can help you lose weight, which will reduce the pressure on your knees before and after the operation. Losing one pound of weight actually relieves four pounds of pressure on the knees.
Avoid alcohol
Also, Avoid taking alcohol before your surgery as it might cause increased bleeding and dehydrate you.
Get your house ready.
You should also prepare your house for your total knee replacement surgery so that you can easily perform your daily activities in your house. You should buy:
- A raised toilet seat.
- A shower or bathtub chair.
- A reacher or grabber tool.
- purchase sock aids (devices that let you slip socks on without bending over) and shoehorn.
To prevent accidents at home, I also recommend:
- Removing throw rugs.
- creating a passage through congested regions.
- Prevent extension and phone wires from being strewn over the floor.
- installing railings on stairways and in bathtubs.
- Keeping your important stuff close to your body so you can access them.
Ask for help from family and friends
Your body may have a hard time recovering. You can concentrate on healing by asking for help from friends and family.
If possible, make arrangements for your child or animal care. This can ensure that your loved ones are taken care of and reduce any stress you may be experiencing.
Create a meal plan. Ask your loved ones to bring you meals while you heal or to help you in preparing meals that you can freeze in advance.
After surgery, you will not be allowed to drive for a few weeks. So, get help in advance for tasks like taking prescriptions and shopping for food.
Arranging help a month in advance ensures you won’t forget to ask for whatever you want and gives your loved ones time to reschedule their calendars so that you can recover.
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