How to Prepare for Orthopedic Surgery
Tips for Surgery Prep and Questions to Ask Your Orthopedic Surgeon
As you glance at the calendar, there it is in color-coded boldness – your scheduled surgery date. Most people think surgery prep for a hip, shoulder, knee, or other orthopedic procedure happens in the days just before. In reality, it starts weeks earlier, in the decisions that go into finding the best orthopedic surgeon near you, the questions you ask before committing, and the way you set up your home for a pre- and post-op lifestyle. Here’s how to prepare for surgery from every angle so that you’re ready to reach ahead or take your next steps with confidence.
What to Ask Your Orthopedic Surgeon
Knowing what questions to ask an orthopedic surgeon and quickly and reassuringly turn a consultation from something that happens to you into something more within your control. It may be helpful to bring someone along, use a notepad or app, or ask to record the interaction for future reference.
- Their experience: How many of these procedures they’ve performed, their success and complication rates, and how often they treat cases like yours.
- The procedure: What the operation involves, the anesthesia used, whether a less invasive option exists, and whether you’ll go home the same day.
- Rest & recovery: What recovery looks like day to day, what rehab to expect, and when you can get back to normal activity.
- Potential risks: The most common complications, the warning signs to watch for at home, and how each is handled.
What Makes a Good Orthopedic Surgeon
When you’re weighing orthopedic surgeon credentials, start with board certification, which confirms the surgeon has met the national standard in their specialty rather than simply holding a license. From there, look at fellowship training. A surgeon who has spent an extra year or more focused on a single specialty, like joint replacement of the hip, shoulder, or knee, or sports medicine, brings a depth of expertise that shows up in sharper diagnoses and smoother recoveries. Ideally, they should make you feel at ease, walk you through their approach to the procedure and recovery, welcome your questions, and stay honest about your options, including when a second opinion would serve you better.
How to Prepare for Orthopedic Surgery
Good surgery prep comes down to a handful of steps most patients take in the weeks before the procedure. First comes the pre-op appointment. What happens at a pre-op appointment is simple, but it can be one of the most looming steps, since this is what kicks off the road to joint mobility and recovery. Your team will review your health history, run any final tests, and confirm the plan for the day of surgery. From there, you’re just a few core steps away from surgery day.
- Attend your pre-op appointments and complete any lab work or imaging
- Review any medications or supplements with your care team, in case they need to be paused
- Follow fasting instructions, if any
Your overall health going in shapes your orthopedic surgery recovery and rehab just as much as anything you do after. To prepare for smooth and healthy process during and after your procedure, be sure to mention:
- Cardiopulmonary disease, including clotting risk or anemia
- Bone density/Osteoporosis
- Sleep apnea/other breathing struggles
- Weight, diet, and nutrition
- Mental health, including depression and any concerns about relying on opioid pain medication
- Conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, or medications like blood thinners or GLP-1’s
- Habits like smoking/tobacco use
Physical conditioning beforehand offsets the strength and endurance you’ll lose in the weeks after, and it gives your orthopedic surgery recovery a real head start, so ask your surgeon or a sports medicine specialist about a personalized therapy plan for your knee, hip, or shoulder.
How to Prepare Your Home After Surgery
Help & support
- Set up an emergency contact or helper who can check in on you
- Line up help for pet care, grocery runs, and yard work
- Arrange a hand with hygiene, like showering or dressing, or look into accessibility aids, cleaning wipes, or shower assistance modifications
Around the home
- Clear walkways, lay down any rug ends, tuck away loose cords
- Set your bed low enough that your feet reach the floor, with a firm mattress
Food
- Stock up on easy, reheatable meals, and prep/ freeze food ahead.
- Keep food and daily essentials between hip and shoulder level to avoid reaching or bending
Mobility
- Set up mobility aids ahead of time, like a raised toilet seat, shower chair, bars attached to tubs/walls, sponges with handles, aas well as a cane or set of crutches.
- If you use a walker, a clip-on basket saves trips.
Little things
- Keep a portable charger handy so your phone stays in reach.
- Grab a handheld reaching/grabbing tool for picking things up without bending.
- Set up a mobile or bedside caddy for your glasses, remote, chargers, etc.
- Fill or pause prescriptions
- Keep extra pillows on hand for propping up a leg, arm, or your back.
- Keep cooling packs or heating pads nearby
- Leave nightlights in the hallway and bathroom for safe nighttime trips.
Find the Best Orthopedic Surgeon Near You – Talk to an Orthopedic Surgeon in Las Vegas
When you’re facing any kind of procedure or researching how to prepare for orthopedic surgery, we understand that the process can be daunting, frightening, or confusing. At Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Las Vegas, our board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons walk patients through every step and answer every question along the way to ensure that you feel as comfortable and prepared as possible before this step in your journey towards improved mobility, pain relief, or overall improvement to your quality of life.
Contact us to schedule a consultation and take the first confident step toward recovery.