You prepare yourself before class, meetings and even for the weather before you leave your house, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that you should prepare yourself before undergoing surgery. Hip surgery can be a big decision because it comes with a recovery period that takes six months to a year. Prepare yourself before the surgery to better prepare yourself after.
Preparation for hip replacement surgery can begin several weeks before the procedure and can include things like getting physically and mentally ready. Some physicians suggest patients gain some physical strength before surgery, so it’s easier to recover after. Building upper body strength can help after recovery when patients need to use walkers, canes or crutches during physical therapy.
Mentally, patients may need pre-surgical consultation meetings with various individuals who will help with the recovery period. These meetings could include hospital nursing staff for orientation and post-surgical wound care, social workers for at home services need for post-surgery care, and physical and occupational therapists to outline and schedule the program of post-surgical rehabilitation that is the cornerstone of a successful hip replacement procedure.
Patients may also need medical testing before surgery, including blood work, urinalysis, EKGs and Chest x-rays.
As a North Charleston personal injury lawyer , I advise patients to learn as much as they can before a hip implant surgery. Patients should discuss with their physicians and surgeons about current prescriptions being used and other concerns you may have about the surgery.