How to Prepare for Total Knee Replacement Surgery | Night before Knee Replacement Surgery

 

Knee Replacement Surgery can help relieve pain and enable you to live a fuller, more active life. Since it’s a complex process, there is a need for some precautions that should be taken before going for the surgery.

Therefore, it is important to give yourself time to prepare for the physical, psychological, and social aspects of the Total Knee Replacement. Planning ahead for the challenges of surgery and recovery will help ensure a more successful outcome.

Thus, the main purpose of this blog is to include some practical tips to help you get ready for surgery and Preparing for Knee Replacement Surgery.

 

Preparing for Knee Replacement Surgery (Getting in Shape)

Getting in the best physical shape possible before surgery can probably lessen the chance for complications and shorten your recovery time.

Here are some of the tips that one should follow before going for Total Knee Replacement:

• If you smoke, cut down or quit your smoking habit. Smoking affects blood circulation, delays healing, slows recovery, and may also increase the risk of infection.
• Eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet. If you are overweight, there will be more stress placed on your new joint. In some cases, your doctor may also recommend a weight loss program before surgery.
• If you drink, do not intake alcohol for at least 48 hours before surgery.
• If you use any other types of controlled substances, tell your doctor. Opioids and other drugs can cause complications and can also impact your surgery.
• Ask your doctor about Knee Replacement Exercises you can do before surgery. If you are having a hip or knee replacement, strengthening your upper body will make it easier to use crutches or a walker after surgery. For this, you can use Exercise Bike before Knee Replacement as it helps maintain the strength of your leg muscles.

In addition, ask about the physical therapy or Gym Exercises for Knee Replacement that will be prescribed after surgery. Once you become familiar with the exercises now, you will be ready to perform them after surgery.

 

The night before Knee Replacement Surgery

The 24 hours especially the night before your surgery will be a busy time filled with lots of last-minute preparations. You can also refer to some preparing for Knee Replacement Surgery Video available online.

However, in this section deals, we will try to deal with all things you need to be preparing for Knee Replacement Surgery the previous night.

Use this checklist to make sure that you do not forget anything:

• Take a shower or bath the night before your surgery. Your surgeon may recommend an antibacterial soap or other medical wash. This will help reduce the risk of infection.
• Do not shave the area of the surgery. If shaving is necessary, it will be done in the hospital.
• Remove any make-up, lipstick, or nail polish before leaving for the hospital.
• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery.
• You must also make a small list of – ‘What to Bring to Hospital for Knee Replacement Surgery’. For that pack a small bag to bring to the hospital.

Some of these items include:

• • A pair of comfortable, sturdy bedroom slippers with non-skid soles
  • A knee-length robe or gown
  • A lightweight camisole or cotton shirt to wear under your hospital gown
  • Something to read
  • Copies of your insurance cards, advance medical directives, and medical history
  • Any medications you take regularly
  • Personal care items such as a hairbrush, denture case, eyeglass case, contact lens case.  Be sure to leave your cash, credit cards and jewelry at home
  • A loose-fitting sweatsuit or jogging suit and comfortable shoes to wear home

It will be easy if you ask a family member or friend for help if you have not yet done so. Have someone check in with you daily. You’ll recover more quickly if you have help instead of trying to do everything yourself.

You might refer reading: Joint Replacement Patna

Post Knee Replacement Surgery Post Preparation

A knee replacement patient will need some help at home post-surgery for several days to several weeks after discharge. Therefore, before going to the hospital for surgery, set up your home to make your recovery and life easier when you come back. Do this well in advance of your surgery.

Ask your health care provider or physical therapist about getting your home ready. Furthermore, before the surgery, one should definitely arrange for a friend, family member, or caregiver to provide help at home.

Preparing your Home

People generally search for Best Chair to sit in after Knee Replacement and How to Sleep after Knee Replacement.

The following tips give you the answer to these questions and help you to make the homecoming more comfortable, and can be addressed before the surgery:

• Rearrange furniture so that you can maneuver with a cane, walker, or crutches. You may have to temporarily change rooms to avoid using the stairs.
• Remove any throw rugs or area rugs that could cause you to slip. Securely fasten electric cords around the perimeter of the room.
• Get a good chair – one that is firm with a higher-than-average seat and has a footstool for intermittent leg elevation
• Install a shower chair, gripping bar, and a raised toilet seat in the bathroom.
• Use assistive devices such as a long-handled shoehorn, a long-handled sponge, and a grabbing tool or reacher to avoid bending over too far.

Taking care of Diet

By the time you go home, you should be eating a normal diet. The doctor may also recommend taking iron and vitamin supplements. You may also be advised to avoid supplements that include vitamin K and foods rich in vitamin K.

You should also continue to drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and should continue to watch your weight to avoid putting more stress on the joints.

Precautions after Knee Replacement

Post-total knee replacement surgery, you will have to take some precautions. Here are some of the answers What Not to Do after Knee Replacement Surgery

• Don’t cross your legs
• Don’t kneel and place anything behind your knees
• A pillow or any item for that matter should not be placed behind the knees
• If elevation and/or support is needed under the operative leg, it is to be placed under the heel
• You will also be asked not to torque or twist on your new knee
• You also have to avoid running, trekking, and playing contact sports like football, cricket, etc.

Sometimes Physical therapy sessions can help to strengthen the muscles around the knees and make it more stable for the mechanical movements. Therefore, doctors might recommend working with a physical therapist as it helps to avoid injuries or further worsening of an injury.

 

The Takeaway

Knee replacement surgery is a complex process, thus it is necessary for the person as well as the surgeon to take all such precautions and preventive measures.

In addition to that, the need for such surgery must be assessed by a professional Orthopedic Surgeons like Dr. Ramakant Kumar, Best Knee Replacement Doctor Patna.

This is because he has performed numerous surgeries related to the knee before with high patient satisfaction score. And is also well versed in performing these surgeries with exceptionally low complication rates.

Thus if you are looking for Best doctor for Total Knee Replacement Doctor in Patna, then you must consult him once.

So, this was all about this blog and we hope that you enjoyed reading this blog. Now we will now put an end to this blog – “Preparing for Knee Replacement Surgery”

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