3 Ways To Prepare For A Knee Surgery

The knee is responsible for supporting most of the body’s weight. It’s also the largest joint in the body. Despite its girth, however, it doesn’t mean you can overwork your knee as it can still become damaged. If your knee ever becomes severely damaged, your doctor may recommend surgery to help treat or replace the joint.

Nonetheless, you need to prepare for the upcoming surgery to increase the procedure’s chances of success with minimal complications. Here are three ways to help you get ready for your knee operation.

Have Your Questions Answered

A surgeon may not recommend knee surgery without prior consultation. It’s during this moment that you need to have an interview with the medical professional to have all your questions answered.

Some of the queries you might have in mind may include topics like:

– The Longevity of the New Knee Joint

Your doctor might recommend knee replacement surgery for the badly-damaged joint. This operation can be a long-term solution. But, bear in mind that there’s no guarantee for the prosthetic joint to last a lifetime.

Still, you can go back to the surgeon to improve the prosthetic knee if stiffness or looseness of parts occurs. Moreover, you can maintain the health of your new knee at home to reduce the chances of the prosthetic joint degrading and breaking down.

To learn more about prosthetic knee longevity, visit aaronaltenburgmd.com/knee-replacement-surgery.

– Potential Complications

Several medical procedures aren’t without risks, and knee surgery isn’t an exception to that idea. For example, inflammation of leg veins can happen. But, you can reduce or treat this adverse effect by wearing support stockings or consuming blood-thinning medicines.

– The Range of Motion of the Knee After the Surgery

Many patients wonder about the extent of the range of motion capable of their new knees after the operation. Athletes and field professionals may demand excellent flexibility in their joints, and they may think that a prosthetic knee might reduce their movements in the lower parts of their bodies.

However, the knee range of motion after the medical procedure can depend on joint flexibility before the surgery. Badly damaged knees before operations may no longer work as they used to, even with the help of prosthetics. But, you may improve your new knee’s range of motion with the help of proper physical therapy during recovery.

Prepare the Home

Don’t disregard the thought of preparing your abode when you go home after knee surgery. The space in your dwelling is crucial for your safety.

Stand in the middle of your living space and envision the area where you’re recovering from the operation. Make sure that you have enough space for you to walk around the house while reducing the chances of falls.

Consider rearranging furniture, keeping electrical cords and wires out of paths, and removing carpets, rugs, or other uneven surfaces.

Also, consider your options when you think about installing fall prevention equipment in your home. Specific knee surgeries might be extensive operations that severely limit your movement during recovery. Some examples of equipment you need to consider installing in your house are:

• Handrails
• Raised toilets seats
• Ramps
• Nightlights

Aside from preparing your home for knee surgery recovery, consider buying non-skid socks to help reduce the chances of falls even further.

Cut or Decrease Activities

A surgeon may recommend you eliminate or limit specific activities to help you prepare for knee surgery. These activities may include:

• Medicine Consumption

The doctor might recommend the patient stop taking certain medications at least two weeks before the surgery. These medicines may include aspirins, steroids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Smoking

Aside from cutting or decreasing the consumption of specific drugs, the surgeon may also recommend the patient stop or limit tobacco use. Smoking nicotine can impede the healing process. Tobacco can also increase the risk of post-surgical infections.

How to Maintain Healthy Knees

Surgery can be an excellent solution for patients to regain an adequate range of motion in their knees. But, it’s also essential to maintain healthy knees and other joints in the body.

For instance, maintain proper posture at all times; slouching may cause an unnecessary load to the knees and other lower body parts. Also, make sure to maintain a healthy weight. Each pound you put on will require the knees to require double or quadruple the amount of force to maintain balance for the entire body.

Parting Words

Remember, your knees are still susceptible to different types of damage and injuries. If you can’t avoid incidents that bring harm to the largest joint in the body, then surgery can be a treatment option. Make sure to ask the right questions, prepare your home, and eliminate or reduce the frequency of specific activities to help you prepare for the operation.