How to prepare for a procedure by a sports medicine physician

Working with Your Doctor

• Before surgery, you will need to see your family doctor who will give you a complete physical examination to make sure you don’t have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or its outcome. Routine tests, such as blood tests and X-rays, are usually performed at least a week before any major surgery.
• Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor and your family physician to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery.
• Discuss with your doctor options for preparing for potential blood replacement, including donating your own blood, medical interventions and other treatments, prior to surgery.
• If you are overweight, losing weight before surgery will help decrease the stress you place on your new joint. However, you should not diet during the month before your surgery.
• If you are taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, warfarin or any drugs that increase the risk of bleeding you will need to stop taking them one week before surgery to minimize bleeding. If you have been prescribed warfarin, coumadin or are on any type of anti-coagulant therapy, please consult with the prescribing doctor.
• If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery.
• Have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems treated before surgery to reduce the risk of infection later.
• Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron.
• Report any infections to your surgeon. Surgery cannot be performed until all infections have cleared up.

Home Planning

• Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry.
• Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won’t have to reach and bend as often.
• Remove all loose carpets and tape down electrical cords to avoid falls.
• Make sure you have a stable chair with a firm seat cushion, a firm back and two arms.
• Check the height of your toilet.

Preparing for the Procedure

• If you are having Day Surgery, remember to have someone available to take you home, you will not be able to drive for at least 24 hours. Do Not drink or eat anything in the car on the trip home. The combination of anesthesia, food, and car motion can quite often cause nausea or vomiting. After arriving home, wait until you are hungry before trying to eat. Begin with a light meal and try to avoid greasy food for the first 24 hours.
• If you had surgery on an extremity (leg, knee, hand or elbow), keep that extremity elevated and use ice as directed. This will help decrease swelling and pain.
• Take your pain medicine as directed. Begin the pain medicine as you start getting uncomfortable, but before you are in severe pain. If you wait to take your pain medication until the pain is severe, you will have more difficulty controlling the pain.
• If you are planning to stay at an inpatient rehabilitation facility after your surgery, we require that you are accompanied by a family member or facility staff member if you are unable to ambulate on your own/require transfer assistance, if you have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia or if you are suffering from incontinence.

Choosing an orthopedic surgeon is a big step, and so is the surgery itself, so it’s important to prepare for the surgery ahead of time. Your orthopedic doctor or surgeon will be there to help every step of the way.