Preparing for joint replacement surgery
The weeks before surgery are worth using well. The better shape you’re in, and the more your home and your life are set up for recovery, the smoother the first weeks afterward tend to be. None of this changes the operation itself, but it changes how ready you are for it. Here’s what’s worth doing.
Build your strength (prehab)
Going into surgery stronger helps you recover. Building strength beforehand, sometimes called prehabilitation, focuses on the muscles around the joint and your general fitness. Studies of prehab before hip and knee replacement show it can improve strength and function in the early weeks after surgery, though the benefit tends to even out over the following months, and the long-term result depends mostly on the surgery itself.¹ It's worth doing, particularly if you aren't very active at the moment.
Dr Tsung's patients can use a guided telehealth program for this,² run through a smartphone app with physiotherapist support, done from home, so the same team stays with you before and after surgery. More on what happens around the operation is on enhanced recovery after surgery.
Get in the best shape for surgery
A few things make a real difference to how you heal, and the lead-up is the time to address them.
- If you smoke, stop, or cut down as much as you can. Stopping before surgery lowers the risk of complications with wound healing and the chest, and the longer you stop beforehand, the greater the benefit.³ Your GP can help.
- General health. Your team may check things like weight, blood sugar control if you have diabetes, and iron levels, and help you address them, because being in good general health going in supports recovery.
- A dental check. It's worth treating any dental problems before surgery, since infection elsewhere in the body can occasionally settle in a new joint.
- Alcohol. Keep it moderate in the lead-up.
Your GP and the surgical team will guide the specifics for your situation.
Prepare your home
Set your home up before you go in, while it's easy. The aim is everything you need within reach and nothing in the way.
- Clear trip hazards: loose rugs, cords, clutter on the floor.
- Set up a recovery spot with a supportive chair, and keep your phone, charger, water, medication and the remote within arm's reach.
- Put everyday items at waist height so you don't have to bend low or reach high.
- Think about stairs. If your bedroom or only bathroom is upstairs, plan how you'll manage, or set up to stay on one level at first.
- Sort equipment in advance. You may use crutches or a frame, and aids such as a raised toilet seat or a shower stool can help. The team will advise what you'll need.
Sort out the practical things
- Driving. You won't be able to drive for a while, so arrange lifts, including to and from hospital.
- Help at home. Line up someone for the first week or two, especially for shopping, cooking and heavier tasks.
- Meals. Cook and freeze a few meals beforehand, or plan easy options.
- Work. Talk to your employer about time off. How long depends on the job and the joint.
- Dependents and pets. Arrange help with anyone, or any animal, who depends on you.
Pack for hospital
Most people stay one to three days. A simple bag covers it:
- Loose, comfortable clothing and flat, non-slip shoes
- Toiletries, and any glasses, hearing aids or dental items
- A full list of your current medications
- Your paperwork, including ID and health-fund details
- Phone and charger, and something to pass the time
Know what to expect
Recovery is active from the start. With an enhanced recovery approach, you'll usually be up and moving on the day of surgery or the next day, and home within a few days. Progress is gradual over the following weeks and months, and it helps to expect good days and harder ones. Dr Tsung will talk you through the likely timeline for your operation.
Protecting your new joint
A new joint can be vulnerable to infection carried through the bloodstream, so a few habits are worth keeping, especially in the first few months.
- Look after your skin. Avoid cuts and grazes where you can, and clean and cover any that happen, since broken skin is a way for infection to reach the joint.
- Stay out of the garden for a while. Hold off on gardening until you've healed and your surgeon is happy, since soil and scratches are an easy source of infection.
- Dental treatment. Avoid elective dental work in the first few months. After that, tell your dentist you have a joint replacement, and follow your surgeon's advice on whether any precautions are needed.
Before you come in
You'll be given specific instructions about when to stop eating and drinking before surgery, and the team will tell you which of your regular medications to pause and when. Follow those carefully, and ask if anything is unclear. If you're a new patient, you'll need a referral from your GP or another specialist, and your first appointment is booked by calling (07) 5676 9930; you can pre-register online beforehand.
Common questions
How far ahead should I start preparing?
A few weeks is plenty to build some strength and get your home and life organised. Even a couple of weeks helps.
Do I have to do prehab?
It’s optional, but worthwhile, especially if you’re not very active now. The practice can set you up with a guided program.
When can I drive again?
It varies by person and by which joint was operated on, and your surgeon will advise. Plan for several weeks and arrange lifts in the meantime.
Speak to Dr Tsung
To discuss surgery, you'll need a referral from your GP or another specialist. Call (07) 5676 9930 or email hello@sgco.au. More on hip replacement, knee replacement, and hip and knee replacement.
References
- De Klerk TC, Dounavi DM, Hamilton DF, et al. Effectiveness of prehabilitation on outcomes following total knee and hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2024.
- JointFit Surgical, by Beyond The Clinic (Gold Coast, Australia). https://www.beyondtheclinic.io/jointfit
- Mills E, Eyawo O, Lockhart I, et al. Smoking cessation reduces postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Medicine. 2011;124(2):144–154.