
Joint Replacement Education - West Burlington
This information is a brief overview of the joint-replacement surgery experience. It does not replace any instructions provided by your physician. You should discuss this information with your physician.
You may find it helpful to learn about your joint anatomy and joint-replacement surgery.
Ask family and friends for support. They can help you with activities such as driving and moving items in your home for safety. The Arthritis Foundation has a support network that can provide emotional support. You can contact your local chapter or go to the Arthritis Foundation Website (www.arthritis.org) for more information.
Prepare your home for your return from the hospital:
Your physician may not want you to take any aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as Advil, Ibuprofen, and Motrin for the 10 days before surgery. If you take heart medicines, your physician will tell you how to take those medicines. Tylenol or medicines with acetaminophen may be allowed. Ask your physician.
Purchase or borrow the special equipment your physician recommends. This may include an elevated commode and small devices such as a grabber. Items are available at Heritage Medical Equipment and Supplies’ two locations, and other sources. Practice using the items at home.
Call supermarkets and pharmacies to see if they provide delivery service and if they charge a fee. Shop for items you may need when you return from the hospital or arrange for home delivery.
Go to a joint-replacement surgery class at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center. The class time will be scheduled for you by our staff.
If you are taking heart medicines, your physician will tell you how to take them before surgery. Tylenol or medicines with acetaminophen may be allowed. Ask your physician.
Make a list of all of the medicine you take, the doses and how often. Bring this to your pre-admission visit to the hospital.
Pre-admit to the hospital three to nine days before your surgery. Ask your surgeon if an appointment is necessary. Your insurance will be verified and, depending on your surgeon’s instructions, you may have laboratory work, X-rays, and an EKG. Plan at least two and one-half hours to complete the visit. You may receive a breathing exerciser. A nurse will review written directions for the exerciser. If you have receipts from the blood you or your family has donated, give them to the nurse in the Preadmission area. Anesthesia staff may discuss anesthesia with you.
Manage your finances. You may want to balance your checkbook, pay bills, make arrangements to board pets and stop the delivery of your newspaper. If you are going to a rehabilitation facility after being discharged from the hospital, you can request that mail be held at the post office until you return home.
A list of items you may want to pack for your hospital stay is below. Your physician may have additional information about preparing for your hospital stay.
Breathing exerciser, if you have received one. You probably will need this right after surgery. Check with your physician.
Clothing – Robe, undergarments, slippers or flat rubber-soled shoes for walking, and loose-fitting clothes for your trip home
Medicines – Bring all medicines you are taking. Also, write down your medication information and give it to hospital staff. Include the name, dose and how often you take each medicine. Please tell your physician and nursing staff if you have any medication allergies.
Money – Bring only enough money for items such as newspapers and magazines. Leave your checkbook, credit cards, jewelry, keys and other items of value at home.
Personal grooming items – Comb or brush, contact lenses, deodorant, electric razor, eyeglasses, lotion, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste
You may want to read an overview of your procedure. Eating or drinking (not even water) after midnight may not be allowed. Ask your surgeon. Your anesthesiologist may prescribe a medicine for you to take the evening before surgery.
Report to the hospital at least two hours before your scheduled surgery. Nurses will complete your surgery preparation and likely will review your care following surgery. Leave your personal belongings in the car until after surgery. Your family can bring them to your room after it has been assigned. This will happen when you are in surgery or recovery.
Ask your physician how you may feel after surgery. You may be nauseated, dizzy, weak, loss of appetite, and have constipation. You probably will experience pain, but patients usually feel better a few days after surgery. Your pain will be managed through your IV or by pills.
Your first meal after surgery likely will be ice chips and clear liquids. You will progress to solid foods as tolerated. Check with your physician about your first meal.
A catheter may have been placed in your bladder during surgery. It usually is removed when you can get out of bed to use the bedside commode or restroom. As you recover, walking to the restroom will build your strength and prepare you for discharge home.
Feeding yourself and washing your face and upper body will be among the first self-care tasks you do. Eventually, you will be able to bathe yourself with a little help around your surgery area.
Your bandage will probably be changed once or twice a day.
You typically are allowed to have visitors after you have been moved from the recovery room and into your own room. If you prefer not to have visitors, please tell the nurse.
Your surgeon will visit you and your physical therapist will begin post-operative exercises.
You will be discharged from the hospital when your physician feels the time is right. This typically is five days after surgery. You will need to make arrangements for someone to drive you home from the hospital. Your therapist will review how to get in and out of a car.
Depending on your situation, your physician may recommend that you be transferred to a rehabilitation facility after you are discharged from the hospital. You may be there a few days so you can begin physical therapy and your health can be monitored.
When you return home:
Get pain medicine. Your surgeon probably will give you a prescription for pain medicine. You likely will need less each day, but you may need to continue it at night for a while. Check with your physician. Do not drink alcoholic beverages while you are taking pain medicine.
Follow your surgeon’s instructions. Discuss with your surgeon before hospital discharge:
Wear loose-fitting clothing to your post-operative appointment. Your surgeon will examine the surgery area checking for signs of infection. Your stitches or staples likely will be removed. Your range of motion will be checked, and you will review your physical therapy instructions. You likely will return for follow-up appointments at three months, six months and one year after your surgery, and yearly thereafter.