Joint Replacement Surgery: You can master it!

Sooner or later you or someone close to you will be told they need a new hip, shoulder, or knee. As we live longer and want to keep active as we age, joints wear out and start to bring disabling pain. The orthopaedic

surgeons have gotten better and better with replacement techniques, and now it is hard to see why anyone disabled by a failing joint wouldn't get a new one. Here are some suggestions for managing the process effectively, so that you have a successful outcome.

1.  Talk to your surgeon, get on the schedule, and understand what your part will be in having a successful procedure.
2.  Get in shape the best you can before your surgery. If you can't walk a lot, perhaps you can swim.
3.  Try to go to a meeting that features a discussion by people who have had the surgery. Learn what to expect.
4.  Buy, rent, or borrow the equipment you will need such as crutches, a walker, or a portable toilet.
5.  Plan to go to a rehab facility if you don't have sufficient help at home following your surgery.
6.  Show appreciation to your caregivers in the hospital to optimize your care.
7.  Once home, work with your physical and occupational therapists to move your recovery along.
8.  Set short and long-term goals for your recovery. Make sure it is a step by step process with realistic goals and benchmarks.
9.  Frame the process in positive terms. For example, you are overcoming adversity. You are improving your well being.
10. Reward yourself along the way.
11. Bring in community support from your circle of friends and family.

By framing the surgical and recovery process in positive terms and by having a well-crafted plan for short and long-term goals, you will maximize your chances of a successful and meaningful experience.