10 Questions to Ask Before Your Joint Replacement Surgery

Once you’ve worked out the details of your joint replacement with your surgeon, the next step is to set up a recovery space at home. For lower extremity surgeries, you’ll likely use a walker for a week or two in most cases, so you’ll want to make sure that couches, chairs, rugs and other obstacles are arranged safely so they won’t interfere with your movement or cause you to fall.

It’s also a good idea to talk to your friends and family about how they can help you recover after surgery. The vast majority of people who have joint replacement surgery go home the same day, so you’ll want to have a caregiver stay with you for the first few days. Beyond that, you’ll need someone to drive you to follow-up appointments and physical therapy, so reaching out to your support network ahead of time may help everyone figure out how and when they can pitch in.

As far as getting physically prepared right before surgery, you’ll be given a list of instructions about when to start fasting, which medications to stop and other details before surgery. It’s never too late to ask questions if you’re not sure about something, so don’t be afraid to reach out to your surgeon’s office with any concerns.