Exercise, Healthy Diet, Smoking Cessation are Key Factors

People who take steps to prepare before hip or knee replacement surgery often recover faster and with fewer setbacks, according to a medical expert with ThedaCare.

Positive lifestyle choices, exercising and actively preparing for recovery, may lead to a better overall surgical experience, said Amanda Ujazdowski, an Orthopedic Surgery Physician Assistant with ThedaCare Orthopedic Care.

Amanda Ujazdowski

“It’s worth it to invest some time and effort in preparing for your joint replacement,” she said. “Our teams are here for you throughout your surgery experience to help ensure the best possible outcome.”

Chronic hip and knee pain often stem from injury or age-related osteoarthritis. Arthritis is natural wear and tear that happens to everyone.

Hip and knee replacement surgeries both involve removing damaged cartilage. In joint replacement surgery, the surgeon removes the diseased or worn-out cartilage. They then replace it with a synthetic material that’s shaped like the cartilage was when it was healthy.

People are strongly encouraged to attend any needed pre-surgery appointments and physicals before hip or knee surgery, Ujazdowski said. It’s also important to stay active as the surgical date approaches as doing so may help improve and hasten a person’s recovery.

Other steps to help prepare for hip or knee surgery include but are not limited to:

Managing Pain and Inflammation

Continue to manage pain and inflammation before surgery, Ujazdowski said.

“Your care team will discuss with you how to do so and how soon before your surgery you’ll need to stop taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),” she said. “These include naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil) and aspirin. They’ll also advise when you should stop taking any supplements and blood thinners that you may take.”

In addition to medications, measures such as ice and elevation may help relieve pain and inflammation. Resting the joint and using an assistive device may help as well.

Addressing Dental Work

Schedule any needed dental work well in advance of surgery. That’s because dental procedures may allow bacteria to enter a person’s bloodstream and cause an infection that could travel to their artificial joint, Ujazdowski said.

Planning For Lifestyle Changes

Those that smoke or use other tobacco products, are encouraged to work with their health care team to develop a cessation plan. The surgery site needs a good blood supply to heal well, Ujazdowski said. Nicotine limits blood flow and makes it harder for a person’s body to heal after surgery.

“Also, eat a healthy diet, focus on protein and incorporate whole grains and fruits and veggies,” Ujazdowski said. “You can get protein from both meat sources and non-meat sources such as eggs, beans and tofu.”

People that are overweight are advised to discuss with their health care team steps to take to manage the weight.

“Weight loss is essential to reducing risks before, during and after total joint replacement,” Ujazdowski said. “This will help lead to optimal recovery from your joint replacement and increase the longevity of your joint replacement.”

Prepping For The Return Home

It’s a good idea to prepare one’s living space prior to surgery, Ujazdowski said. Consider the following:

• Remove or address obstacles and trip hazards such as loose carpets and cords.
• Rearrange furniture if necessary to ensure easy navigation around the house.
• Have a firm bed, low to the ground. A person’s feet should touch the floor when sitting on the edge.
• Ideally, the bathroom or a portable commode will be on the same floor as the person undergoing hip or knee surgery.
• Consider purchasing accessibility aids such as a shower sponge with a long handle, a shoe horn with a long handle, a sock aid and a reacher/grabber tool.
• Plan for easy meals. Make or buy single meals that can be frozen and reheated.

“Identify who will accompany you on the day of your surgery,” Ujazdowski added. “If you live alone, arrange for someone to stay with you for at least the first week following your surgery. You’ll also want the emotional support of friends and loved ones as you recover.”

With a plan in place, people can better approach their surgery with confidence, she said.

For more information about ThedaCare’s hip or knee surgery program and surgical options, visit thedacare.org/services/orthopedics.

About ThedaCare

For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including nine hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. In 2024, ThedaCare and Froedtert Health combined to form one system to strengthen local health care and provide high-quality services for treatment and prevention in a coordinated manner.