Getting Ready for Hip Replacement Surgery

Take steps ahead of time to make recovery easier and safe. Make a few simple changes around the house. Also, arrange for someone to help you for a couple of weeks after your hip replacement. Before surgery, your surgeon may talk with you about ways to manage blood loss. You may also be told to see your primary care healthcare provider and your dentist. Treating health and dental problems now may improve healing after a joint replacement. If you’re a smoker, do your best to stop or cut down.

Prepare at home

Here are some suggestions: 

• Stock up on canned and frozen foods. Store all supplies between waist and shoulder level.

• Prepare a room on the main living level if you usually sleep upstairs. Or set things up so you have to go upstairs only once a day.

• Pick up clutter and remove throw rugs. Tape down electrical cords.

Use special equipment

Special equipment may help you have a safer and easier recovery. If pre-op training is offered, try using the devices before surgery. Some of the most helpful equipment is listed below.

• An elevated toilet seat

• A shower seat

• Handrails and grab bars to help you steady yourself, especially when getting in and out of the tub

• A grasping device to pull on socks and shoes

Managing blood loss

During major surgery, a significant amount of blood loss can happen. This can cause the body’s red blood cell level to drop below a healthy range. Blood management can help prepare your body for surgery and recovery. There are three main ways to manage blood loss: 

• You may be able to donate your own blood before surgery. Then you can receive your banked blood as needed.

• You may receive blood donated by another person. This blood is screened to rule out disease.

• A drug called epoetin alfa can be given before surgery. This drug stimulates the body to produce red blood cells, sometimes reducing the need for transfusion.

See your healthcare provider

Expect the following:

• You are likely to have lab or blood tests. You also may have an ECG (electrocardiogram). A chest X-ray may also be taken.

• Your healthcare provider will talk with you about health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which need to be controlled before surgery.

• Work with your healthcare provider to clear up any infections before surgery. Doing so helps ensure a better recovery.

• For your best recovery, you’ll be told to take care of yourself ahead of time. Maintain proper nutrition and reduce alcohol intake.

• If you smoke, quit before surgery if possible. This may improve healing and reduce complications after joint replacement.

Discuss your medicines

Tell your surgeon about all of the medicines you take. This includes herbs and supplements, as well as prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Some medicines don’t go well with anesthesia. Others, such as aspirin, blood thinners, and ibuprofen, increase bleeding. To avoid problems during surgery, you may need to stop taking certain medicines before hip replacement.

Finish dental work

Have any tooth or gum problems treated before surgery. Also, finish any dental work that may be under way. If you don’t, germs in your mouth could enter the bloodstream and infect the new joint. This could delay your recovery. In an extreme case, infection in the new joint might mean that the prosthesis would have to be removed.