Joint Replacement Surgery or Arthroscopic Surgery becomes an option when pain and stiffness interfere with your normal activities such as walking, bending, or lifting. When your work and leisure life are limited because of pain, it's time to talk to The Kennedy Center for the Hip & Knee to discuss the options open to you. All of the Following are Risk Factors for Complications During Surgery Pre-existing medical conditions Diabetes Taking steroid medication Urinary tract infection What to Expect Prior to Your Surgery When you come to The Kennedy Center your doctor will likely do the following: Physical Exam X-rays - on site radiology suites designated just for The Kennedy Center Blood tests If needed, an MRI will be ordered. Interview with Registered Nurses who will order your tests and answer any questions you have about your procedure. One reason for The Kennedy Center's success, is the strong team involvement of The Kennedy Center staff and the staff at Mercy. From the moment you walk in the door, you are greeted by our friendly, knowledgeable personnel. Dr. McLaughlin, his staff and the Mercy Medical Center nursing team will thoroughly explain the surgery you require. They will be with you to answer your questions from pre-operative consultations to post-operative recovery and rehabilitation. What You Can Do Prior to Your Surgery During surgery, patients often require blood transfusions. If you choose, you can use your own blood; consider donating your own blood at your local blood bank or Red Cross to use during your surgery. Discuss with your doctor any medications you are currently taking. Follow his instructions regarding discontinuing some drugs as they may interfere with your surgical outcome. Arrange for someone to take you home from the hospital. Have someone available to help you at home after your hospital stay. The night before your surgery, eat a light meal and do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. You should discuss this with your nurse or doctor who will provide you with written instructions on preparing for your surgery. Make any home modifications that will be necessary when you return after surgery. Install safety bars in bathtubs, buy a raised toilet seat with arms. Remove all throw rugs and floor pillows until you are completely recovered. Make sure your floor space is clean and uncluttered with items you may trip over. Outcome Depending on the surgery you are having, you should be able to resume normal activities between 6 and 12 weeks following your surgery. For less invasive procedures, you should be able to return to your job and leisure activities after 4-6 weeks. It is extremely important that you closely follow the rehabilitation program prescribed by your doctor. Your body is still healing, even when you are feeling better. Often, patients feel so much better than they did before the surgery they are tempted to overdo an activity which results in pain and rarely a second surgery. Only do the exercise and activities prescribed by your doctor and physical therapist until told otherwise. If you were overweight before the surgery, continue dieting and do the exercises prescribed by the physical therapist. All surgical patients should closely follow the rehabilitation program designed for them for the best outcome possible. When To Call the Doctor After Surgery If you experience a fever or chills, this is a sign of infection. If you have redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding or discharge from the incision site, call the doctor immediately. If you have a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain or severe nausea or vomiting. If you have burning, pain or frequency of urination or blood in your urine. If your leg turns chalky white, black or blue. If you have pain and swelling in your feet, calves or legs or sudden shortness of breath of chest pain. References: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website : Available at: www.aaos.org Important Links