Preparing for joint replacement surgery

Take care of your health

• Make sure your long-term illnesses are under good therapeutic control
• Check the condition of your skin
• Ensure the health of your mouth and teeth
• Move about actively and follow the given exercising instructions
• Eat a varied diet
• If you smoke, we recommend that you stop smoking at least one month before the surgery
• Avoid the use of intoxicants
• Stop taking natural products and Omega-3 products 2 weeks before the surgery

Exercise before surgery

Move about every day as your condition allows. Daily exercise and everyday chores stimulate blood circulation and maintain muscle strength and joint mobility.

Functional exercise, such as gardening, lawn mowing, snow clearing, berry and mushroom picking are excellent forms of exercise. Forms of exercise that place little strain on painful joints include walking, swimming and cycling. Results-oriented exercising must take place regularly and several times a week. Exercising must have an upward trend in order to achieve training responses.

Exercising consists of general training such as walking, cycling and swimming. In addition, muscle strength, joint mobility, balance and muscle stretching are trained. Always start exercising moderately so that your body gets used to the strain gradually and you learn the optimal performance technique. Increase the intensity of exercising gradually. If the joint is inflamed or severely painful while exercising, you should take it easier. Pain medication may help you move around.

Prepare for your discharge from Coxa

• Make sure your home is safe and offers unobstructed passage with an aid
• Borrow the aids from your municipality’s technical aids lending unit and practise using them (instructions can be found here)
• Anticipate the organisation of your meals and establish who will go to the grocery shop and pharmacy on your behalf
• Assess how you can manage household work after the operation and arrange help, such as relatives or a municipal home care or private home help service provider, if necessary

Prepare for surgery also mentally

• The operation is just one component in a successful outcome
• Prepare yourself for staying active and exercising despite the pain
• A calm mind and relaxed body promote recovery at home

On the day preceding the surgery

• Wash yourself thoroughly with soap and wash your hair with shampoo
• Check the condition of your skin
• Eat normally and remember a nourishing evening snack
• Do not eat starting from 12 midnight. On the morning of the surgery, you can drink 1 to 2 glasses of water and a cup of coffee or tea.
• Notify Coxa as soon as possible by calling tel. +358 3 311 715 if you cannot undergo surgery.

What to take with me to coxa?

• Forearm crutches or a rollator walker
• Mobile phone and charger
• Personal hygiene products, shampoo and soap
• Easy-to-wear shoes for indoor use
• A comfortable outfit to wear when being discharged from the hospital
• Patient guide
• Your debit/credit card for purchasing medications upon discharge from the hospital
• If applicable: glasses and case, hearing aid and batteries, MAREVAN dosage, CPAP machine
• Leave jewellery and large amounts of cash at home