Joint Replacement Rescheduled? Tips to Manage Your Pain and Prepare for Your Surgery
How To Manage Pain and Prepare for Joint Replacement Surgery
If you are like many patients who are anxiously awaiting joint replacement surgery, you may be wondering what you can do to manage your pain and prepare for your upcoming surgery. Eric Smith, MD, FAOA, Chief of Arthroplasty at NEBH, explains that there are several things you can do to plan for your surgery, which can help ensure a more successful outcome.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken to help manage your pain
Avoid NSAIDS (ibuprofen or naproxen) as we don’t yet know how they interact with corona virus.
Ice Your Affected Joint
Ice can help numb the area and reduce swelling. Keep the ice on for 20 minutes at a time (no longer as this can cause ice burns).
Use Assistive Devices When Walking Around
- Use a cane, countertop, or the back of a chair to ease the force on the arthritic joint.
- Use this time to ensure you are in the best shape possible for your surgery
- You will want to focus on strengthening your entire body, not just your knee or hip. Strengthening your upper body can be beneficial as you will be relying on your arms to get in and out of bed and in and out of a chair.
Watch Your Weight
When a person is even slightly overweight, it can add stress to their joints, especially their weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips. Every pound of weight gained puts an extra 3-5 pounds of pressure on knee joints. Losing weight can help reduce pain and restore function in joints, especially when paired with exercise and a healthy diet.
Exercise To Keep Your Joints Moving
Exercise has a number of health benefits for those living with arthritis, including decreased pain and fatigue, increased strength and flexibility, and improved ability to manage symptoms or prevent injury
Meditate
Meditation can help you deal with your pain and tolerate your condition. There are many apps and books available that can help lead you through guided mediation. Remember to always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. Stop any exercise that increases your pain.
