You are going to have a hip or knee joint replacement surgery to replace all or part of your hip or knee joint with an artificial device (a prosthesis).
Below are some questions you may want to ask your doctor or nurse to help you prepare for your hip or knee replacement.
Is joint replacement the best treatment for me right now? What other treatments should I think about?
Is there anything that I can do before the surgery so it will be more successful for me?
How can I get my home ready before I even go to the hospital?
What are the risks or complications of the surgery?
Will I need a blood transfusion during or after the surgery? Isn't there a way of saving my own blood before the surgery so it can be used during the surgery?
What will the surgery and my stay in the hospital be like?
Will I be able to walk when I leave the hospital? Will I be able to go home after being in the hospital, or will I need to go somewhere else to recover more?
Do I need to stop taking any medicines before my surgery?
What should I do the night before my surgery?
What to ask your doctor before hip or knee replacement; Hip replacement - before - what to ask your doctor; Knee replacement - before - what to ask your doctor; Hip arthroplasty - before - what to ask your doctor; Knee arthroplasty - before - what to ask your doctor
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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