How to prepare for orthopaedic surgery

As you countdown to your ortho surgery, let me help you prepare for a smoother recovery process.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve consulted with a new client and they have no idea what their restrictions are, what they’re still allowed to do, how to use their brace, when they can start PT, when their next follow-up with the surgeon is, how to use crutches, etc.

From my experience, the more information and items you have ready beforehand, the better. You can avoid a lot of needless stress and just focus on recovering.

Things to consider:

• Home set up

  • Consider what floor your bed is on

  • Do you need a bath seat (trust me, it’s good to have and much safer for you) or raised toilet seat

• Arrange help from friends or family

• Get contact info for surgeon/nurse/office

• Find out when you can start physiotherapy

• Prepare a realistic time frame to return to work

• Have medications filled

• Find out what movement restrictions will you have and for how long

It’s not uncommon for me to consult with a client before their surgery. It can be a scary experience with a lot of unknowns but a session with an experienced Physiotherapist can really boost your confidence going in.