When it comes to preparing for a joint replacement procedure like hip or knee replacement, much of the focus is on the physical side. Do your prehabilitation exercises. Keep your weight in check. Arrange a ride home because you’ll be physically limited. However, being physically prepared is just one aspect of surgical preparedness. You’ll also want to be mentally prepared for what’s to come. Below, we explain how you can mentally prepare for hip replacement surgery and your post-op recovery journey.
Mentally Preparing For Hip Replacement Surgery
There’s no perfect playbook for mentally preparing for hip replacement surgery because everyone is facing their own internal challenges and has different short- and long-term goals. With that said, we want to highlight some approaches that we recommend to our patients who are gearing up for hip replacement surgery because we’ve found it can help them get into a better headspace.
- Expecting And Accepting Pain – We want to be clear that the procedure itself will be painless and we’ll do everything in our power to limit discomfort as much as possible during the recovery process, but know this – there will be some pain along the way. The sooner you accept this, the less likely it is that pain will become an overbearing issue during your recovery. You’re not going to be able to drown out discomfort forever, because even when minimally invasive techniques are used, your body is still going to be working to recover from a major trauma. Talk with your surgeon about pain expectations and how you and your provider can use medications to control discomfort as you progress through rehab. We’ll do our best to minimize pain, but patients are better off accepting that they’ll encounter some discomfort during their recovery from a joint replacement procedure.
- Learn About The Procedure – Much of a patient’s pre-operative anxiety oftentimes stems from the fear of the unknown, and there’s a good chance you have a few unknowns about hip replacement. Really take time to learn more about the procedure during your pre-op consultations and be sure to ask questions to get clarity about anything you’re confused about. The more you understand how hip replacement is performed and why it has become such a popular procedure, the less likely it is that you’ll find yourself dealing with anxiety or nerves ahead of the procedure.
- Prep For Your Return – It can also be mentally rewarding to prepare for your return from hip replacement surgery before you head in for your surgery. This can give you peace of mind knowing that you are attempting to manage the controllable aspects of your recovery, as some aspects of your care can feel out of control. Set up a living space on the main level of your home, prepare some healthy and easy to reheat meals, pick up tripping hazards and stock up on entertainment options so your house feels like a welcoming environment when you return.
- Focus On The Good, Not The Bad – We always tell our patients to focus on all the good things that will come following their successful hip replacement procedure. They’ll be able to move better, partake in more activities and greet each day with less pain. You should be looking forward to that! However, too many people end up focusing on the extremely rare possibility that something doesn’t go as planned. Quit worrying about what could possibly go wrong and instead focus on the much more likely outcome – that you’ll have a successful procedure. Reframing how you think about the procedure can quell feelings of anxiety before surgery.
- Build A Support System – Finally, start thinking about your support system so that you’re not trying to undertake the entire recovery process on your own. Figure out who is giving you a ride home from the surgical center, who can help with certain tasks or errands and where you’ll turn in the event you need something or simply want to vent. Lean on friends, family, coworkers, church members, support groups or anyone you feel close enough to that you can open up to about your challenges or needs. So many people will be willing to help, but they may not know that you need something unless you ask. Don’t be afraid to build a big support system, because these people will be a positive influence on your mental health.
Of course, many patients find that their mental health is more at ease when they connect with a skilled hip replacement specialist like Dr. Botero. He can discuss your care options and find a solution that’s right for your individual needs. For more information on how we can assist with your hip concerns, connect with Dr. Botero’s office today at (865) 558-4444.
