How To Prepare For Hip Surgery
- The doctor will assess your health status: The first step of the process is a complete assessment your doctor will make of your current health and physical condition. This includes asking about your medical history, medications (if you take them), and how often you see a physician. The doctor may also perform an examination and will definitely need some lab tests and radiographs. The results from these exams will help the doctor determine if you are a candidate for surgery.
- Understand potential risks: It is fundamental to completely understand everything related to the surgery you’re going through. In addition to the risk involved in general anesthesia during your procedure, you’ll need to know about other possible complications, such as bleeding and blood clots. If you’re nervous and can’t handle this information, bring a caregiver or someone with a medical perspective to your next appointment with the doctor to help you understand what it is all about.
- Develop a plan for surgery: Once you’ve decided to proceed, you will need to develop a plan for surgery. First of all, you can calculate your expenses because hip fractures are ranked 13th as the top 20 more expensive health issues. You may also want to plan ahead for your recovery according to what the doctor tells you. Surgery may impact your job and everyday life. In some cases, it might be required to have assistance at home, and it is essential to have someone to drive you home when you’re cleared after the first stage of recovery is done. Some home rearrangements can also be required, such as moving your room to the first floor and ensuring everything you need is at hand.
References:
https://www.orthopedic.theclinics.com/article/S0030-5898(16)00015-8/fulltext
https://journals.lww.com/jaaos/fulltext/2015/02000/management_of_hip_fractures_in_the_elderly.9.aspx
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6350663/