Keep your mind and body fit
Even though there are plenty of hip and knee replacement surgeons in Centreville, VA, finding the right one can be a challenge. Choosing the right surgeon is the first step towards a successful procedure. The following are a few important questions for your Centreville, VA hip and knee replacement specialist before surgery.
If you have specific goals, find out if the surgery can help you attain them. Let your surgeon know about your specific goals and expectations and find out what you can do to increase your likelihood of attaining them. You may need to know if surgery will:
Different people may experience different results depending on their general health and anatomy. Talking about your expectations before surgery can improve post-surgical satisfaction. It can help you understand your condition better.
You should have a specialist to answer your questions before and after surgery. Having the right surgeon is not enough. They should have a competent team of experts as well. The team should be able to give you online and written reference material.
Physical therapy is an important part of the recovery process and you should find out what it entails. In the first few weeks after surgery, you may need to stretch and exercise regularly. You may also need to schedule one-on-one appointments while going through physical therapy. The number of times you see a physical therapist depends on the details of your case.
Working with an experienced surgeon is always a good idea. Do not be afraid to ask this question as it may determine their performance. Find out how many times they have performed similar procedures and their success rate. Ideally, you should work with a surgeon who has performed at least 50 procedures with minimal complications.
Like with any other major surgery, you should find out the potential complications before getting hip and knee replacement surgery. Possible risks include deep vein thrombosis and infections. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, find out if they increase your risk of complications.
Your surgeon should let you know how you can prevent common injuries and reduce the need for knee and hip surgery in the future. Even though it is impossible to avoid the risks completely, there are lots of ways to minimize your risk.
After asking the right questions and having them answered, you can go into surgery feeling comfortable and confident. You can set realistic expectations and prepare accordingly. If you do not feel confident in the ability of your surgeon to answer those questions, it may be wise to get a second opinion.