Joint Replacement · Start Here
Getting Ready for Your Joint Replacement
“You have a lot of work to do to get ready. Let’s get you started.” — Dr. Allred
Start with your online guide
Pick your procedure and the hospital where your surgery is scheduled, and you’ll get your full step-by-step guide: preparing your body and your home, what happens on surgery day, your recovery milestones, and the warning signs to watch for.
Start this week
These are the things that need a head start — the sooner you begin, the better your surgery and recovery go. The rest is in your online guide, timed to your surgery date.
- Move every day. Begin gentle strengthening now — the stronger you go in, the faster you come out.
- Eat protein at every meal — about 120 g a day for women, 150 g a day for men.
- If you smoke or vape, stop now. Nothing you do matters more for healing.
- Diabetic? Tighten your blood sugar. It takes weeks to improve — and it protects you from infection.
- Check your dental health — a routine visit is not required for everyone. But see your dentist first if you have any sign of a mouth infection (tooth pain, swelling, bleeding or sore gums, a loose or broken tooth, or dental work you’ve been putting off), or if you’re at higher risk of infection (diabetes or a weakened immune system). Finish any needed dental work — especially extractions — at least 2 weeks before surgery. Not sure? Your online guide has a quick dental self-check.
- Schedule your history & physical (H&P) with your primary care provider.
- Tell us every blood thinner and supplement you take.
- Line up your team — a ride home, and someone to stay with you the first 24–72 hours.
As surgery gets closer, your online guide walks you through the rest — vitamins, the pre-surgery skin washes, the carbohydrate drink, and setting up your home. It’s timed to your surgery date, so just follow it in order. Questions any time? Call the clinic where you were seen.