Preparing for Your First Visit

Choosing a surgeon is an important first step in seeking relief from your pain. Thereafter, the success of your treatment depends in large part on how well you use your time with your surgeon. Here are some tips to make the most of every visit:

Be ready to talk about your relevant medical history. You may want to write down previous treatments you have used, so you don’t forget to mention anything. An injury that occurred decades ago may be relevant, as are prior surgeries and non-surgical treatments like physical therapy and medicines. Your surgeon also needs to know about other medical conditions that could affect surgery.
Make a list of all the medicines you take, and take copies with you when you go to the doctor. Your list will save you time and assure that your doctor gets all the accurate information. This is especially important for people who take several types of medicine. Your surgeon needs to know about all pills, creams, injections, or other forms of medicine that you are taking. Be sure to discuss over-the-counter pills (aspirin, decongestants, etc). And don’t forget about vitamins and nutritional supplements.
Mention any allergies you may have, even if you’re not asked about it.
Bring any previous tests such as X-rays, lab tests, etc. to your appointment if you can. This saves a lot of time and duplication and helps your surgeon assess your symptoms.
Tell the surgeon about your lifestyle, the activities you enjoy, and how osteoarthritis is affecting you physically and emotionally.

Finally, here are some questions you may want to ask during your visit:

Can knee replacement surgery relieve my pain and stiffness?
Am I a candidate for knee replacement?
What type of knee replacement do you use?
What are the benefits and risks of knee replacement surgery?
How long does recovery and rehabilitation take after surgery and what can I expect?
What activities could I participate in after I recover?

Next: Pre-Surgery Information