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Joint Replacement During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Questions to Ask Your Doctor

You may have had questions about joint replacement before COVID-19, but now, you may feel overwhelmed. Here’s a list of questions to get the conversation with your doctor started.
May 14, 2020 | 1 min read
Christa S. Plew, MBA
Author
Zimmer-Biomet-Employee

The idea of discussing a joint replacement surgery like hip, knee, ankle, or shoulder with your doctor can be intimidating, especially with everything going on in the world right now. If you’re concerned about having your joint replaced due to potential exposure to COVID-19, here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor.

For information about the risks associated with knee replacement surgery, click here; hip replacement surgery, click here; ankle replacement surgery, click here; shoulder replacement surgery, click here; and elbow replacement surgery, click here.

  1. How do you determine whether or not I need surgery?
  2. What would happen if I wait six months? One year?
  3. Other than surgery, what options do I have for managing my pain?
  4. Are there any exercises or stretches I can do while I wait for surgery?
  5. Why is this surgery referred to as ‘elective’?
  6. Will I be tested for COVID-19 prior to surgery?
  7. Where do you perform surgery? A hospital or surgery center?
  8. Am I a candidate for outpatient surgery, where I can go home the same day?
  9. If I’m not a candidate for outpatient surgery, how long will I be in the hospital? When I do leave the hospital, can I go straight home, or do I have to go to a recovery center like a skilled nursing home or rehabilitation center?
  10. What does your facility do to help fight the spread of COVID-19?
  11. Will I be allowed to have visitors?
  12. What should my caregiver expect when dropping me off/picking me up?
  13. Where do I go the day of surgery?
  14. What options do I have for remote care (telephone or video care) pre and post op appointments?
  15. Will I have physical therapy? If so, how often and for how long?
  16. What options do I have for remote care physical therapy (completing physical therapy exercises at home)?
Find an orthopedic surgeon near you

If you are looking for more general questions to ask when considering a joint replacement surgery, check out these articles.

Questions to Ask When Considering Hip Replacement Surgery

Questions to Ask When Considering Knee Replacement Surgery

Questions To Ask When Considering Total Ankle Replacement Surgery

Questions To Ask When Considering Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Questions To Ask When Considering Elbow Replacement Surgery

You can also download and take this Guide to Total Joint Surgery with you.

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Christa S. Plew, MBA
Author
Zimmer Biomet Employee

Here at ReadyPatient, Christa combines her expertise in writing with her passion for helping people by developing engaging content all designed to support you along your journey. Learn more about her here.

 

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