4. Ask questions. It is important to head into surgery fully aware of what is being done, how it will be done, and the timetable for recovery.
5. Get help. The first weeks with a new joint are difficult, and getting around the house and things like shopping will be hard if not impossible. It is time to line up help, either from friends, relatives or social services.
6. Buy assistive items. There are tools that can make life easier during temporary immobility. A shower bench, handrails, an assistive reacher, a raised toilet seat can be godsends during the recuperation period.
7. You will be walking quickly. Because surgeons and therapists do not want adhesions to form after surgery, you will be taken on a short walk after your surgery, perhaps as soon as the day of the big event. The journey will be assisted by a walker and a nurse, but it will be important to get up and walking so that no stiffness sets in.
8. There are several types of joints available. A cemented joint is used in people who have weakened bones and in those who do not move around much, like elderly people. The cement will hold the prosthesis to the bone. Uncemented joints are usually used in younger, more active people and in those with good bone quality. Recovery may take longer because the bone will need to grow and attach to the newly inserted device.
9. Devices don’t last forever. The lifespan of a prosthesis is about 10 to 15 years. If you are young and get a replacement, it's possible you may need another procedure done later in life.
10. Success is not guaranteed. Although the majority of surgeries are successful, your rehabilitation will largely determine how successful the use of the joint will be. You will need to undergo physical therapy and regularly exercise the joint to recover maximum use of that part of the body that was replaced.