Joint Replacement: Understanding Your Discharge
Joint Replacement: Understanding Your DischargeInstructions“I just want to go over your discharge instructions, okay?”“Okay.”When it is time for you to leave the hospital after joint replacement surgery, a member of your healthcare teamwill visit you and go over specific guidelines for you to follow to ensure a healthy and speedy recovery.You may be going home to continue your recovery with outpatient therapy sessions, or you may be going to aninpatient rehabilitation center for your next recovery phase. No matter where you spend the next phase of yourrecovery, you must follow your discharge instructions carefully to reduce your risk of complications.Before you leave the hospital, you will receive a written discharge plan designed specifically for you. Yourdischarge plan will include information on pain management; incision care; physical activity guidelines,including what you can and can’t do over the next few weeks; physical and occupational therapy informationand how often to do your breathing exercises.It will detail the medications you are prescribed, including how much and when to take them. Pay specialattention to any new prescriptions or over the counter medications you are given for pain and preventing bloodclots.Medications may cause side effects, like constipation. Talk to your healthcare provider now, before you leavethe hospital, about what to do if you experience any side effects. Your discharge plan will also include whenyou can resume your normal activities like returning to work and driving. Note the date of your follow-upappointment on your discharge plan. It will probably be scheduled a few weeks after you leave the hospital.This is a lot of information. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you know who to call if you haveany additional questions once you get home. It may help to have a family member or friend with you to helpyou remember all of the information given.On the day you are discharged, you may feel healthy and excited to be leaving the hospital. But your body isstill healing. You may tire out faster than you’re used to. Take a few minutes to rest before you leave.Since you can’t drive yet, have a family member or friend drive you home. Ask your healthcare provider how toget in and out of the car safely. In the car, be careful around your incision site. Your body has been through alot but you are ready to leave the hospital and move onto your next phase of recovery. At discharge, makesure you understand all of your instructions clearly in order to continue to recover quickly and safely.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.VER59061B EN JointReplacementUnderstandingYourDischargeInstructions.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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