Bring this to your pre-op appointment
Pre-op visits move fast, and the questions you meant to ask have a way of coming back in the car. Print this sheet, check off what matters to you, and leave with the answers written down — in their words, not your memory of them.
My surgery
Questions worth asking — check the ones you want answered
- Which of my current medications and supplements should I stop, continue, or change before surgery — and when?
- When do I stop eating and drinking before surgery?
- What should I do about the skin over the joint (shaving, lotions, washing instructions)?
- What equipment should I have at home before I leave for surgery (walker, raised toilet seat, ice)?
- How much weight can I put on the leg / how much can I move the arm at first?
- What movement restrictions or precautions will I have, and for how long?
- When does physical therapy start, and who arranges it?
- How do I care for the incision, and when can I shower?
- What symptoms mean I should call you — and which number do I call?
- When is my first follow-up visit?
- When can I drive again, roughly?
- Is there anything about my health you’d like me to work on in the weeks I have left?
My prep so far — a snapshot for your team
Their answers & instructions
From jointprep.com — general education, not medical advice. Your surgical team’s instructions always come first.
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