Here are answers to questions that Southern Joint Replacement Institute patients frequently ask regarding joint replacement surgery.

Three weeks. You may need additional examinations and testing in preparation for surgery. There are other tasks needed in preparation, such as donating your blood for the surgery.
If you are in good health, it is normally not necessary. It is recommended that you take antibiotics prior to dental procedures and certain invasive medical procedures for the rest of your lifetime. Your Southern Joint Replacement Institute orthopaedic specialist will advise you and answer questions you may have.
Yes. Recommended walking devices include a cane, walker, crutches and handrails. By the sixth week following surgery, you should be able to walk without the assistance of a device. If there is overuse of the new joint, muscle fatigue may occur, causing you to require the use of a cane for a short period of time.
There are three important things to consider in preparation for surgery:
  • Good nutrition. Eating healthy prior to surgery will shorten your recovery time after having joint replacement surgery.
  • Dental care. We prefer that our joint replacement patients wait three months after surgery before having their teeth cleaned to lower the risk of possible infection. A trip to the dentist prior to surgery could be beneficial.
  • Foot care. Toenails need to be trimmed and the foot free of infection. If you have an infection anywhere in the body, be sure to see your doctor and alert your Southern Joint Replacement Institute orthopaedic surgeon before having any surgery.
More important than age are underlying medical conditions. If you maintain an active lifestyle and desire a long-term pain relief, you certainly would be a candidate for the procedure. Assuming there are no medical contraindications, joint replacement at any age is generally safe. The experienced and highly-trained staff at Southern Joint Replacement Institute will review your past and current medical history and help you decide the best approach to your joint replacement.
We recommend waiting to have a total joint replacement until normal activities cannot be completed, pain becomes unbearable, and non-surgical options, such as medication, cortisone injection, activity modification, and weight loss, fail to alleviate your symptoms.
Most colds and the flu are from viral infections, and antibiotics are not effective against them. However, some viral infections can turn into bacterial infections, called a secondary infection. If your symptoms are relatively mild with low fever, and mucus is clear or white, then antibiotics are usually not necessary. On the other hand, if your symptoms are prolonged or getting worse or your mucus is thicker and yellow, green or blood-tinged, then an antibiotic probably does make sense. It is important to discuss this matter with your orthopaedic surgeon.
Studies show that greater than 90 percent of total joint replacements last 15 years if appropriate care is taken. The longevity of your replacement is best preserved by following the precautions recommended by the Southern Joint Replacement Institute staff.
The best type of shoe to wear after total hip or total knee surgery is one with a low, wide heel. A shoe with good shock absorption is preferred, such as the S.A.S. brand or a tennis shoe. Dress shoes should have a wide heel (no spikes) and not be higher than 2 inches. The higher the heel, the more it alters the weight-bearing forces on the joints, causing pain and wear on the joints.
Clicking and crunching are common noises heard with new joints. The noises are to be expected and usually do not involve pain.
All knee surgeries involving an incision to the front of the knee nick or cut the nerve that supplies sensation to the outer side of the knee. Numbness following knee surgery is common. Over time, most patients regain sensation or the loss of sensation becomes less noticeable.
Prior to joint replacement surgery, your leg often is shorter due to bone loss and the tightening of muscles around your hip. After surgery, your leg length is restored which often will make your leg feel longer than normal. You may also have a tight abductor muscle that will gradually relax and make your legs feel even. It may take up to a year after surgery for your legs to feel equal.