Many hospitals are postponing elective knee or hip replacement surgeries so medical re-sources can be made available to treat severely ill patients infected by the COVID-19 virus. This is possible because elective surgeries aren't urgent or life threatening and therefore may be safely postponed. Here’s what to do if your knee or hip surgery is postponed.
- Perform physical therapy exercises as recommended by your doctor to strengthen the muscles surrounding the hip or knee joint. This helps slow down or stop degenerative changes occurring within the joint.
- Avoid any activities that worsen your knee or hip pain. This usually means avoiding any kind of high-impact activity such as jogging or aerobics in favor of low-impact activities such as using a stationary bike or an elliptical.
- Use over-the-counter medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications as recommended by your doctor to reduce symptoms of pain and inflammation to help you stay active.
- Apply ice or heat to the joint as needed to relieve pain. Ice is generally effective to reduce swelling in the joint that may occur after strenuous activity, and a heating pad can help reduce joint stiffness and muscle soreness
- If you have knee instability, wear a knee support or brace when doing activities that may cause your knees to buckle. In case of hip pain or instability consider using a cane or a walker to reduce the stress on the joint with walking or other activities.
Following these tips will not only minimize your hip or knee pain as you wait to undergo joint surgery, but will also help improve surgical outcomes. Of note, Dr. Paul Jacob can be consulted using the telehealth service for any problems regarding your specific hip or knee condition.
Dr. Jacob brings cutting edge techniques and technology to the Oklahoma City area. He has extensive training in minimally invasive, rapid recovery joint replacement as well as robotically assisted hip and knee replacement. Dr. Jacob is a pioneer in outpatient joint replacement allowing some patients to go home the same day as their procedure and recover in the comfort of their own home. The cornerstone of Dr. Jacob’s practice is to have the recovery process be easier, faster and less painful allowing his patients to get back into the game of life. Dr. Jacob is committed to bringing the highest level of orthopedic care while treating each and every patient like a family member. Providing you with patient centered care you can trust.
