The Importance of Prehab

Being well prepared for what you are about to undergo can make a critical difference to your recovery. The physical aspects of prehab, including visits to the PT and exercise, can be considered the first stage of rehab and are discussed in the following pages. Prehab is also the time to prepare yourself for the mental and social consequences of having TKR. Surgery this invasive, and the medication you’ll be taking afterward to deal with the pain and facilitate healing will affect your ability to relate to your caregiver, your friends and,—most importantly—to yourself.

I know from first-hand experience how important it is to anticipate what lies ahead. Depression is not part of my nature; I usually find myself on the sunny side of life. Therefore, I was totally unprepared for the depression that periodically intruded during the first six weeks of my recovery. That great weight of despair made it difficult for me to follow my normal sleep and exercise schedule. Finally, I came to accept the Good Day/Bad Day roller coaster as a part of the recovery experience. There are, however, things you can do during prehab that will help ease depression when it strikes.

Begin your planning for recovery by:

• Physically preparing yourself for surgery
• Creating a safe space
• Acknowledging that you will face significant challenges once the pain medication wears off.

Do not assume you’ll be able to do much for yourself in the weeks following surgery. It might seem obvious that patients who have had heart surgery don’t walk on their hearts. Patients who have had TKRs must immediately step on a leg that has just had significant, invasive surgery. You can best care for yourself by anticipating what you can do now to make your life easier when you return home.