5 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon Before Joint Replacement Surgery
There's exactly one window to ask your surgeon everything that matters. It's your pre-op appointment. After that, you're in a gown, the room is moving fast, and the questions you meant to ask are suddenly hard to hold onto.
I've spent 34 years in nursing, including years building and running a total joint unit at a hospital in Tuscaloosa. We did weekly education classes for patients before their surgeries, and the difference between patients who understood what was about to happen and patients who didn't was consistent and clear. Patients who came in with a clear picture of what to expect consistently did better. Their families were steadier, their questions were calmer, and they knew the difference between a hard day of recovery and a sign that something had actually gone wrong.
The patients who didn't ask questions were the ones calling from home two days after discharge, confused about what to do next.
So let's make sure that doesn't happen to you.
If you or someone you love is heading into joint replacement surgery, here are the five questions I'd want you to ask at that pre-op appointment.
What You'll Learn
One common health issue — including a dental problem — can cause your surgeon to reschedule your surgery
Your blood thinner prescription should be filled before surgery day, not after ""
Knowing what's normal in recovery helps you stay calm at home and recognize when something isn't right
1. What would cause you to reschedule my surgery?
This question sounds simple. Most people never ask it.
Your surgeon will reschedule your joint replacement if something about your health puts you at higher risk. Active infection, a non-healing wound, blood sugar that's too high, or even an abscessed tooth can all be reasons to pause the surgery and address the underlying problem first.
That last one surprises people every time. An abscessed tooth. I know it sounds unrelated. But here's why it matters: when a surgeon implants a prosthetic joint, any bacteria already circulating in your body can travel to that implant and cause a serious infection deep in the joint. Your surgeon isn't being overly cautious when they postpone for a dental issue. They're protecting you from a far worse outcome than a rescheduled surgery.
If you have any teeth that have been bothering you, an open wound anywhere on your body, a cold you can't shake, or blood sugar that's been hard to control, tell your surgeon before surgery day. Don't wait and hope it clears up. Ask this question now so you're not blindsided at check-in.
2. Why will I need a walker after surgery, and for how long?
I know this seems like a question with an obvious answer. But I've sat with patients who were genuinely confused about why they couldn't just go home and move around like normal — and who didn't realize a walker was even part of the plan.
After joint replacement, your muscles are recovering from surgery, your balance is temporarily affected, and your new joint needs time to integrate into your body. A walker keeps you upright and moving safely while all of that happens. It's not a sign that something went wrong. It's the correct and expected recovery.
Ask your surgeon how long you'll need the walker, what comes after (a cane? nothing?), and what the weight-bearing instructions mean for your specific surgery. Every surgeon has a protocol, and knowing yours before surgery means you can set up your home properly before you ever come home.
3. What are the signs of a blood clot I should watch for at home?
Blood clots are one of the most serious risks after joint replacement surgery, and the risk extends into the weeks after discharge. Your surgeon will put you on a blood thinner to reduce that risk. But you still need to know what to watch for, because a blood thinner doesn't make the possibility zero.
Signs of a clot in your leg include swelling, redness, warmth, or pain in the calf that feels different from your normal surgical soreness. A clot that travels to the lungs — a pulmonary embolism — can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or a racing heartbeat.
I've seen patients leave the hospital with a blood thinner prescription and never fill it. They didn't understand what it was for, so it didn't feel urgent. That gap is dangerous. Ask your surgeon which blood thinner you'll be taking, how long you'll be on it, and what to do if cost is a barrier to filling it. Then fill the prescription before surgery so it's already waiting at home when you get there.
4. Which of my regular medications should I stop taking before surgery?
Some medications increase bleeding risk. Some interact with anesthesia. Some need to be paused and restarted on a specific schedule, and the timing matters.
Bring your full medication list to your pre-op appointment. Every prescription, every over-the-counter supplement, every vitamin. Ask your surgeon and their team to go through it with you. Don't assume your primary care doctor has already coordinated this with your surgical team, because often that communication hasn't happened.
This is also a good time to ask what medications you'll be sent home with after surgery, what each one is for, and whether anything you're currently taking needs to be restarted at a specific time. Write it down, or ask someone with you to write it down.
5. What do I do about constipation after surgery?
I'm including this one because nobody ever asks it, and it comes up every single time.
Pain medications after surgery — the kind that manage real surgical discomfort — commonly cause constipation. It's uncomfortable, it's sometimes painful, and it catches people off guard when they're already dealing with a lot. Your surgeon can recommend a stool softener to start before surgery or immediately after. Some will include one as part of your discharge kit if you ask.
Just ask. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. And knowing the answer means one less uncomfortable surprise at home when you're already tired.
Before Your Pre-Op Appointment
Write these questions down. Take someone with you if you can, because four ears are always better than two when you're nervous and taking in a lot of information at once. Your job in that appointment is to understand — not to perform being okay with things you don't actually understand.
If you're the family member helping a loved one prepare, print this list and go with them. Your job isn't to ask the questions for them. It's to help them remember what was said.
You deserve to know exactly what's happening to your body and why. That's not asking too much. That's asking exactly enough.
Shira Graham, RN, BSN is a patient advocate with 34 years of nursing experience.
Shira's Patient Advocacy Services was created to help patients and families navigate the healthcare system with confidence.
