About the Nova Scotia Orthopaedic Surgery Patient Information Site

	About My Surgery Hip surgery Knee surgery Family & Caregivers What you need to know Resources Hip / Knee Surgery Patient Education Videos Orthopaedic / Arthritis Healthy Living Community Resources Nova Scotia Government Wait Times Nova Scotia District Health Authorities Osteoarthritis affects about 1 in 10 Canadians. learn more The hip is one of the largest joints in your body. learn more There are three things help the knee joint work easily and without pain, and three things make the knee painful and hard to move. learn more There are questions you should ask when visiting your family doctor about your condition. learn more There are questions to ask your surgeon during your consult visit. learn more Surgery is not the only treatment option for osteoarthritis. People at different stages of osteoarthritis disease need different treatment. learn more There are several types of hip replacement surgery. learn more There are two types of knee replacements. learn more Good preparation for surgery will result in faster recovery time, fewer problems and a smoother recovery at home. learn more Getting in shape before surgery will speed up your recovery after surgery. learn more For each extra pound of weight a person carries, it puts an extra 3 to 6 pounds of force on your knee and hip joints. learn more Good nutrition speeds up your recovery time and lowers your risk of infection. learn more Research has shown that smoking results in slower healing, a higher chance of complications (e.g. greater risk of infection) and a longer time spent in hospital. learn more Taking pain medication can help you to stay active, reduce the pain from inflammation in your joints, help you sleep and treat anxiety or depression. learn more Everyone having knee or hip replacement surgery is expected to attend a Pre-Admission Clinic to help prepare for surgery. learn more This website will tell you everything you need to know about your hospital, including information on parking, visiting hours and where to go on the day of your surgery. learn more During your time in the hospital, your healthcare team will work with you to make sure you are ready and able to manage your daily activities so you can be safely discharged home. learn more This website gives you a day by day look at the care you will receive in the hospital starting with your day of surgery until you are discharged home. learn more No two people are exactly alike when it comes to pain. You will probably experience some pain after your operation. learn more This website shows you how to safely move your body and get mobile after surgery by using step by step instructions and video clips. learn more Doing exercises after surgery helps to promote good circulation, increase muscle strength, and prevent blood clots. learn more There are things you can do after your surgery so you can have a speedy and safe recovery. learn more After surgery, a vital part of getting better is being able to get moving again. Stay with your walking and exercise program to help speed up your recovery. learn more This website can show you how to safely go about your everyday activities after surgery. learn more Being able to identify complications from your surgery early and knowing what to do is important to staying healthy. learn more It’s a good idea to ask a family member or friend to come with you for your post-op follow up visit to listen and take notes. learn more If your surgery and recovery has gone well, you should be able to do most of your everyday activities after about three months. learn more This website can help family member or caregivers of a surgery patients. learn more Our links to other resources may help you find out more about your condition and the resources available in your community. learn more
Back About This Website The focus of this website is the orthopaedic patient experience - before, during, and after surgery. It is designed to help provide you and your family with better health care. It also offers advice that will help patients manage their pain, get better results from their operation, and make healthy lifestyle choices. In some cases, making changes such as losing weight based on advice from your surgeon can make you ready to have surgery sooner. How to use this web site This website helps you prepare for your hip and knee joint replacement surgery, your stay in hospital, and your recovery at home. It includes information and resources in a variety of formats, including photos, checklists and videos. We hope it meets your needs. We are constantly looking to improve, and we welcome your feedback. You can contact us at mysurgery@nshealth.ca. Acknowledgement This website is a collaboration of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness and the Nova Scotia District Health Authorities. Production of this website has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada. This website was developed by collaborating with health professionals offering orthopaedic services throughout Nova Scotia. Patients and educators were also key contributors. We would like to acknowledge some content was adapted by permission from Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Capital District Health Authority, Pictou County Health Authority, Cape Breton District Health Authority, and Annaplois Valley Health Authority. The content is based upon a review of orthopaedic surgery patient information, orthopaedic websites, and research of best practices. The information on this site should never over rule the directions or advice you have received from our Surgeon or any member of your healthcare team.