Frankfort Regional Medical Center

Before Frankfort kindergarten teacher Beth Paul had both knees replaced, her quality of life wasn't making the grade. "I'd had arthritis in both knees for years, and, by the end of 2013, the pain had become so intense that I couldn't do a lot of walking or standing," Beth says. "I was unable to fully enjoy myself on vacations, and I had to take several days off work because I couldn't function without icing my knees." Having failed to find lasting pain relief from conservative treatments, Beth visited Dana Soucy, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Frankfort Regional Medical Center. X-rays confirmed what Beth could feel: Her knees were in bad shape. "The left knee was worse than the right—it was bone on bone—so I decided to have it replaced first," Beth says. "I was so ready for the discomfort to end that I was more excited about the procedure than I was nervous." Your physician has recommended joint replacement. Now, you wonder what to expect. This primer can help demystify the process. "Usually, we schedule surgery three or four weeks after a patient decides to have the procedure," says Dana Soucy, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Frankfort Regional Medical Center. "During this period, patients should perform stretching and strengthening exercises that focus on the joint to be replaced, whether it's a knee, hip or shoulder. A healthful diet is important, too—getting adequate protein improves the body's ability to heal surgical wounds and ward off infections." You Ste--Ste PREPARING FOR SURGERY A couple of weeks before surgery, you'll attend the new Total Joint Boot Camp at Frankfort Regional, a one-day program designed to prepare patients for surgery and beyond. You'll complete preadmission testing, enjoy lunch with other patients and learn what you need to know about your procedure. "During lunch, patients watch a video in which the surgeons and a physician assistant explain what each type of joint replacement entails, and they review pre- and postoperative dos and don'ts," says Niki Jones, RN, Charge Nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and Outpatient Surgery at Frankfort Regional. "Following the video, two other nurses and I discuss what to expect on the day of surgery, physical and occupational therapists talk about rehabilitation therapy after the procedure, and a case manager explains discharge planning." Total Joint Boot Camp is a great time to ask questions and prepare for life after surgery. "Many people want to know how to prepare their homes for their return," says Alex Driskell, RN, MSN, CPHQ, Operating Room Resource Clinical Coordinator at Frankfort Regional. "We discuss how to eliminate hazards and arrange the area where they'll spend most of their time. We also talk about the importance of cooking meals beforehand and freezing them." Don't let joint pain or fear of the unknown slow you down. 1 An A+ Procedure, Times Two Dana Soucy, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon Joint Replacement 4

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