Annually, over 500,000 people undergo total joint replacement surgery. Primary candidates are individuals with chronic joint pain from arthritis that interferes with daily activities, such as walking, exercise, leisure, recreation, and work. The surgery aims to relieve pain, restore independence, and return you to work and other daily activities.
The Bone & Joint Center at Hannibal Regional Hospital has developed a comprehensive planned course of treatment.
- Experienced board certified orthopedic surgeons from Midwest Orthopedic Specialists
- Average length of stay in hospital for total joint patients is 2.5 days
- Treatment team specializing in total joint replacement care
- #1 choice by patients for total joint replacement surgery in NE Missouri and West Central Illinois
We believe that you play a key role in ensuring a successful recovery. Our goal is to involve you in your treatment through each step of the program. Every detail, from pre-operative teaching to post-operative exercising, is considered and reviewed with you. You can trust the Center for highly personalized care, backed by the latest advancements in total joint technology and dedicated to meeting the individual, specialized needs of our patients.
For more information call 573-248-1300.
Day 1
All of our Bone & Joint Center patients are asked to walk, with assistance, on the afternoon following your joint surgery. A physical therapist will visit to help you get moving and walking a few steps. We strongly encourage our patients to get moving to decrease risk of pneumonia and promote circulation. By getting up sooner, our patients experience fewer complications and recover faster.
A Physical Therapist will visit you in the afternoon after your surgery to get you moving and walking a few steps.
Day 2
The first day after your joint surgery is called “Postoperative Day 1”. Every day you are hospitalized following your surgery, your activity will increase, pain level will decrease and you will feel stronger.
An Occupational Therapist will meet with you in the morning to help you learn how to use assistive devices to perform your activities of daily living while you're getting used to the new joint.
In the morning, one of our physical therapists will visit to help you through exercises. The therapist will teach you how to use a walker if necessary and assist you with additional walking. They will return in the afternoon to repeat the process.
Your nurse will continue to assist you with pain management, ordering meals and other requests you may have.
Day 3
Your surgeon will stop by to evaluate your progress and medical status because this is most likely the day you are discharged from the Bone & Joint Center to continue recovering at home or another facility.
Prior to leaving, you will have another session with physical therapy for additional exercises to improve your recovery and continued use of your new joints. You also will receive discharge instructions, including restrictions that are crucial to the healing process.
While your surgeon will make the final decision regarding your discharge from the unit, several milestones will help determine when you are ready:
- You must be medically stable.
- You must be able to get in and out of bed, either on your own or with some light assistance.
- You must be able to walk independently with your walker or crutches.
- You must be able to go up and down steps with your walker or crutches (though you may require some assistance from one person).