What many people don’t realize is that there is a lot of preparation required before any type of surgery. Being as healthy as possible before being operated on is vital, as it can make the process as smooth as possible. One big example of this process is procedures that involve knee or hip replacements.
Obesity is one of the most common diseases that affect bone and joint health. It is also one of the main reasons why patients are denied the opportunity to have replacements done. The facts here are straightforward, having more body mass equals more pressure on the joints of the body. Being overweight can thus lead to complications following your surgery, as the joints may not be able to heal properly. Some complications involve infection, poor wound healing, difficulty breathing, blood clots, blood loss, pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs), and the chance of increased risk of dislocation (especially the hip). Obesity is also often linked to multiple other health complications that can also affect the surgery. These include but are not limited to Diabetes, Chronic Liver Disease, Chronic Pulmonary Disease, and Hypertension.
It obviously can be quite frustrating to be denied surgery, especially when your mobility may be limited or painful. Losing weight may seem daunting, but it is doable. In fact, studies have even shown that those suffering from obesity do not necessarily have to lose all of their risk weight in order to see benefits. Losing weight is a complicated process, that does require good research and education. Talk to your doctor or surgeon about what avenue is best for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to another trusted professional as well.
Works Cited:
Bozic, K. (2019, August 27). The Benefits of Losing Weight Before Knee Replacement. Retrieved from Arthritis Health: https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/benefits-losing-weight-knee-replacement
McClure, G. (n.d.). Told to lose Weigh before Joint Replacement? Here's Why. Retrieved from Peer Well: https://www.peerwell.co/blog/2017/05/11/have-to-lose-weight-before-joint-replacement/
Obesity, Weight Loss, and Joint Replacement Surgery. (2015, July). Retrieved from OrthoInfo: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/weight-loss-and-joint-replacement-surgery/