Have you recently undergone a joint replacement? Or, are you planning on going through the same for either your knee or hip? In either case, you must be wondering what the diet will be like post-surgery!
Indeed, for a faster and better recovery, good food is crucial. To learn more, read on till the end.
What is a joint replacement?
Joint Replacements are also known as arthroplasty. The following are the purposes of a replacement surgery whether it is to replace a knee or a hip:
- Replacement of injured and worn-out joint parts
- Elimination of pain in the affected joint and all the other symptoms of inflammation
- Restoration of a normal range of joint motion
- Reformation of damaged bone and cartilage
During the surgery, implants or artificial parts are used to resurface a severely damaged joint. These implants are normally made out of metal and plastic.
After a knee or hip replacement, you get the normal functioning back to the operated joint.
For the best results, an experienced surgeon is crucial. Hence, for the best knee replacement surgery in Delhi, make sure you first find a competent orthopedic surgeon.
Why do you need these surgeries?
In simple terms, you need a replacement surgery for hip or knee joints when they have stopped working normally causing hindrances in leading daily life.
In particular, suppose you have recently been involved in a road accident where your knee joint has been completely injured with no chance of normal recovery.
In that case, an orthopedic surgeon might advise an arthroplasty (a knee replacement to correct your situation).
Other joint conditions or reasons are as follows:
- Severe pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness or decreased range of motion
- Instability
- Intense fractures
- Post-traumatic arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Foods to eat after the surgery
There is no particular food recommended after a replacement surgery. But, eating healthy is key. Your meals must have the following.
Calcium: The skeletal part of the body comprises bones and joints. They need enough calcium for health, repair and formation of new cells. You can take various food items to ensure your calcium intake after the surgery.
- Dairy products,
- Leafy green vegetables,
- Spinach,
- Kale,
- Food items fortified with Calcium like cereal,
- Orange juice fortified with calcium
- Fish
- Nuts like Almonds
Vitamin D: Have you heard of the process of calcium absorption? This is the way of your body to make use of the calcium you have taken to build bones stronger, healthier and more resilient. But this process needs enough of Vitamin D to happen.
Good sources of this essential nutrient are
- Egg yolks
- Milk
- Fishes like Salmon &Tuna
- Orange juice
- Cereal
- Sunlight Exposure
- Supplements
Protein: This substance you need to speed up the repairing and rebuilding process that happens on the cellular and tissue level. After the surgery, you need your protein to heal all the operated areas left with wounds and stitches.
The following are the various sources of protein:
- Soybean and soy products
- Spinach
- Beans
- Quinoa
- Chia seeds
- Artichokes
- Meat
- Poultry
- Seafood
- Peas
- Lentils
- Egg
Vitamin C: It is a substance that helps detox your body: an antioxidant. This particular vitamin mainly helps in tissue repair and wound healing, along with fighting against infections and production of collagen.
Good sources of Vitamin C are:
- Oranges and orange juice
- Any other citrus fruits
- Blackcurrants
- Brussels sprouts
- Potatoes
- Peppers
- Strawberries
- Broccoli
Omega-3 fatty acids: This is very good to alleviate pain and swelling because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Eat foods like
- salmon,
- flaxseeds,
- mackerel,
- sardines,
- chia seeds, and
- walnuts to ensure such fatty acids.
Note: Eat what is light and easy to digest. The digestive system right after a surgery hasn’t yet come back to its normal functioning. So, eating light will help keep issues like constipation, bloating, and nausea at bay.
Make sure you also pay attention to the water intake. It is crucial after the surgery as often anesthesia and pain medications leave you physically drained or dehydrated.
Other things to keep in mind after the surgery
A healthy and nutritious diet is definitely the key to a faster recovery and getting back to normal in time. There is no doubt about it. However, there is other crucial advice as well.
Medications: Take all your prescribed medications on time. It will help ease through the post-replacement time without any trouble. Often, doctors give you antibiotics so that any chance of developing infection can be averted proactively.
Physiotherapy: A knee or hip replacement often follows with a certain number of physiotherapy sessions. During that, you are given various treatments involving exercises, rubbing, moving the affected parts, and heat treatments.
This helps with blood circulation and stiffness around the replaced joint offering faster recovery!
Check-ups: After a knee or hip replacement, you will have to see the doctor for stitch cutting. It usually happens 14 days after the operation. Make sure you don’t miss out on the day when your stitches are scheduled to be cut. It might complicate the matter.
Adequate rest and sleep: Don’t strain the operated joint too much right away. Make sure you give it enough time to recover naturally. During sleep, your body undergoes the natural repair and rejuvenation process, which is crucial post-replacement.
Mindfulness: Absent-mindedness might cause trouble. It is mostly because it takes the risk of joint injury to a higher level.
For instance, suppose you don’t see where you are going and you trip over something, falling and breaking the replaced joint again. So, be mindful while walking and climbing stairs.
Endurance and strength: Doing exercise is a great way to keep yourself fit and healthy. But, if you have gone through a joint replacement in your knee or hip, you better take a rest from this for a while.
Avoid endurance and strength exercises right after the surgery to avert post-replacement complications.
Conclusion
Talk to your doctor if you have any rehabilitation issues.
But don’t worry if any complications have arisen. If you seek help on time, every possible medical issue can be handled effortlessly.
If you are still considering a replacement like hip replacement surgery in Delhi, ensure you connect to the best doctor nearby. Delhi is the capital of India and thus houses the best orthopedic surgeons.
