Patient Guide
Preparing for Surgery & Recovery
Home setup · recovery aids · nutrition
Get Ready to Heal Well Simple steps before surgery and for your recovery at home

Use this guide alongside your Pre-Surgical Checklist. A little planning now makes recovery safer, smoother, and faster.

1 Final preparations (the weeks before)

Quit smoking & vaping now. Even a few weeks smoke-free improves bone and wound healing and lowers infection risk. Try to stop at least 4 weeks before surgery, and limit alcohol in the weeks beforehand. Ask us for help quitting.
Handle dental work early. Avoid dental work, including cleanings, for 6 weeks before and 6 months after surgery. Schedule any cleaning before that window.
Fill prescriptions ahead of time. Pick up your pain, anti-inflammatory, blood-thinner, and stool-softener prescriptions before surgery so they are ready when you get home.
Tell us if you get sick. Call the office if you develop a fever, cold, flu, COVID, or any new rash or skin opening near the surgical area — surgery may need to be rescheduled.
Get health conditions well-controlled. Work with your primary care provider to keep blood sugar (diabetes), blood pressure, and weight in good shape — this lowers your risk of infection and slow healing.
Line up physical therapy before surgery. Formal PT is essential and often begins 1–3 days after surgery. Choose your PT facility and book your first appointments now.
Plan help & time off. Arrange a ride, an adult to stay with you the first day and night, help with meals, pets, and kids, and any work or FMLA paperwork.

2 Prepare your home

Set up a recovery station. One comfortable chair or bed with everything within arm's reach: phone & charger, water, medications, tissues, remote, snacks, glasses.
Make the bathroom safe. Add a non-slip mat, a shower chair or bench, a hand-held shower head, and grab bars. Consider a raised toilet seat.
Kitchen & daily life. Pre-make and freeze meals, move everyday items to counter height, and keep a phone within reach at all times.
Clear the path. Remove throw rugs, cords, and clutter. Make wide walkways for a walker or crutches and add night-lights between the bed and bathroom.
Sleep smart. If you can, sleep on the main floor to avoid stairs. Keep a pillow or wedge handy to elevate the surgical arm or leg and reduce swelling.
Plan for stairs. Limit trips up and down. Set up a main-floor living space for the first week or two if possible.

3 Recovery aids to have readyGreen = we provide it

Ice / cold therapy — Dr. Pettit provides an ice machine on the day of surgery. Have a few clean cloths ready; never put ice directly on skin, and no more than 20 minutes at a time.
Compression (TED) stockings — provided; wear as instructed to reduce swelling and clot risk.
Sling, brace, or immobilizer — only if prescribed for your procedure; wear exactly as directed.
  • Walker or crutches (as directed) for support with weight-bearing
  • Reacher / grabber tool to pick things up without bending
  • Raised toilet seat and a shower chair or bench
  • Grab bars and a non-slip bath mat
  • Long-handled sponge, sock aid, and long shoehorn for dressing & bathing
  • Elevation pillow or foam wedge to keep the limb raised
  • Loose, comfortable clothing (roomy shorts for knee; button-front shirts for shoulder)
  • A walker bag, basket, or small backpack to carry items hands-free
  • Sturdy chair with armrests; secure stair handrail; night-lights

4 Eat to heal

Protein at every meal & snack. The #1 nutrient for healing tissue, bone, and muscle. Aim for a palm-sized portion each meal — lean meat, fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, or tofu. Most people need more protein while healing.
Calcium & vitamin D for bone. Dairy or fortified alternatives and leafy greens for calcium; sunlight and fatty fish for vitamin D.
Fiber & fluids to prevent constipation. Pain medicines cause constipation. Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and prunes, and drink water throughout the day.
Vitamin C for collagen. Citrus, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, and kiwi help build the collagen that repairs skin, tendon, and ligament.
Zinc & iron for healing & blood. Meat, poultry, seafood, beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Pair plant iron with vitamin-C foods to absorb it better.
Choose anti-inflammatory foods. Berries, leafy greens, fatty fish, olive oil, and nuts. Limit alcohol, added sugar, and heavily processed foods.
Food first. Because you stop supplements 2 weeks before surgery, get these nutrients from food. Ask Dr. Pettit before restarting any supplement after surgery — expensive “surgery recovery” supplement stacks are no better than a good diet. If you have diabetes or kidney disease, get individualized advice from your provider or a dietitian and keep blood sugar well-controlled.