John Skinner
President, British Orthopaedic Association (BOA)
If you are waiting for surgery, it is important to stay as active as you can in order to get the best results.
There are currently over 700,000 patients on orthopaedic waiting lists, with at least 200,000 waiting for operations.
Research has found that patients that are healthier have better outcomes from their surgery and recover more quickly. It is therefore best to keep as active as you can, while you wait so you can stay as healthy as possible – both physically and mentally – to be ready for your surgery. Keep talking to friends and family and avoid getting isolated and depressed by reduced mobility. This will help you get the best results from your treatment in the long term.
Maintaining movement and strength
While you may be limited in the amount of physical activity you can do, it’s important to maintain as much movement and strength as you can. Gaining weight can put more stress on your joints and losing weight really helps. Doing things like going for short walks will help keep you active as well as help with your mental wellbeing. Many people find it easier to be active in the water so you could try to find a local pool in your area.
Research has found that patients that are healthier have better outcomes from their surgery and recover more quickly.
It’s also very important to eat a balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight and get all the vitamins and minerals you need. There are many online tools and resources available to help you eat well, keep active and to support your mental health.
Finding advice and support
The charities Versus Arthritis and Arthritis Action have many resources on their websites with tips on eating a healthy diet, different exercises you can do depending on your mobility and help with your mental wellbeing. They also have other services like local support groups and helplines. If you’re looking to lose weight, you could also try the NHS’s lose weight resource, which includes a free 12-week weight loss plan.
If you are in pain, remember it’s a good idea to take pain relief medication before you are in a significant amount of pain as it takes time for the medication to work. If you feel that your pain is getting worse, you can contact your GP practice or pharmacist for advice.
At the British Orthopaedic Association, we have compiled more resources together that we hope will help patients to make life more bearable while waiting for surgery. You can find these on our website at www.boa.ac.uk/patients.
