Your 2-week pre-op checklist

The two weeks before a joint replacement are quietly some of the most useful days of the whole process. Not because anything dramatic happens — but because a handful of unglamorous preparations make the first weeks afterward noticeably smoother. Your surgical team will give you specific instructions; follow theirs over anything here. This is the practical layer around those instructions — the things patients consistently say they wish they’d done.

Days 14–8: build a little reserve

• Move every day. “Prehab” doesn’t have to be a program. Walking, gentle strengthening of the leg or shoulder having surgery, and the exercises your surgeon or PT recommends — done consistently — mean you arrive at surgery with more strength to spare. Stronger in tends to mean steadier out.
• Practice the recovery moves now. Try walking with the walker or crutches you’ll use. Practice getting out of a chair using your arms. It’s far easier to learn these before surgery than after.
• Eat and sleep like it’s training. Protein supports healing, and going in well-rested matters more than any supplement. If you smoke, even a short pre-surgery pause helps healing — ask your team for support.
• Confirm the medication plan. Ask your surgical team exactly which medications and supplements to stop, and when. Blood thinners, anti-inflammatories, and some supplements often have specific stop dates — get them in writing.
• Handle dental work now, not later. Many surgeons prefer dental cleanings and procedures done before joint replacement, not in the weeks right after. Ask yours.

Days 7–3: set up the house

• Clear the walking paths. Loose rugs, cords, and clutter are the classic early-recovery tripping hazards. Make the route from bed to bathroom to kitchen boringly clear.
• Set up a recovery station. One comfortable, firm chair with arms — phone charger, water, medications list, remote, and anything you reach for daily within arm’s length.
• Stage the equipment. Walker, raised toilet seat or commode if recommended, shower chair, grabber, ice packs or ice machine. Have it in place before surgery day, and know who’s paying for what — some of it may be covered or HSA/FSA-eligible.
• Cook ahead. A week of easy meals in the freezer removes a daily decision at exactly the time you’ll have the least patience for one.
• Think stairs. If bedrooms are upstairs, plan where you’ll sleep the first week and practice the stair technique your PT teaches.

Days 3–1: lock the logistics

• Confirm your ride and your person. Someone drives you home, and ideally someone is around for the first days. Confirm names and times — don’t leave it at “someone will.”
• Confirm arrival time and fasting instructions. These often arrive as a phone call the day before. Write them down.
• Do the pre-op wash exactly as instructed. If you’re given antiseptic soap or wipes, use them precisely as directed — it’s a small task with a real purpose: lowering infection risk.
• Ask your questions now. Anything still unclear — anesthesia, pain plan, when PT starts — is easier to ask at the pre-op call than in the pre-op bay.

What actually belongs in the bag

Less than you think. Photo ID and insurance card, your written medication list, loose comfortable clothes (shorts or wide-leg pants for knees and hips; a button-front shirt for shoulders), slip-on shoes with backs, phone and a long charging cable, glasses or hearing-aid cases, and CPAP if you use one. Leave jewelry and valuables home. Many joint replacements are now same-day or one-night stays — pack for that, not for a week.

Keep it all in one place

Our week-by-week journey walks the whole arc from decision to full recovery, and the free dashboard keeps your dates, checklist, and questions together — on your device, no login required.

Want to go deeper on what to expect from the operation itself? The free, evidence-based course at JointClass covers it stage by stage. This checklist is educational only and not medical advice — your surgical team’s instructions always come first, especially about medications and fasting.