Your health history and physical exam

Your primary care provider should do a health history and physical exam before your surgery. Call your primary care provider to schedule your appointment.

During the exam, your primary care provider will:

  • evaluate your current health status
  • review and perform any tests needed before surgery
  • make sure you are ready for surgery

If you take any medicines, make sure your primary care provider gives you instructions for the following:

  • taking your medicines the morning of surgery
  • stopping any prescription medicines before your surgery
  • stopping any over-the-counter medicines before your surgery, including herbal medicines

Your health history and physical exam needs to be done within 30 days before your surgery.

It is recommended to have the exam done 14 to 30 days before surgery.

Source: Allina Health's Patient Education Department, Knee Replacement, seventh edition, ortho-ah-90140
First Published: 10/01/2000
Last Reviewed: 02/01/2020