01
Tell the story
Dr. Morton starts with what happened, what has changed, what you have already tried, and what you need your body to do again.
Nutrition for surgery and recovery
Nutrition that supports healing before and after orthopedic surgery.
What you eat before and after hip replacement, knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, or any orthopedic procedure affects wound healing, energy, muscle recovery, and how well you tolerate rehabilitation. Nutrition supports the plan; it never replaces medical instructions or procedure-specific care.
Online booking in about a minuteHMSA, Medicare & other major plansHonolulu · West Oahu · Hilo · KonaTelehealth for neighbor islands
Board-certifiedFellowship-trainedFAAOS / FAAHKSRobotic hip & kneeRevision expertiseHawaii roots
How the visit works
You should leave with a clearer plan than when you arrived.
02
Look at the source
Your exam and imaging help separate arthritis, injury, implant problems, referred pain, and other causes that can feel similar.
03
Choose the next step
The plan may be therapy, bracing, injections, orthobiologics, arthroscopy, robotic surgery, revision workup, or a clear reason to wait.
Before you book
The first visit is better when the story is organized.
Joint Replacement Hawaii has always asked practical questions before the appointment because the details matter: what hurts, where it hurts, what you have tried, and what life activity you want back.
01
What are you having trouble with?
Getting in and out of a car
Getting up from a chair
Stairs
Walking long distances
Pain at night
Exercise, sports, or work
02
What are you noticing?
Swelling
Instability or giving way
Stiffness or limited motion
Catching or locking
Grinding
Difficulty bearing weight
03
What have you already tried?
Physical therapy
Brace, cane, walker, or crutches
Steroid or gel injections
PRP or BMAC questions
NSAIDs or Tylenol
Prior arthroscopy or surgery
Before you decide
The conversation I want patients to understand.
01
Why nutrition matters before surgery
Surgery is a controlled injury the body has to repair. Adequate protein, balanced meals, hydration, and stable blood sugar going into surgery give tissue the raw materials it needs. Patients with diabetes, low protein intake, or significant unplanned weight loss should discuss optimization before an operation is scheduled.
02
Protein and healing after surgery
Healing tissue and rebuilding muscle after a joint replacement raises protein needs above a typical diet. Many patients do well spreading protein across meals rather than loading one meal, and pairing it with the walking and therapy work that tells muscle to rebuild. Specific targets should be personalized, especially with kidney disease.
03
Supplements need a safety review
Some supplements and herbal products affect bleeding, anesthesia, or interact with prescriptions. Bring a complete list of everything you take, including vitamins, protein powders, and herbal products, so it can be reviewed before surgery. Some products need to be stopped ahead of an operation.
04
Blood sugar, weight, and inflammation
Elevated blood sugar around surgery increases infection risk, so patients with diabetes or prediabetes should know their recent numbers and have a perioperative plan. Weight affects joint load and surgical risk, but crash dieting right before surgery can work against healing. Steady, supervised changes are safer than extremes.
05
The first weeks after surgery
Appetite is often reduced early in recovery while needs are higher. Practical wins matter most: regular meals with a protein source, plenty of fluids, fiber to counter constipation from pain medication, and asking before adding new supplements while on blood thinners.
How I think through the recommendation
The decision should be explained, not handed to you.
Patients should know what would make us wait, what would make treatment reasonable, what might require more testing, and what changes recovery planning.
01
What may make us wait
- Symptoms are improving
- The safest first step is therapy, bracing, medication review, or time
- The diagnosis points outside orthopedic surgery
02
What may make treatment reasonable
- Pain is limiting daily life
- Imaging and exam match
- A clear treatment is likely to help the specific problem
03
What may mean more tests
- New injury, swelling, fever, or weakness
- Prior surgery records are missing
- X-rays or MRI would change the recommendation
04
What changes the plan
- Age, fall risk, diabetes, blood thinners, or heart/lung conditions
- Home support and travel
- Work, family, and caregiving needs
Knee decision guide
Knee pain needs the right source, not a rushed answer.
Knee pain may come from arthritis, meniscus injury, ACL instability, tendon pain, referred pain, or a prior implant. The diagnosis guides the next step.
Think about 01
Try the right nonsurgical care
Therapy, bracing, medications, injections, PRP, BMAC, and activity changes can help the right patient.
Think about 02
Compare partial and total knee
Arthritis pattern, ligaments, alignment, pain location, and goals decide whether partial knee replacement is realistic.
Think about 03
Use robotics or revision workup when it fits
Robotic planning may help with selected knee replacements. Painful implants need old records and a careful revision evaluation.
For informed patients
The details matter, especially when the decision is not simple.
If you are comparing surgeons, robotics, revision care, injections, or recovery plans, these are the questions I want you to feel comfortable asking.
01
Clear diagnosis
The best first visit separates orthopedic causes from spine, nerve, medical, or referred pain patterns.
ExamImagingPlain-language plan
02
Surgery is one option
Patients deserve to hear when therapy, bracing, injections, time, or a different specialist is more appropriate.
Options comparedRisks explainedNext step clear
Patient words
The trust signal should match the decision.
Patients are looking for listening, clear explanations, office kindness, and a plan that makes sense for their specific problem.
Patient trust
Joint replacement decisions need clarity before commitment.
The right plan starts with diagnosis, imaging, timing, approach, implant questions, recovery support, and whether surgery is truly the next step.
01
Hip and knee replacement education
02
Robotic and revision expertise
03
Recovery planning from consultation through follow-up
You may be ready to schedule if
Preparing for hip or knee replacement
Diabetes, prediabetes, or blood sugar questions before surgery
Taking supplements that may need review before anesthesia
Slow healing or low appetite after a procedure
Questions about protein, weight, or recovery products
Why patients choose this practice
Board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon
Hip, knee, sports, fracture, injection, and second-opinion decisions are sorted by diagnosis
Hawaii-rooted care for Oahu, Big Island, and neighbor island patients
Older patients and caregivers
Older patients and caregivers deserve a clear plan too.
Safety, medications, stairs, rides, hearing, memory, home help, and caregiver questions can change the recommendation and the recovery plan.
01
Who should come with you
Bring the person who helps with medications, rides, meals, stairs, wound checks, or remembering instructions. A second set of ears helps.
02
How to plan home safety
Think about loose rugs, bathroom setup, stairs, lighting, pets, walking aids, shower safety, and where you will sleep the first few nights.
03
When to call the office
Call for worsening wound redness, drainage, fever, severe swelling, a fall, medication confusion, or symptoms that do not match your instructions.
04
When not to wait
Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, stroke-like symptoms, major deformity, or dangerous symptoms need emergency care.
Helpful to bring
X-rays, MRI, CT scans, or reports if you already have them
Where the pain starts, where it travels, and what it stops you from doing
Prior injections, therapy, medications, braces, or operations
Your goals for work, walking, golf, hiking, sports, travel, and recovery
Make the visit count
Bring the story, not just the scan.
Imaging helps, but the story matters too: what changed, what you tried, what failed, and what life you want back. This is especially important for revision opinions, prior surgery, and neighbor island travel.
Recovery preview
Choose the recovery center that fits
Public previews help patients and families understand preparation, warning signs, and what the member guide adds.
Procedure pathway
Warning signs
Printable checklists
Patient questions
Questions I hear in the office.
Do I need a special diet before joint replacement?
Most patients need a balanced diet with adequate protein and hydration rather than a special program. Patients with diabetes, kidney disease, or significant weight concerns should have a personalized discussion before surgery.
Which supplements should I stop before surgery?
That depends on what you take. Some products affect bleeding or anesthesia, so bring a complete list to your preoperative visit and do not stop prescription medications without guidance.
How much protein do I need after surgery?
Needs are usually higher than a typical diet while tissue heals and muscle rebuilds. The right target depends on your size, kidney function, and overall health, so ask for a number that fits you.
Can nutrition alone fix arthritis pain?
No. Nutrition can support weight management, energy, and overall health, but it does not reverse structural arthritis. It works alongside therapy, injections, or surgery when those are needed.
Mahalo
You do not have to figure this out alone.
If pain, injury, arthritis, or an old implant is keeping you from life, bring your questions. Dr. Morton and the team will help you understand the problem and the next step.
Written for patients by the practice
Orthopedic guidance should be clear enough to help you make a real decision.
Dr. Paul Norio Morton created Joint Replacement Hawaii to help patients understand hip pain, knee pain, arthritis, sports injuries, robotic joint replacement, revision surgery, injections, and recovery before they come in for a visit.
