Memo for your doctor’s appointment: questions and documents

Memo for your doctor’s appointment

PatientDoctorAppointment date

Your memo

1 Situation

Taken from “My route”

This is not a diagnosis, just a guide for the conversation with your doctor

Which joint?

KneeHipNot sure yet

Where are things with surgery?

It hurts, surgery has not been suggestedNo orthopaedic appointment yet, or treatment without surgeryA doctor has suggested surgeryNo decision yetPreparing for surgeryWaiting for a date or funding, doing testsSurgery has already happenedRecovery is under way

Who is putting the memo together?

For myselfHelping someone close

I am considering robotic-assisted surgery

What gets in the way of everyday life?

Your doctor needs to know what you cannot do. Tick everything that applies

Walking for more than 15–20 minutesGoing up and down stairsSleeping because of painPutting on shoes and socksGetting in and out of a carWork, housework or gardening

What have you already tried?

You can skip this

Exercise therapyWeight lossCourses of painkillersJoint injectionsA cane or braceNothing yet

2 Questions for the doctor

Ten questions are usually enough for one appointment. Put the most important ones first.

What does my X-ray show, and what stage of osteoarthritis is it?
Why ask: The stage on the image and your pain shape the plan together
Which treatments without surgery are still worth trying?
Why ask: Surgery is discussed once treatment without it has stopped helping
Why are you suggesting surgery now?
Why ask: You hear which signs the doctor considers decisive
What are my own risks, given my other conditions and medicines?
Why ask: General risk figures do not take your health into account
How long will I stay in hospital, and when can I walk with support?
Why ask: It is easier to plan help at home

Your own question

For example: can both knees be operated on at once?

3 Documents

For everyone

Passport
Where to get it: you have it[5]5Приказ Минздрава России от 02.10.2019 № 824н «Об утверждении Порядка организации оказания высокотехнологичной медицинской помощи» — Минздрав России, 2019To the list of sources →
Insurance policy or proof of payment
Where to get it: your insurer or the clinic invoice[5]5Приказ Минздрава России от 02.10.2019 № 824н «Об утверждении Порядка организации оказания высокотехнологичной медицинской помощи» — Минздрав России, 2019To the list of sources →
X-rays and scans — the images themselves on a disc or as files, not only the report
Where to get it: the X-ray department[1, 2]1Клинические рекомендации «Гонартроз» — Минздрав России, 20242Клинические рекомендации «Коксартроз» (ID 870_1) — Минздрав России, 2024To the list of sources →
Reports and discharge letters — from doctors about the joint
Where to get it: your clinic or hospital[1, 2]1Клинические рекомендации «Гонартроз» — Минздрав России, 20242Клинические рекомендации «Коксартроз» (ID 870_1) — Минздрав России, 2024To the list of sources →
List of medicines — with doses, including those bought without a prescription
Where to get it: you write it[3]3Knee replacement — NHS, 2024To the list of sources →
Blood test and ECG results — if you have them
Where to get it: your clinic or laboratory[4]4Total Knee Replacement — AAOS OrthoInfo, 2024To the list of sources →
Notes about the pain — since when, what makes it worse, what helps
Where to get it: you write them[1]1Клинические рекомендации «Гонартроз» — Минздрав России, 2024To the list of sources →
Translations of medical reports — if they are not in English or Russian
Where to get it: a translation service[9]9For foreign patients — Ilizarov Center — НМИЦ ТО им. Г. А. Илизарова, 2026To the list of sources →

Before the operation

Blood and urine tests, ECG — from the hospital’s list
Where to get it: your clinic or the hospital[4]4Total Knee Replacement — AAOS OrthoInfo, 2024To the list of sources →
Dental check-up — finish dental treatment before the operation
Where to get it: your dentist[4]4Total Knee Replacement — AAOS OrthoInfo, 2024To the list of sources →
GP or physician report — and other specialists if the hospital asks for them
Where to get it: your clinic[4]4Total Knee Replacement — AAOS OrthoInfo, 2024To the list of sources →
Plan for stopping medicines — which medicines to stop and when, only as your doctor says
Where to get it: the surgeon or anaesthetist[4]4Total Knee Replacement — AAOS OrthoInfo, 2024To the list of sources →

For self-pay surgery

The hospital’s estimate or offer — if you already have one
Where to get it: the hospital[8]8Эндопротезирование тазобедренного сустава — цены (Москва ≈350 тыс. ₽ без импланта, имплант от ≈250 тыс. ₽, СПб от 200 тыс. ₽) — russianhospitals.ru, 2026To the list of sources →

Take these to the appointment. Tick what is already in your folder. of ready

4 Appointment and instructions

Appointment date (optional)

For example: 22.09.2026

Appointment date: not set

Doctor’s instructions

The sheet leaves space to write down instructions at the appointment.

This is not a diagnosis, just a guide for the conversation with your doctor

Sources: [1] Минздрав России, 2024; [2] Минздрав России, 2024; [3] NHS, 2024; [4] AAOS OrthoInfo, 2024; [5] Минздрав России, 2019; [6] Минздрав России, 2025; [7] Минздрав России, 2026; [8] russianhospitals.ru, 2026; [9] НМИЦ ТО им. Г. А. Илизарова, 2026.

Data verified 12 Sept 2026

osteoplusx.ru/en/prep/

Questions ticked: . Documents ready: of .