Vitamin D is essential for bone, muscle, and tendon health.
- Bone Healing – Speeds fracture repair and supports bone integration after surgery.
- Muscle Recovery – Preserves muscle mass and function during rehabilitation.
- Tendon-to-Bone Healing – Improves outcomes in rotator cuff repair, ACL reconstruction, and similar procedures.
- Joint Replacement Success – Supports implant stability and reduces complication risk after procedures such as shoulder arthroplasty.
- Reduced Complications – Low vitamin D has been linked to slower healing, increased infection risk, and poorer functional recovery.
Your Lab Results:
In orthopedic surgery, optimal vitamin D levels help:
Target: >40 ng/mL prior to surgery to maximize healing potential and minimize risk.
Treatment Plan – Loading Dose To optimize your vitamin D before surgery, you will begin a loading dose protocol:
- Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2, DRISDOL) 1,250 mcg (50,000 units)
- Take 1 capsule once per week.
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 125 mcg (5,000 units)
- Take 1 tablet daily.
Important: On the day you take your weekly Vitamin D2 (50,000 units) capsule, you will also take your regular Vitamin D3 (5,000 units) tablet. This means one day each week you will be taking both.
Duration: Start this regimen now and continue at least for 3 months after your surgery unless otherwise instructed. Follow-Up: Vitamin D levels will be rechecked before surgery to confirm they are in the target range.
Why correcting your vitamin D before surgery helps:
- Strengthen bone and tendon healing.
- Improve muscle function and reduce post-surgical weakness.
- Lower infection and complication risk.
- Enhance your ability to return to normal activity faster.