If you decide to have shoulder replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend a physical exam with your primary care doctor a few weeks before the procedure to ensure you're in good health for surgery and recovery. If you have any chronic conditions, such as heart or kidney disease, you might also need to see a specialist, like a cardiologist or a nephrologist, for further evaluation.
It's important to discuss all the medications you're taking with your surgeon. Some medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, should be stopped two weeks before surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding. If you take blood thinners, your doctor will advise you when to stop them.
To make your recovery easier, it's a good idea to prepare your home ahead of time. After surgery, you may have trouble reaching high shelves, so move items you'll need to low shelves. You might also need help with tasks like dressing, bathing, cooking and laundry. If you don't have support at home or if you're concerned about recovery, a short stay in a rehabilitation facility may be needed until you're more independent.
If you decide to have shoulder replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend a physical exam with your primary care doctor a few weeks before the procedure to ensure you're in good health for surgery and recovery. If you have any chronic conditions, such as heart or kidney disease, you might also need to see a specialist, like a cardiologist or a nephrologist, for further evaluation.
It's important to discuss all the medications you're taking with your surgeon. Some medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, should be stopped two weeks before surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding. If you take blood thinners, your doctor will advise you when to stop them.
To make your recovery easier, it's a good idea to prepare your home ahead of time. After surgery, you may have trouble reaching high shelves, so move items you'll need to low shelves. You might also need help with tasks like dressing, bathing, cooking and laundry. If you don't have support at home or if you're concerned about recovery, a short stay in a rehabilitation facility may be needed until you're more independent.
Recovery from shoulder replacement surgery usually takes around eight weeks or longer, with full recovery sometimes taking several months.
On the day of surgery, you'll wake up with your arm in a sling. While you may experience some discomfort, the arthritis pain you had before the surgery will be gone.
Your doctor will take X-rays the day after surgery to ensure the implant is in the correct position. Physical therapy will begin soon after, and you will likely notice immediate improvement, such as reduced grinding in the shoulder. During the early recovery phase, your arm will be kept in a sling to help the tendons heal, but you can remove the sling for showering and doing instructed exercises to improve movement.
Returning to work will depend on how well your shoulder recovers. Typically, you can return to desk work within two to three weeks, but if your job involves heavy labor, you may need three or more months of recovery. How quickly you heal will also depend on the condition of your shoulder muscles and tendons before the surgery.
Remember, following your rehabilitation plan is key to getting the best results and regaining full function after shoulder replacement surgery.
