What To Expect
After surgery
You might get intravenous (I.V.) antibiotics for about a day after surgery. You will also receive medicines to control pain, and you might get medicines to prevent blood clots. It is not unusual to have an upset stomach or feel constipated after surgery. Talk with your doctor or nurse if you don't feel well.
When you wake up from surgery, you will have a bandage on your shoulder. And you'll probably have a drain to collect fluid and keep it from building up around your joint. You may also have a compression sleeve on your arm or legs. This sleeve squeezes your arm or legs to help prevent blood clots. You may keep taking medicines to prevent blood clots for several weeks after surgery.
In the hospital
A physical therapist may begin gentle exercises of your shoulder on the day of surgery or the day after. These exercises are just passive motion. This means you relax and let the therapist move your arm for you.
The therapist will show you what exercises to do at home.
Most people who have shoulder replacement surgery are able to sit up and get out of bed with some help later on the day of surgery.
Your doctor may teach you to do simple breathing exercises to help prevent congestion in your lungs while your activity level is reduced.
Rehabilitation (rehab) after a shoulder replacement starts right away. It's not too demanding early on, but it is very important that you do it. To get the most benefit from your shoulder replacement, take part in physical therapy both while you are in the hospital and at home.
Some people stay in the hospital 1 or 2 days.
Your recovery
After you go home, watch the surgery site and your general health. If you notice any redness or drainage from the wound, tell your surgeon. You may also be advised to take your temperature twice each day and to let your surgeon know if you have a fever.
You will have an exercise program to follow when you go home, even if you are still having physical therapy. Do the exercises as your physical therapist taught you. Staying on your exercise program will help speed your recovery.
Rehab typically continues after you leave the hospital until you are able to function more independently and you have recovered as much strength, endurance, and mobility in your shoulder as you can. Total rehab after surgery will take several months.
As your rehab continues, you will slowly be able to do more over a period of several weeks.
The main goal of rehab is to allow you to move your shoulder as far as possible so it's easier for you to do daily activities, such as dressing, cooking, and driving. Most people eventually regain about two-thirds of normal shoulder motion after surgery. But other things that affect how much movement you get back after surgery are how much movement you had before surgery and whether the soft tissues around your shoulder were also damaged. It is very important that you take part in physical therapy both while you are in the hospital and after you are released from the hospital to get the most benefit from your surgery.
Living with a shoulder replacement
Your doctor may want to see you from time to time for several months or more to monitor your shoulder replacement. Over time, you will return to many of your presurgery activities.
Stay active to help keep your strength, flexibility, and endurance. Your activities might include light yard work, walking, swimming (after your wound is completely healed and your doctor has approved), dancing, and golf. Your doctor may recommend that you avoid heavy lifting and repetitive activities.
In the future, make sure to let all health professionals know about your artificial shoulder so they will know how to care for you.
Learn more
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