You’ve made the decision to undergo a surgical procedure on your shoulder, and now you’re ready to learn about what happens after shoulder surgery.
Patients undergo shoulder surgery for many different types of shoulder pain, including a cartilage tear, rotator cuff tear, shoulder instability, biceps tendon tear, labral tear, shoulder separation, tendonitis, osteoarthritis or degenerative shoulder disease.
Our Los Angeles shoulder specialists at the Shoulder Surgery Center of Excellence perform state-of-the-art procedures to treat conditions of the shoulder, helping patients on their road to recovery – from consultation to recovery. To learn more about shoulder procedures and what to expect post-surgery, please contact the surgery center to speak with a world-renowned orthopedic shoulder surgeon in Los Angeles.
Shoulder Pain Relief
After shoulder surgery, your doctor will most likely prescribe a pain relief medication for you take in the days following the procedure. Additionally, your doctor might recommend icing your shoulder in 15 to 30 minute intervals throughout each day to help reduce pain and swelling.
Patients who undergo shoulder arthroscopy in Los Angeles might also wear a shoulder-immobilizing sling briefly following the surgery. While you can remove the sling when you shower, you most likely will be instructed to wear the sling for a period of time during your recovery after shoulder surgery.
Resuming Normal Daily Activities After Shoulder Surgery
Recovery time after shoulder surgery is based on the unique condition of each patient. However, because shoulder procedures are performed on an outpatient basis at the Shoulder Surgery Center of Excellence, patients are free to go home the same day as their surgery, which significantly speeds up recovery time.
The sutures from the surgery can typically be removed about a week after the procedure. Once your shoulder specialist determines that the surgery was successful, you will be able to begin physical therapy.
Patients typically make a full recovery after shoulder surgery within a few months – though it can be shorter or longer depending on the injury and surgery used to treat it. Shoulder surgery patients can return to regular activities, such as driving, as soon as their doctor gives them the green light.
Shoulder Rehabilitation Exercises
Exercising to stretch your shoulder is crucial following your surgery, and is typically done during rehabilitation therapy. But outside of this, you can also do range of motion exercises on your own.
Our expert orthopedic surgeons recommend you perform elbow extension exercises three to four times daily to maintain shoulder mobility and shoulder cartilage strength. However, it is important to only move the shoulder at the elbow joint, and to not actually move the shoulder itself, as this could damage the results of the surgery.
Contact the Best Shoulder Surgeons in Los Angeles Today
If you suffer from severe, chronic shoulder pain caused by injury or arthritis, please don’t hesitate to contact the Shoulder Surgery Center of Excellence, so that one of our expert shoulder surgeons can help determine if you’re a candidate for shoulder arthroscopy in Los Angeles.
You can schedule a consultation at our surgery center by calling (888) 847-0357 or by filling out our online contact form.
Next, learn about shoulder capsule release.
