Shoulder replacement surgery substitutes the worn regions of your shoulder joint. When you leave the hospital, your arm is in a sling. It will be advantageous if there is somebody to help you at home for a few weeks or until you have more stamina and can move around more acceptably.
You will return home with a bandage, stitches, staples, skin glue, or tape strips. You can terminate the bandage when your physician advises you to. If you have staples, your physician will remove them between 10 and 21 days. If you have stitches that do not dissolve, your physician will remove them between 10 and 14 days. Glue or tape strips will drop off on their own over time. You might still have mild pain, and the site may be swollen for several months following surgery. Your physician will prescribe you medication for the pain.
A physical therapist will direct you on what exercises to do at home.
You will continue the rehabilitation program you began in the hospital. The better you do with the rehab exercises, the sooner you get your strength and movement back. Depending on your job, you can return to work as quickly as 2 to 3 weeks following surgery, as long as you bypass certain arm movements, such as lifting. After that, it takes at least six months to return to total activity.
In the future, let all health professionals know about the artificial shoulder, so they will understand how best to care for you.
This care sheet offers you a general idea of how long it will take to recover. But each individual heals at a different pace. So follow the steps below to get better as fast as possible.
We hope this helps you better understand what to expect after shoulder replacement surgery. Contact us today if you need an orthopedic surgeon in Deltona.