Recovering at Home

When you leave the hospital, your arm will be in a sling. You will need the sling to support and protect the shoulder for first four weeks after surgery.

A careful well-planned rehabilitation program is critical to the success of shoulder replacement. So, follow the home exercise program given by physiotherapist to strengthen your shoulder and improve flexibility. Most patients are able to perform simple daily activities like brushing the teeth, eating, dressing with in 2 weeks after surgery. Some mild pain with activity and at night is common for severalweeks after surgery.

Shoulder replacement surgery improves quality of life and provides pain relief, improved motion & strength and better function. The success of your surgery depends on how well you follow your orthopaedic surgeon’s instructions at home during the first few months after surgery. Here are some helpful tips and advice:

1. Watch for and prevent infection. Because your new shoulder is sensitive to infections, you must be diligent about preventing them. You may need to take antibiotics before seeing the dentist. If you suspect a bacterial infection of any kind, notify your physician right away.
2. Avoid lifting any thing heavier than a glass of water for the first four weeks after surgery. Gradually, you can increase lifting weights and carry on with daily activities and work, but is generally recommended not to do contact sports or any repetitive heavy lifting after your shoulder replacement.
3. Avoid lying on the replaced shoulder for the first three months. It is safe to lie on the shoulder from three months onwards.
4. Avoid using the arm to push yourself up in bed or chair, as this requires considerable forceful contraction of muscles. And also avoid placing arm in extreme positions
5. Follow the exercise program to strengthen muscles in the third month after surgery. Continue to do the stretching exercises of the shoulder, 2-3 times a day, even after three months to maintain flexibility of shoulder
6. Don’t over do! The fact that your shoulder was badly painful and stiff before, and now you have dramatic recovery of movement with no pain, may lull you into thinking you can do more than what you are told to do. Early overuse of the shoulder may result in pain and limited motion.
7. Driving a car is allowed at 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.
8. Follow-up care. When you leave the hospital, you will be given a schedule of follow-up visits. During these visits, X-rays will be taken to confirm proper placement and alignment of the implant. These visits will ensure the long-term success of your operation.