Why Is There Pain After Shoulder Surgery?
While your recovery can vary depending on the specific procedure you had done, pain after shoulder surgery often is linked to:
|
|
This is why patients can expect discomfort and should ask their doctors beforehand how can they better navigate recovery.
What’s Normal: Typical Pain After Shoulder Surgery
When you start your recovery process from any type of shoulder surgery, you can expect:
- Aching or soreness around the joint and upper arm
- Increased discomfort during certain daily movements or physical therapy
- Mild swelling and bruising around the surgical area
- General pain that gradually improves over the first weeks
Keep in mind that certain procedures tend to be more painful than others. If you underwent rotator cuff repair, total shoulder replacement or labral repair, for example, it’s more likely you will experience longer recovery timelines, as well as increased pain.
Common Pain Management Strategies
Before and right after surgery your doctor should give you specific tips for navigating your pain. However, common strategies include:
- Medications: These can range from over-the-counter solutions like acetaminophen for baseline pain control to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or even prescription pain relievers for short-term use. No matter the case, make sure to check with your doctor before taking any medication.
- Ice therapy: Ice can help your body reduce inflammation, swelling, and overall discomfort, especially during the first 72 hours after surgery. When applied correctly and for certain periods of time, the cold constricts blood vessels and slows down nerve signals that cause discomfort.
- Correct positioning and support: Most likely, your doctor will make you use a sling during a certain time post-surgery to avoid sudden movements or unnecessary strain. Additionally, make sure to keep your arm slightly elevated to improve circulation, maintain a neutral position without rotations or stretches, and prop your arm up with pillows for sleeping or resting.
- Gradual return to activity: While rest is an indispensable part of recovery, not moving at all for a long time can make your muscle stiffness worse and make your activities more difficult down the line. Make sure to follow your surgeon’s rehab carefully and show up to all of your physical therapy appointments.
What’s Not Normal: Red Flags to Watch For
Now that we went over what can you expect, you might be worried about those signals that warn you that something is not right.
If you experience sudden or sharp increases in pain, signs of infection like fever, redness, warmth or drainage from the surgical site, numbness, tingling, or significant loss of strength in the hand or arm, or your pain simply isn’t improving after the expected timeline, make sure to reach out to your specialist.
When to Call Your Doctor
If you start experiencing any of the red flags mentioned above, your pain is unbearable despite medication, or you start experiencing new symptoms “out of nowhere” or after a bad movement, make sure to contact your doctor and see what are your options.
Heal After Shoulder Surgery with Arch Orthopedic & Spine
If you are healing from shoulder surgery, you must know what to expect and where to draw the line and call your doctor for further examination. We know how stressful recovery can be, and that’s why our team of specialists will take care of you every step of the way so you can heal.
At Arch Orthopedic & Spine, we are committed to giving you comprehensive treatment that delivers positive results. We will make sure not only to address your pain and understand where it is coming from, but also give you the best tips for healing and taking care of your joint. Call any of our Georgia locations or use our online scheduling tool.
Welcome to Arch Orthopedic & Spine, where we are devoted to keeping you strong, one step at a time.
