Shoulder Replacement Recovery & Rehab
Explore Shoulder Replacement Recovery & Rehab
Shoulder replacement recovery
Set your expectations for recovery from shoulder replacement surgery by knowing what to expect following your procedure. Individual recovery times for shoulder surgery vary based on several specific factors. Prior to surgery, you can prepare for your recovery and rehabilitation to optimize healing.
Pre-surgery exercises for a shoulder replacement
Before your surgery, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend some preparatory exercises, also known as "prehabilitation" or "prehab." Prehabilitation can add flexibility, stability, and strength to the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues in preparation for surgery, and to help make the rehabilitation process smoother.
Recommended exercises include:
- Shoulder circles
- Pendulum swings
- Rotator cuff rotations
- Shoulder blade squeezes
- Shoulder elevations
- Isometric strengthening
Before starting any exercise program, check with your physician for guidance on techniques and any necessary modifications.
What to expect after shoulder replacement surgery
If you’ve had shoulder replacement surgery, the recovery time depends on factors like your age, overall health and the extent of the joint’s degeneration or trauma.In some cases, otherwise healthy patients can go home the same day as their surgery to recover at home. Your care team will monitor you immediately after surgery, and your physician will determine when you can be released based on your vital signs and potential complications.
Before going home to continue your recovery, your care team will help you understand what to expect in the shoulder replacement recovery phase.
Complications following shoulder surgery
Whether you have a total, partial, or reverse shoulder replacement, recovery from any surgical procedure has risks.
Possible complications that could arise include:
- Infection: If you experience increased pain, swelling, or redness in the surgical area and surrounding tissues, you may have a periprosthetic infection. It is best to contact your surgeon to determine the most appropriate treatment if this occurs.
- Nerve damage: During surgery, surrounding nerves or blood vessels can be damaged accidentally. If you have weakness, numbness, or intensifying pain, you may require additional treatment.
- Blood clots: Age, obesity, reduced mobility, and family history are risk factors for blood clots forming after surgery. You can lower the risk of complications with blood thinners, compression devices, and early movement to stimulate circulation.
- Joint movement or dislocation: Although rare, the artificial implant can shift or dislocate in certain instances. If that occurs, your surgeon may need to perform shoulder revision surgery.
- Fracture: If you fall or have a traumatic injury to your shoulder, you may experience a break around your prosthesis. A fracture will extend recovery time and may require additional surgical treatment.
What can’t you do after shoulder replacement surgery?
Certain restrictions are critical during your recovery from a shoulder replacement. You must avoid certain activities and movements to protect your shoulder and ensure proper healing in the early recovery period. Over time, as you recover, restrictions and limitations will be removed and you’ll gradually return to normal activities and exercise.
Early restrictions and precautions to reduce the risk of complications can include:
- Avoid heavy lifting
- Don’t engage in contact sports or high-impact activities
- Limit reaching overhead, across the body, and behind the back
- Don’t drive until your physician gives you the okay
- Avoid sudden or jerking movements
- Don’t sleep on the affected shoulder
What can you do after shoulder replacement surgery?
Once you are healed from your shoulder replacement surgery, your surgeon will likely recommend that you gradually return to regular activity, including sport. Most patients return to the sports they enjoyed prior to surgery at similar levels of play, even with sports that involve frequent shoulder movements, like golf and tennis.
Rehabilitative exercises after shoulder surgery
It is essential to strengthen your shoulder and restore its range of motion after surgery. However, you need to ease into exercise gradually.Within a day or two of shoulder replacement surgery, your care team may begin gentle hand, wrist, and elbow therapy. They will incorporate more active movements and weights into your exercise routine as you gain strength and mobility.
Exercises focusing on preventing stiffness, promoting circulation, and increasing strength and mobility include:
- Shoulder shrugs
- Elbow raises
- Shoulder pendulums
- Hand grip exercises
- Rotator cuff rotations
Be sure to follow your physician’s orders and reach out to them immediately if your symptoms worsen.
Pain management
You likely will experience some discomfort immediately following shoulder surgery. Your physician may incorporate specific pain strategies in your shoulder replacement recovery, including:
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Depending on the level of swelling and discomfort, your physician may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to alleviate symptoms.
Nerve Blocks or Injections
You may receive regional nerve blocks during surgery to minimize postoperative pain. Immediately after surgery, your surgeon may also inject a local anesthetic into the shoulder joint to target soreness.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
TENS therapy delivers electrical impulses to the skin in the affected area. This treatment interferes with pain signals, promoting the release of endorphins to minimize discomfort.
Ice Therapy
Applying cold packs to your shoulder can help reduce inflammation and pain. Apply ice for 10 to 20 minutes several times daily during the early stages of shoulder replacement recovery.
What is the recovery time for shoulder replacement surgery?
The average recovery time after shoulder surgery is around six weeks. However, the timeline for shoulder surgery recovery varies from person to person. In the initial weeks, you’ll work with a physical therapist to improve strength and movement in your shoulder. After two or three months, you’ll gradually increase your activities, including joint stability exercises and light weight training. Most people who undergo shoulder surgery can resume their usual activities within six months.
What is the success rate for shoulder replacement surgery?
The overall success rate of shoulder replacement is high, with around 95% of patients free of pain within a year. The average life of a replacement joint is 15 to 20 years.
FAQs about shoulder replacement recovery
Can I go home right after shoulder replacement surgery?
The average hospital stay for shoulder replacement surgery is typically around one to two days. However, your surgeon could release you sooner, even the same day as surgery, depending on your health and the success of your procedure.
How long is physical therapy after reverse shoulder replacement surgery?
Recovery from reverse shoulder replacement surgery usually takes four to eight months. You may see a physical therapist at a rehab facility, and/or be given at-home exercises to perform independently. How well you adhere to your therapy regimen can determine how quickly and effectively you recover.
How long does pain last after shoulder replacement surgery?
Your experience of pain during recovery can depend on the type of procedure, how in-depth your surgery was, and whether complications arise. You may find relief after a couple of weeks, or it could take months for the pain to fade. Follow the guidelines your physician or physical therapist prescribes for faster recovery and optimal results. If you experience sudden or sharp pain as your recovery progresses, you should speak with your physician immediately.
Life after shoulder replacement surgery
If you suffer from chronic or degenerative shoulder pain, shoulder replacement surgery can significantly improve your quality of life and let you resume the activities you love.
Contact the orthopedic experts at Massachusetts General Hospital to learn more about shoulder replacement surgery and the recovery process.
Contact the Shoulder Service
Have questions about shoulder replacement recovery? Get in touch.