Recovering from Your Shoulder Surgery

In many cases, the most nerve-wracking thing about surgery is the thought of the recovery process, and this is no different when it comes to shoulder surgery. However, the recovery period need not cause you any anxiety. If you follow your doctor's instructions and work hard, your recovery should go smoothly, and, in the long run, you should be back to your normal self. During the recovery period, though, there are some things that you should keep in mind. Managing Your Pain The most daunting part of shoulder surgery for most people is the thought of the pain that will come after the procedure. However, given modern surgical procedures, pain management is much easier than it used to be. In many cases, surgeons are able to perform arthroscopic surgery to repair a shoulder. This type of procedure is much less invasive than traditional methods and results in less post-operation pain. Additionally, your doctor will provide you with pain medication as well as some light stretches that will help to ease the pain associated with your procedure. Physical Therapy An important part of your recovery is the course of physical therapy that you will likely participate in after your shoulder surgery. A trained physical therapist will support you through your recovery period by teaching you a variety of exercises that will help to get your shoulder back to its original strength and flexibility. A good therapy program is vital in the recovery process, and the help that you will receive will make the stress and anxiety of your recovery almost disappear. What Not to Do Perhaps the biggest obstacle to a patient's recovery from shoulder surgery is the patient himself. In many cases, especially near the end of the recovery process, it is tempting to try to push the envelope and over exert the shoulder. For example, it is easy to give in to the temptation to pick up an object because it doesn't look all that heavy even though your doctor instructed you not to pick up heavy objects. Likewise, it is tempting to take your arm out of a sling prematurely because you think it feels good enough to go without one. These sorts of mistakes can lead to extremely undesirable consequences. As you're recovering from your procedure, even the slightest overuse of your repaired shoulder can have long-term effects on your strength and range of motion. Therefore, it is extremely important to follow all of your doctor's instructions very carefully. All of these things can help you to overcome the stress associated with your recovery from shoulder surgery and will allow your recovery to be smooth and successful.