Essential Tips For Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
Most people have suffered from shoulder pain and are recommended for arthroscopic surgery. It is known that routine arthroscopic shoulder surgery can create an enormous difference in the recovery process. The speed and pain involved during and after shoulder surgery depend upon numerous factors. It includes the kind of surgical method you had, presence or absence of complications, consistency in the rehabilitation stage, adherence to physician instructions, physiotherapy exercises, and more. However, you may have an entire shoulder replacement, rotator cuff surgery, or a recovery from shoulder surgery take some time. Below are some arthroscopic shoulder surgery tips to help you prepare for before and after surgery as soon as possible.
Medication
Preparation of shoulder surgery usually begins as soon as the doctor recommends surgery. Always carry a list of medications. Your list should include the certain medication prescribed by a doctor, the dosage of the medication, and the detailed notes of how many times a day you take the medication and mention at what time you take the medication.
Home assistance
You must take some steps before undergoing shoulder arthroscopy. It is hard to know for how much time you cannot do your daily routine without the help of others. It is good to take someone, for help before having surgery and to make arrangements for a worst-case scenario. Because daily needs such as wearing a dress and cooking meals may not be possible to do alone for the duration of two to three days.
Know about procedures
The surgery is complete under general or regional anesthesia. An incision is prepared over the infected shoulder and the divided muscles to expose the shoulder joint. The surgery may be open, where large and small incisions add a shoulder scope and other surgical tools. Enquire about all the procedures from the surgeon to avoid panic during the surgery.
Stop smoking
You are going for surgery, so you must stop smoking, and it is very important during shoulder surgery. The most critical joint in your body is your shoulder, and it consists of three bones, tendons, ligaments, and multiple muscles, that build up your rotator cuff, the formation that supports your shoulder movement. Nicotine, the addictive stuff in tobacco products, delays the ordinary healing capability of your tissues and bones. This delay increases your recovery time and also increases your risk of infection. So stop smoking before your surgery to prevent all the post and pre-shoulder surgery complications like frozen shoulder.
Enough sleep
A significant part of the recovery method depends on the right sleeping position. Sleeping in the wrong position will produce more pain and cause unavoidable strain on your shoulder. Maintaining your arm in a sling during sleeping is suggested to stop movement and keep your shoulder safe. You practice sleeping on the side where you have not done surgery. If the pain decreases, try to lie flat on your back.
Use Ice compresses
Surgeons suggest ice packs or cold compresses to minimize swelling and post-op pain after surgery. Cold compresses can help out with multiple problems after shoulder surgery. Cold therapy may also decrease your length of recovery time. According to your requirement, you may use a cold compression sling or ice in a plastic baggie that both of the two helps to relieve you from pain.
Detachable showerhead
You may require keeping your incision dry for a particular period. Detachable showerheads make it easy to keep away from wetting your incision.
Shower chair
A shower chair helps minimize your fall risk because while bathing, you can sit comfortably. These are very supportive after you have had surgery or taking pain medicines that may make you tired or dizzy.
Plastic bags or waterproof bandages, or athletic tape
After surgery, you may need to wrap your incision with a big plastic bag or waterproof bandage by tape to protect you from any wet until you recover completely.
Pump soap
Make soap from a pump container for easy showering with one arm.
Start your Physiotherapy exercises
Your motivation and participation in physical therapy are the essential elements in your long-range rehabilitation and recovery. A physiotherapist will meet you on the day of your arthroscopic shoulder surgery, usually a few hours after you reach your admission and then twice every day. They will offer you an exercise program to improve your motion. They will also train the exercise for joint positioning and safety with gait. You must follow all exercises they trained and don’t do over-exercise. If you turn sore or tired, you better pause it because your muscle may take time to heal and adapt.
Bottom line:
Finally, the above tips will carefully help pre and post arthroscopic surgery. To boost up your recovery after shoulder surgery, the main thing you can do is track your surgeon’s orders. If your doctor hesitates about particular activities, avoid them. Take prescribed medicines regularly.