How to use your shoulder after shoulder replacement surgery?

If your shoulder joint gets seriously damaged due to a disease or injury suffered in an accident, you might need to get it replaced by the help of a shoulder joint replacement surgery and you should know that your shoulder is not going to be the same after such surgery. You will have to get used to the artificial fixtures after the surgery as the surgery involves the replacement of the damaged joints by artificially created parts called grafts. The parts may include a stem made of metal and a metal ball that fits on the top of the stem and a plastic piece may be used as the new surface of the shoulder blade. Shoulder replacement surgery cost, as well as arthroscopic shoulder surgery cost, is quite affordable in India as compared to other countries in the world that is why so many NRIs prefer to get the surgery done here.

You will need to wear a sling for at least first 6 weeks after shoulder replacement surgery and this is done to provide extra support or protection to the arm and shoulder. You can continue using the sling even after this time period even after this period. You may need to wear a shoulder immobilizer to keep the joint in place as well. You should rest your shoulder and elbow on a rolled up towel or small pillow when lying down as this will help in preventing damage to your shoulder which can be possibly caused by the stretching of the muscles or tendons and you will need to keep doing this for 6 to 8 weeks after your surgery, even when wearing a sling. Wear the sling all the time unless your surgeon asks you to remove it. You should use the support of your good arm to move the arm that has undergone the surgery and move it only as much as your shoulder replacement doctors have asked you to. After 4 to 6 weeks of the surgery, your surgeon or physical therapist will show you other exercises to stretch your shoulder and gain more movement in your joint.

Your surgeon or physical therapist may teach you pendulum exercises to do at home for 4 to 6 weeks which will help your shoulder to gain strength and help you get acquainted with the new parts. To do these exercises you can lean over and support your weight with your good arm on a counter or table, hang your arm, that has been operated upon, down or very carefully and slowly swing your loose arm round and round in circles. Your surgeon or physical therapist will also teach you safe ways to move your arm and shoulder so that you do not over-exert your shoulder joints. You should not try to lift or move your shoulder without supporting it with your good arm or having someone else supporting it and your surgeon or therapist will tell you when it is okay to lift or move your shoulder without this support.

These exercises and movements may be hard in the beginning and may put a lot of strain on your shoulder but they will get easier over time and it is very important to do these as your surgeon or therapist showed you as doing these exercises will help your shoulder get better faster and they will also help you be more active after you recover.

You should try to avoid certain activities and movements like using your shoulder a lot, lifting objects heavier than a cup of coffee, supporting your body weight on the operated arm, making sudden jerking movements. Your surgeon or physical therapist will tell you which sports and other activities are okay for you after your recovery. You will probably not be able to drive for at least 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery as you might need to take narcotics during this period.

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Shoulder Replacement: Procedure and after care

Just like any other part of our body our shoulders are also very important. Any problem in the shoulder can affect your ability to freely move your arms and perform normal day to day activities. Such problems may rise due to many reasons and the best possible treatment for a shoulder-related problems is total shoulder replacement surgery. The most common amongst these problems is arthritis, especially osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Apart from these, injuries and fractures sustained in an accident may also be a reason for undergoing total shoulder replacement surgery.

Reports by various shoulder replacement surgeons in Delhi show that total shoulder replacement surgery is quite rare as compared to hip replacement surgery or knee replacement surgery. On consulting one of the best shoulder replacement surgeons in Delhi we came to know that most of the patients that opt for shoulder joint replacement in Delhi are sportspersons or athletes. The reason behind this is that sports persons and athletes constantly use their arms and shoulders which leads to a lot of strain on their shoulder joints.

If you feel any pain or discomfort in your shoulder or adjoining areas you need to consult your doctor for examination and he'll decide whether you are eligible to undergo the surgical process. Shoulder replacement surgeons and other medical experts, primarily try to overcome the problem with the use of medicines and physiotherapy however if these do not work then you need to undergo the surgical procedure.

Shoulder replacement surgery is a very simple procedure just like the knee replacement surgery. Our shoulders have ball-and-socket bones which are responsible for the movement of our arms. Before the surgical procedure the patient needs to undergo certain examinations and X-rays which make it easier for the doctor to reconstruct the prosthetics with greater accuracy. In a shoulder replacement surgery the damaged ball-and-socket bones are replaced by metal or plastic prosthetics. In case of total shoulder replacement surgery, the ball like structure at the top of the humerus is completely replaced with a metal ball which is attached on top of the remaining bone. The socket also gets covered by layer of plastic. Both are designed as such that they move freely just like the natural ball and socket joint of the patient.

 Before opting for the surgery it is very important to consult two or more doctors. You might also need to follow certain rules that are crucial for the success of the surgery. In case you are a chain smoker you need to quit on your habit of smoking as it might be a setback for your surgery. You even need to cut down on your intake of water. Exercising may also help to increase your stamina which in turn increases the success rate of the surgery. You also need to take proper care of your diet and eat healthy foods and avoid and healthy fats in carbs.

After the surgery the patient need to give complete rest to his arm unless the cast is removed. You might feel some pain and discomfort  at first but it gradually subsides with time. Lifting heavy objects and moving your arm vigorously. Doing so might be very painful and affect the success rate of the surgery. The patient needs to take extreme care of his diet and eat nutritious food as prescribed by the doctor. If the patient feels any pain or discomfort he should immediately bring it under the notice of a medical expert. Physiotherapy and exercises may help in the process of recovery and help you lead a Healthy lifestyle. 

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