After shoulder surgery, you are probably looking forward to pushing your child or grandchild on the swing again, swinging a tennis racket, or playing a round of golf, and you will be able to do all of those things soon! But give your shoulder time to heal. At ORTHOKnox orthopedic clinics in Knoxville, TN, and Athens, TN, we will help you recover and manage your pain after shoulder surgery. For most surgeries, we offer a nerve block that effectively “turns off” your pain for 72 hours. This also reduces the pain you may feel once the nerve block has worn off. We have listed our top management options for pain after your shoulder surgery below. You have taken the essential first step to schedule or have your shoulder surgery, so you will be back to using the full potential of your shoulder without pain before you know it!
Top Tips to Treat Pain During Shoulder Surgery Recovery:
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Ice
Icing your shoulder is one of the best ways to reduce inflammation and pain after shoulder surgery. Over a period of 5 days or more, your shoulder will need to be iced every few hours for 20-minute intervals. You may want to wrap ice or cold packs in a thin towel to prevent direct contact with skin or place the ice over thin clothing.
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Rest
As we said above, do not jump right back into activities like pushing a swing or playing golf just yet! Give your shoulder time to heal and get plenty of sleep. Prop up your recovering shoulder with pillows or sleep in a recliner at night for a more comfortable sleeping position. Keeping the healing shoulder elevated typically helps reduce any pain so you can drift off to sleep.
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Physical Therapy
Your physical therapist will teach you exercises and stretches that will restore your shoulder’s range of motion, improve your flexibility, and help strengthen your shoulder and arm muscles. Your physical therapist may move your arm for you (passive range of motion), and then show you how to do shoulder rotations. Attending your physical therapy sessions and following your regime at home are keys to managing pain after your shoulder surgery.
If you are diligent with your physical therapy exercises, consistently ice, and rest well, then you will be able to manage any shoulder pain you may have after surgery, set yourself up for an effective recovery, and eventually return to your active lifestyle. We will provide more shoulder surgery post-operative instructions when you schedule your surgery.
Where can I go for shoulder surgery in Knoxville, and Athens, TN?
ORTHOKnox has orthopedic clinics in Knoxville, TN, and Athens, TN, to help you with your shoulder surgery. With its board-certified surgeon, on-site physical therapy team, and Orthopedic Urgent Care that is available without an appointment, ORTHOKnox has got you covered when it comes to shoulder surgery and recovery. For more information about how ORTHOKnox can treat you, call (865) 251-3030, or fill out our easy-to-use online appointment request form. We look forward to hearing from you!
