Arthroscopy shoulder surgeries are very common at Brigham City Community Hospital and at most hospitals. In fact, more than 1.4 million shoulder arthroscopies are performed worldwide each year.
And now, you are one of them.
So what can you expect when it comes to recovery? How long before you can get back to playing golf? Or let’s just talk “baby steps” here: how long before you can even move your shoulder without experiencing some pain?
First, bear in mind that you did, indeed, have a surgery. In other words, remember that you had a medical operation that required general anesthesia, incisions and other invasive procedures. There are risks and complications that can come with any surgery and this one is no exception. Even though this type of surgery is much less traumatic to your body than an “open surgery” or a total shoulder replacement, it will still take time to get over. Give your body a couple of days to manage the physical impact of the surgery. Here’s a list of things you should watch for after surgery. Be sure to notify your doctor immediately if you experience any of them.
As far as your actual shoulder is concerned, you can expect that your arm will be in a sling for four to six weeks after your surgery, and a full recovery may take up to 6 months. Everyone heals at a different pace. You may take pain medication in various doses for quite a while after your surgery, but only as prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor may also prescribe physical therapy to help you recover. Randy Rapp, director of physical therapy at our hospital advises, “The type and duration of the therapy will depend on what you need. You should receive detailed instructions for your particular recovery from your orthopedic surgeon.”
Exercising your shoulder will certainly help the recovery process. Here are some basic exercises that will get you back into the swing of things faster. At Brigham City Community Hospital we are committed to helping you along in this journey so that you can return to living your life they way you want to.