joint. The "ball part of the joint is the top part of your upper arm bone. The "socket" part of your joint is a cup shaped indentation in your shoulder blade. A smooth tissue called cartilage lines the ends of the bones. This helps the joint glide easier. Four muscles called the rotator cuff surround the joint. They help with movement and stability. With normal wear and tear or other problems, the cartilage can wear down. Then, the joint can become damaged. This can lead to pain and loss of motion. Surgery may be done when PT and drugs for pain have not helped and the problem gets worse. In a shoulder replacement surgery, the ball or both the ball and the socket are replaced with man-made parts. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take all your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Do this a few times a day.
- Prop your arm on pillows. Keep it raised above the level of your heart to help with swelling.
- Wear your sling to keep the shoulder supported. Your doctor will tell you for how long you need to wear it.
- Do the exercises that your physical therapist shows you. It is important to do these to get full recovery of your shoulder.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- You may also need to see a physical therapist (PT). The PT will teach you exercises to help you get back your strength and motion.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent infection
Will physical activity be limited?
You will need to wear a sling for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. You will also need to go to PT for the next 4 to 6 weeks. It may take 2 to 4 months before you will be able to return to your normal daily activities. Your doctor may suggest that you avoid activities that can have heavy impact on or stress the joint. Activities that should be avoided are contact sports, overhead throwing sports, chopping wood, and heavy lifting. Ask your doctor if it is safe to swim or play tennis or golf. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Ongoing pain and stiffness
- Nerve or blood vessel injury
- Hardware failure or loosening of hardware
- Allergic reaction to metal plates and screws
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
Stay active and work out to keep your muscles strong and flexible. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Increased numbness or tingling in the arm and hand
- Hand feels cold
- Health problem is not better or your are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain, numbness, or tingling, or my fingers are cool or blue.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00094 ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00504 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚