Explore the treatment process and recovery for Shoulder replacement surgery. Learn about the biological healing of a Shoulder Prosthesis at Liv Hospital.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Treatment and Recovery
Once the diagnosis is confirmed and you have decided to proceed, the journey to a new shoulder begins. This is a significant event, but it is also a well-structured process. Hospitals and surgical teams have developed comprehensive pathways to guide you from the pre-op clinic to your final rehabilitation session. The goal is to make the experience as smooth and safe as possible.
This section covers the practical side of treatment. We will walk through the preparation phase, the surgery itself, and the immediate recovery in the hospital. We will also discuss the timeline for healing at home and the medication management needed to keep you comfortable. Knowing what to expect day-by-day helps you prepare your home and your mind for the recovery period.
Preparation starts weeks before the surgery. You will likely need “medical clearance” from your primary care doctor to ensure your heart and lungs are strong enough for anesthesia. You may need to stop certain medications, like blood thinners or herbal supplements, a week before surgery to reduce bleeding risk.
Preparing your home is just as important. You will have limited use of one arm for several weeks. Stock up on easy-to-prepare meals. Move frequently used items to waist-level counters so you don’t have to reach up. Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you and help you with dressing and bathing for the first few days.
On the day of surgery, you will meet your anesthesiologist. Most shoulder replacements are done under general anesthesia (you are asleep) combined with a nerve block. The nerve block (interscalene block) numbs your arm and shoulder for 12 to 24 hours, providing excellent pain relief immediately after you wake up.
The surgery typically takes 1 to 2 hours. The surgeon makes an incision on the front of the shoulder. They remove the arthritic ball and prepare the socket. The new metal and plastic components are then press-fit or cemented into the bone. The surgeon tests the range of motion to ensure stability before closing the incision with stitches or staples and applying a bandage.
In a standard replacement, the surgeon carefully detaches one of the rotator cuff tendons (subscapularis) to access the joint.
After the implant is placed, this tendon is repaired. Protecting this tendon repair is the most critical part of the early recovery; active movement too soon can tear it again.
In a reverse replacement, the mechanics are different. The surgeon relies less on the rotator cuff tendons.
This often allows for a slightly faster initial recovery of active motion because there is no tendon repair that needs to be “babied” as strictly as in a standard replacement, although precautions are still necessary.
You will wake up in the recovery room with your arm in a sling. Your arm will feel heavy and numb from the nerve block. This sensation is normal. You will likely stay in the hospital for one night, although some healthy patients can go home the same day.
Nurses will monitor your pain and help you get out of bed. Physical therapy often starts the morning after surgery. The therapist will teach you simple passive exercises to prevent stiffness and show you how to put on and take off your sling safely.
When the nerve block wears off (usually the day after surgery), you will feel pain. This is expected. Your surgeon will provide a pain management plan. This usually involves a combination of narcotic pain medication for the first few days, transitioning to Tylenol and anti-inflammatories as the pain subsides.
Ice is your best friend. Icing the shoulder for 20 minutes every few hours helps reduce inflammation and numb the pain naturally. Sleeping can be difficult; most patients find it impossible to lie flat. Sleeping in a recliner chair or propped up on a wedge pillow in bed is highly recommended for the first 4 to 6 weeks.
You will have a dressing over your incision. Keep it clean and dry. You can usually shower after 2 or 3 days if you have a waterproof dressing, but do not soak the shoulder in a bath or pool until the incision is fully healed (about 2 weeks).
Underarm hygiene can be tricky with a sling. Lean forward gently to let your arm hang away from your body (the “pendulum” position) to wash your armpit with a washcloth. Do not actively lift your arm to wash.
Recovery happens in phases.
Complications are rare but possible. Infection is a risk, managed by antibiotics and sterile technique. Blood clots can occur, though less commonly than in leg surgery. Nerve injury is possible but usually temporary.
Dislocation (the ball popping out) is a risk, especially in the first few weeks. Following your surgeon’s movement restrictions prevents this. Long-term, the implant can loosen or wear out, but such an event usually takes many years.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Typically, you should wear the sling for 4 to 6 weeks. It protects the tendon repair. You must wear it while sleeping and out in public to prevent accidental jerking movements.
You cannot drive while taking narcotic pain meds or wearing a sling. Most patients return to driving around 6 weeks post-op, once they have enough control to steer safely with both hands.
Desk jobs can often be resumed in 2 to 3 weeks if you can type with your hand low. Jobs requiring lifting or overhead work may require 3 to 6 months off.
Most patients regain functional range of motion—enough to reach a shelf or wash their hair. It may not equal the range of a teenager’s shoulder, but it is usually significantly better than the stiff, arthritic shoulder you had before.
Yes, revision surgery is possible, but it is more complex than the first surgery. This is why surgeons advise protecting the joint from extreme stress to make it last as long as possible.
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