After Surgery
Preparing for Shoulder Surgery
Pre-operative: It will take approximately 45 to 60 minutes to get signatures for surgical consents and to review the instructions regarding your surgery. Be sure to bring a list of current medications, including the drug name, dosage, and the days and times you typically take them.
Pre-admission Appointment: Prior to this appointment—which takes place at the hospital—you should have had your pre-operative tests performed by your family doctor. This appointment will take approximately one to two hours for lab tests, including blood work, EKG, and chest X-ray. If you have a heart or lung condition, or if you are an insulin-dependent diabetic, you must see your family doctor prior to surgery and get medical clearance. Before you leave, you will also meet with someone from the anesthesia department.
Pre-operative Information
Admission: You will be admitted to the hospital the morning of your surgery.
Medications: Stop anti-inflammatory medications and/or aspirin; if you take anticoagulants such as Coumadin, asprin or Lovenox, your surgeon will tell you how long you should cease taking them prior to surgery.
Food and drink: Do not eat or drink anything for eight hours prior to surgery, except for prescribed medications. On the day of surgery, if you do have a prescribed medication to take, swallow it with a small sip of water.
Length of Surgery: The length of surgery is typically two hours followed by another one to two hours in the recovery room.
After Shoulder Replacement Surgery (Post Operative)
Length of Hospitalization: Average stay is one to two days.
Anesthesia: Patients will undergo general anesthesia, and may benefit from regional nerve blocks for post-operative pain control.
It is important after surgery to regain full range of motion but to do it with the instruction of trained physical therapists. You will work with a physical therapist each day after surgery to help you retain a full and active range of motion. After you go home from the hospital, you will need physical therapy from three to six times a week for three to six weeks. Before surgery, please consult with our staff to arrange home health services and outpatient physical therapy with Round Rock Orthopedics & Rehab.
IMPORTANT: Prior to surgery, VERIFY INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS PASSIVE MOTION (CPM) AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. THESE ITEMS ARE NOT ALWAYS COVERED BY ALL COMPANIES. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONFIRM THE NUMBER OF PHYSICAL THERAPY VISITS APPROVED BY YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOLLOWING SURGERY. INFORM YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY PROVIDER ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BEFORE YOU BEGIN THERAPY.
Pain management: For the first one to two days after surgery, pain is very well controlled with a PCA (patient controlled anesthesia). It is important to maintain a schedule for the pain medications provided and prescribed. It is best to address the pain before it intensifies. Pain is manageable with medications and will lessen as your surgery heals. Pain medicine can cause itching, nausea, and/or constipation. These are all common side-effects of narcotic-based medications and do not necessarily indicate a drug allergy.
Wound Care: The surgical dressing is usually removed after two or three days. You may keep the incision open to air as long as there is no bleeding or drainage. We will remove your sutures in the office approximately two weeks after your surgery.
Driving: Most patients are able to safely drive a car approximately six weeks after surgery for very short distances only. We recommend that patients do not drive cars with a manual transmission while they are healing because of the sudden and jerky movements that can accompany shifting gears and using the clutch.
Home Care: You will need help with meal preparation for several weeks following discharge from the hospital. We recommend that you have someone stay with you after you leave the hospital for at least a week (and longer if possible). If this is not possible, please let the nurse know you will need assistance after surgery.
Things to Report: Call the office at (512) 244-0766 if you develop any of the following:
- Redness around the incision
- Drainage or bleeding from the incision
- Fever over 101 degrees
- Increased swelling
Return to Work: Following spinal surgery, you will be able to return to sedentary work eight to twelve weeks after surgery. We recommend restricting certain work activities:
- No heavy lifting
- Follow your physical therapist’s instructions about how much range of motion your shoulder can handle as you are healing.
PLEASE NOTE: After shoulder replacement, it will be necessary for you to take antibiotics before you undergo any standard dental work or teeth cleaning. Please contact our office at (512) 244-0766 to arrange for a prescription. If you are on any blood thinners (Coumadin, aspirin) or if you are diabetic, please notify one of the nursing staff members at Round Rock Orthopedics & Rehab.
