Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure that addresses any number of issues within the shoulder joint. During the operation, your surgeon inserts a small camera called an arthroscope into the joint, which then relays a live feed to your surgeon who can view the area on a monitor in the operating room. Using specialized tools, your surgeon can then work to correct ligament, tendon or bone issues without the need to create a large incision site. This process limits trauma on the shoulder and helps speed up the recovery process.
Of course, it will still take some dedicated effort in order for you to make the strongest recovery possible, and much of that process will occur at home. With that in mind, we wanted to use today’s blog to share some tips for recovering at home following your arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Recovering After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
It’s important to remember that although there is a somewhat standard recovery protocol after arthroscopic shoulder surgery, every patient is different and will face their own unique challenges along the path to recovery. If you have questions or concerns, make sure to pose them to your treating surgeon, and remember that the following advice is just general in nature.
- First 48 Hours – Let’s start by looking at the first 48 hours after your procedure. In most instances, you will be discharged the same day after you have been cleared by the care team, which typically occurs within hours of completion of the operation. You will likely still have some numbness in your shoulder and arm area for up to 24 hours, but this will fade as time passes and you’ll use prescribed medications to manage any physical discomfort you experience going forward. You will need to have someone drive you home from the surgical center, and you will want to take it easy for the first day or two while you recover at home.
- First 2 Weeks – During the first two weeks of recovery at home, you’ll mainly focus on giving your body the right type of environment to heal. Rest your shoulder, eat plenty of nutrient-dense foods and get at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. These habits will all make it easier for the tissue recovery process to take place. Also begin to get in a rhythm when it comes to pain management and taking medications so that you can safely manage pain when it is most noticeable at the outset of your rehab. There’s a good chance you’ll be in a sling during this period, so be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the sling on and off. Most patients have their first post-op consult at two weeks post-op.
- 2-6 Weeks – Your surgeon will be able to give you some individualized recovery advice based on what they see during your post-op visit, but assuming everything looks good, you may be cleared for physical therapy. PT is very important to the long-term health of your shoulder joint, so take it seriously. Show up ready to work at all of your physical therapy appointments, and be sure to regularly perform your home-based PT routine. Depending on your line of work, it’s possible that you will be able to return to light duty work within this window.
- 6 Weeks And Beyond – Total recovery from arthroscopic surgery can take anywhere from 1-6 months, although most individuals who are looking to return to strenuous physical activity will be closer to the 4-6 month mark. You will continue your physical therapy exercises for a large portion of this part of your recovery, with an emphasis on restoring maximum strength and full confidence to perform more difficult maneuvers like overhead motions. Many patients have additional follow ups with their surgeon around the 6-week and 3-month mark, and they will give you some more specific advice on the best ways to deal with the final stretch of your rehab program.
With a little bit of patience and effort, we’re confident that you’ll be able to make a strong recovery following your shoulder arthroscopy, and we’d be more than happy to help that process along. For help with a shoulder issue that you’re dealing with, or for assistance getting to the bottom of new shoulder discomfort, give Dr. Holloway and his team a call today at (865) 410-7887.
