Whether it is because they worry about the potentially addictive side effects of certain medications or because they overcame a substance issue in the past, a number of patients are curious to learn if they will be able to recover from shoulder surgery without prescription pain medication. As you might imagine, the answer to that question depends on a number of individual circumstances. That said, if you really want to do what you can to avoid painkillers after shoulder surgery or greatly reduce your reliance on them, there are some steps you can take. In today’s blog, we explain how you can work to eliminate or reduce your dependence on opioids if you need shoulder surgery.
Opioid-Free Shoulder Surgery
We can’t sit here and guarantee that you will be able to undergo your shoulder surgery and recovery without the need for prescription strength painkillers. There are a number of factors that will go into this decision that you will need to discuss with your doctor. However, if you have been given the green light to attempt recovery without opioids or you want to reduce your reliance on painkillers and wean off of them as quickly as possible, you’ll follow a similar care plan. Here’s a look at what you’ll want to do if you want to cut down or eliminate painkiller use after shoulder surgery.
- Take Over-The-Counter Medications – Over-the-counter medications can help to control some pain and inflammation in the wake of your shoulder procedure. You will want to make sure that any OTC medication that you take is cleared by your treating physician. These over-the-counter medications are not as strong or potentially addictive as prescription strength medications.
- Use Heat and Ice – Hot and cold therapy can also help you manage shoulder discomfort following a surgical procedure. You may not want to apply ice or heat directly to an incision site, but these techniques can help to improve blood flow or reduce inflammation in an area, which can help to relieve discomfort. Use ice and heat to your advantage in the early stages of your recovery from shoulder surgery.
- Physical Therapy – Early movement and physical therapy will work wonders for improving function and decreasing your reliance on painkillers in the long term. We understand that movement and PT exercises may be uncomfortable at times, but they will help to restore strength, flexibility and function to your shoulder joint, which can greatly reduce your need to take pain medications for an extended period after surgery. If you cannot avoid taking painkillers after surgery, get the most out of them by performing your PT exercises when discomfort is minimized by your opioids, as this will help you transition away from needing these painkillers.
- Pursue Minimally Invasive Surgery – If possible, trust your operation to a surgeon who can perform it using minimally invasive techniques. Again, this may not be totally in your control, but a minimally invasive procedure involves less tissue damage and scarring, reducing pain and discomfort during the recovery process. Dr. Holloway is well-versed in a number of different minimally invasive techniques and would be more than happy to help correct your shoulder issue with minimal trauma on the body to reduce your need for painkillers during recovery.
- Chart Your Painkiller Schedule – It can be easier to transition away from opioids if you are diligent about documenting your medication schedule. Charting your opioid schedule will make it easier to lengthen the time between doses as you begin to make strides during your recovery. You’ll have a clear idea of how these prescription medications are aiding in pain relief if you document your schedule. This will also make it much less likely that you’ll take more medication than advised, which will reduce your risk of developing a dependence.
- Voice Your Goals – If you want to avoid painkillers or be done with them as soon as possible during your recovery, vocalize these goals to your care team. They may move forward with a different post-op care plan if you have concerns about opioids or you have a high pain tolerance and want to wean off medications as quickly as possible. It will be easier to reduce your reliance on opioids if your care team clearly understands your goals when it comes to post-op pain management.
For more information about effectively managing opioids after shoulder surgery, or to talk with a shoulder specialist about any discomfort that you are experiencing, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
