Roughly 100 million Americans are considered overweight or obese, so weight management is a real conversation that needs to be had prior to a joint replacement procedure. And while it makes sense to have these conversations if you’ll be undergoing surgery on a joint like the knee or hip that bears a significant amount of stress with every step, is weight management important when you’re dealing with your shoulder? In today’s blog, we discuss the merits of losing weight ahead of your shoulder replacement surgery.
Shoulder Replacement And Weight Loss
If you have a healthy BMI or you’re just a tad over the ideal range, there’s a good possibility that weight management will not be brought up during your pre-op consultations. However, if you are quite a bit heavier than the ideal weight for your height, your doctor may opt to broach the subject. That’s because studies have found that patients with a BMI over 40 are more likely to experience issues during and after surgery including but not limited to:
- Bleeding/Blood clots
- Infection
- Delayed healing
- Anesthesia-related complications
- Scar tissue development
Your doctor can work to mitigate these risks to the best of their ability, but taking some ownership in the equation by working to lose some weight can naturally help to lower this risk.
Ahead of surgery, it’s more likely that a conversation with your surgeon will center around your nutrient intake rather than a specific weight loss target, especially if your BMI isn’t a dire concern. Your doctor likely won’t care if you lose weight, but they will care about your nutrition because this ensures your body has appropriate levels of key vitamins and minerals before and after your operation. These nutrients play a key role in tissue regeneration, bone healing, scar closure and immune response, all processes that you’ll rely on while your body is working to overcome the physical trauma of shoulder replacement. Focus on consistently consuming a range of healthy options to provide your body with a steady diet of important nutrients. It’s also important to keep this up after your surgery is complete, as you can end up gaining weight if you’re not careful because you’ll likely be burning fewer calories due to activity restrictions in the days and weeks that follow your procedure.
Finally, it’s also possible that your shoulder surgeon will tell you not to lose any weight in the days or weeks leading up to your operation. Even if you’re a little overweight, your doctor may not want to shock your system in the lead up to a major surgery. If you greatly reduce your calorie and nutrient intake in an effort to shed some weight, it can actually be more detrimental to your body’s ability to handle the rigors of surgery and recovery. Improving your nutrient intake a little won’t throw your body off, but significant calorie restriction or huge dietary changes aren’t typically ideal as you prepare for an operation.
Contact a Knoxville Shoulder Surgeon
If you’re wondering if there’s anything you should be doing to prepare for your upcoming shoulder surgery, ask specific questions of your surgeon and your care team. They’d be more than happy to provide individualized advice based on your unique challenges, needs and goals. For more information about preparing for shoulder replacement, or for answers to any other questions you have, reach out to Dr. Holloway’s office today at (865) 410-7887.
