Whether you’re going to be pursuing conservative treatments or undergoing a surgical procedure, you’ll likely have a decent recovery program in front of you if you want to make the strongest recovery possible. Many patients end up making great recoveries, but if they had to do it all over again, they’d likely tweak a few things or come into their program with a different mindset. In an effort to help you get your rehabilitation program right the first time, we want to share five things that we’d like all patients to know well in advance of their treatment plan. In today’s blog, we explain some of the ways that you can maximize your initial shoulder recovery plan, even if you’re a bit unfamiliar with the process.
Key Tips For Effective Shoulder Treatment
They say that practice makes perfect, but if you’ve never undergone treatment for a shoulder issue in the past, you may not know where to look for advice. Fortunately, if you’ve found this blog, you’ve come to a great place to start. Here are some of our tips for acing your shoulder treatment program on your first attempt.
- Be Ready To Work– Your body can do a fair amount of recovering on its own, but it’s not going to make the fullest recovery possible without some help from you. You’re going to need to put in some work on your end, so mentally start preparing to take on the physical aspect of recovery. Don’t just expect to be back to full health after a few weeks with your shoulder in a sling. We always tell patients that when it comes to shoulder rehab, you’ll get out what you put in. Embrace your treatment program and be ready to put forth maximum effort with your recovery exercises.
- Know That Recovery Won’t Happen Overnight– Whether your shoulder issue developed slowly over time or occurred as a result of a split-second collision, know that recovery will not occur overnight. Recovery is going to be slow and steady, and know that progress will often be measured in inches, not miles. Mismatched recovery expectations can end up derailing your rehab efforts, so set some realistic goals and slowly work towards them.
- Consistency Is Key– Whether you’re training for a marathon or studying for an exam, regular training and consistent practice is key to performing your best. You need to remain consistent in your efforts in order to keep moving the needle forward. Taking two steps forward and one step backwards because you are inconsistent in your commitment to your rehab will prolong your program and may prevent you from making the best recovery possible.
- Ask Questions– We love it when patients ask questions because it shows that they are committed to learning more about their injury and recovery best practices. Never shy away from asking questions for any reason. Whether you have questions you want to ask your surgeon, your post-op care team or your physical therapist, make it a point to ask them. A question has never hurt someone’s rehab, but there are countless situations where it has significantly helped it!
- Your Restrictions Are In Place For A Reason– Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy, and when it comes to shoulder rehab, that oftentimes occurs when we knowingly step outside the restrictions put in place by our surgeon. We totally understand that you feel like you can drive a car or carry your groceries inside the house, but if these actions go against your restrictions, you could be setting yourself up for a setback. Stay within your restrictions, and if you truly feel like you’re ahead of schedule, connect with your doctor or physical therapist to get clearance before taking on activities that you’ve been cautioned against. Don’t let a setback counteract all the hard work you’ve already put in.
If you keep these tips in mind and trust your care to a talented surgeon like Dr. Holloway, we’re confident you’ll be pleased with your treatment and recovery. For more information, or for help with any aspect of your shoulder care, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
