If you are considering shoulder replacement surgery, odds are your shoulder has seen better days. Whether you have major tendon tearing or have experienced major joint degeneration, there’s a good chance that your shoulder hasn’t felt “normal” in a long time. Will shoulder replacement surgery have your shoulder feeling normal again, or will you still face significant issues after the procedure? We answer those questions and more in today’s blog.
Will My Shoulder Feel Normal After Total Shoulder Replacement?
Before we try to answer that question, it’s important to remember that “normal” is subjective. What feels normal to one person may feel abnormal to another, so we can’t sit here and definitively say that your shoulder will or won’t feel normal again after a total shoulder replacement procedure. That said, if we tweak the question a bit, we can provide some clearer answers. When patients ask if their shoulder will feel normal after total shoulder replacement, they are oftentimes looking for answers to one of these related questions:
- Will I have less pain?
- Will I have a greater range of motion?
- Will I be able to perform more activities with my new shoulder?
- Will I have restored physical function?
- Will my shoulder feel comfortable?
The answer to all of these questions is a resounding yes. When the procedure is performed by a skilled shoulder specialist like Dr. Holloway, and when a patient really adheres to their rehabilitation plan, the vast majority of patients will experience all of the above. Collectively, all of those improvements help a patient regain some sense of normalcy in their shoulder.
Of course, your artificial shoulder will not feel exactly the same as your natural shoulder joint when you were young and healthy. There will be some obvious sensation differences, but compared to your shoulder state prior to your procedure, you can expect to have significant improvements in pain, flexibility and function. Any sensory differences that you feel during your recovery will eventually become a new normal. You’ll notice your new shoulder less and less, and that’s a good thing.
Getting back to this new normal won’t happen on its own after total shoulder replacement. Your shoulder specialist will play a crucial role in helping you find this new normal, but they can’t do this on their own. You will also play a big role in helping establish the most functional recovery in your shoulder joint. Your doctor will give you an individualized care plan for making the strongest recovery, but some of the best ways to find this new normal include:
- Adhering to your physical restrictions during your recovery.
- Pursuing in-clinic and home-based physical therapy exercises.
- Having appropriate pain medication management.
- Sticking with your rehab plan until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement.
The last point is key. Many patients experience some modest recovery and then become less vigilant about sticking to their rehab plan. Don’t settle for good enough when it comes to your new shoulder. Really put in the effort until you have been given the all-clear by your treating physician in order to give yourself the best chance at having a “normal” feeling shoulder when all is said and done.
Let us help you restore function in your injured shoulder joint. For more information about total shoulder replacement or other effective treatments for shoulder injuries, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
