To schedule an appointment
at Samaritan Orthopedics, call
-
.
Recovery after shoulder surgery includes exercise and rehab
T
he first half of a suc-
cessful joint replace-
ment is the surgery.
The second half comes
during recovery.
It’s important to follow
all the instructions you’re
given when you leave the
hospital after having your
shoulder replaced. Be sure
you understand how to
care for the surgical site
and what red flags should
prompt a call to your doctor.
Your arm will be in a
sling for several weeks,
which means you won’t be
able to drive. So it’s best to
arrange for help at home.
That doesn’t mean your
arm will remain immobile,
however. Exercise is key to
a good recovery.
Talk with your doctor
about rehabilitation therapy
at home or in a clinic.
Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons
IS IT TIME TO THINK ABOUT
REPLACING THAT SHOULDER?
YOU PROBABLY KNOW
that if you have a bum knee
or hip, you can have the joint replaced. But what about a
persistently painful shoulder—can it be replaced?
e short answer: Yes.
Although shoulder joints are replaced far less fre-
quently than hips or knees, the surgery is just as suc-
cessful as hip or knee replacement at relieving chronic
pain, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons (AAOS).
REASONS FOR REPLACEMENT
Like the hip, your shoul-
der is a ball-and-socket joint.
e ball is the top of your upper arm bone, or humerus.
e ball is called the humeral head. It ts into a shallow,
dish-shaped socket at the end of your shoulder blade, or
scapula. e socket is called the glenoid.
A protective layer of cartilage covers the bones where
they meet. e joint is supported and held together by
muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Most shoulder joint replacements aren’t due to bones
gone bad. Instead, the problem usually is in the cartilage,
which can become damaged by arthritis.
One of the most common culprits is osteoarthritis, in
which the cartilage wears down over time. As a result,
the humeral head and glenoid begin scraping against
each other. e rubbing of bone on bone causes joint
pain and sti ness.
Cartilage also can be damaged by the in ammation
of rheumatoid arthritis or by arthritis that develops a er
an injury.
In addition, a shoulder may need to be replaced when
a bone is fractured so badly that it can’t be repaired.
Your doctor might suggest replacing your shoulder if:
You have pain that interferes with activity and sleep.
Your shoulder becomes weak and immobile.
Medications or other treatments haven’t helped.
THE TYPES OF SURGERY
In most shoulder surgeries,
the entire joint is replaced.
e top of the humerus is removed and replaced with a
metal ball attached to a stem, which is inserted into the up-
per arm bone. e glenoid is replaced with a plastic socket.
If damage is limited to the humerus, your surgeon may
opt for a partial replacement—inserting only the metal
ball and stem while leaving your original socket intact.
Other surgical options include:
Resurfacing, a type of partial replacement usually
reserved for young, athletic people.
Reverse replacement, in which the socket and metal
ball are switched. is type of surgery is usually done in
cases of severe tendon damage.
Ask your doctor to explain the risks and bene ts of
the shoulder replacement surgery that’s most appropri-
ate for you.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more
about shoulder replacement surgery at the AAOS
website,
.
Additional source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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