Aa
shoulder replacement
Has anyone here had shoulder or elbow replacement im really worried i need them both replaced and i just cant stop worrying about it i know its got to be done as i cant sleep with pain. but i dont know what to expect i would be gratefull for any advice thanks all.
You're more than welcome - glad I could provide some information.
That first week without being able to shower was definitely the pits! That first post-op shower felt soooooo good!
Take care of yourself and best of luck!
That first week without being able to shower was definitely the pits! That first post-op shower felt soooooo good!
Take care of yourself and best of luck!
Thank you so much for taking the time to give me all that information it has helped so much now i sort of know what to expect.i will find it hard without my shower as i like one every day but im sure i will manage thank you once again take care.
Your hospital stay may vary according to your surgeon's normal procedures, etc. For my surgery, I had surgery on Monday morning and was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon. For pain control after surgery, I had a PCA (patient controlled analgesia) pump for the first 24 hours and then oral medication after that. Actually, my PCA time was shortened because my IV line came out and they couldn't get it started again, so I was switched to oral medication earlier than planned, which probably accounted for my post op pain taking a while to get under control with the meds.
As far as when your arm gets back to "normal" - again it will vary. An artificial joint will never be 100% like a "real" joint, so there is bound to be some restrictions/limitations. However, a good bit of this will also depend on how diligent you are with your post op therapy/exercises. The more you can tolerate them and push yourself to do the exercises despite pain, the better off you'll be. I do still have some limitation as far as range of motion (can't lift my arm completely over my head), but it is definitely MUCH better than before surgery.
For my surgery, I was in an immobilizer for 6 weeks post op. I was only permitted to remove it to shower, dress and for therapy appointments. The immobilizer was similar to a sling, where you arm is across your stomach, but this also had a foam insert that sat between my stomach and the sling portion, so my arm was not actually resting on my stomach area, it was held out from my body a bit. As I metioned, I had my surgery on a Monday and came home on Wednesday, but I was not permitted to take an actual shower until the Saturday following surgery, so almost a week. That was more a matter for letting the incision heal without getting totally soaked in a shower than it is for not moving the arm. I was instructed for the six weeks that I was in the immobilizer that even when I showered, dressed, etc., to move my arm as little as possible (of course except for therapy appointments). This meant bending over in the shower and letting my arm kind of fall away from my body in order to be able to wash my underarm area. Also, when you're dressing, you are to put the surgical arm into your shirt, etc., FIRST and then the non-surgical arm. This puts way less stress on the surgical arm. The opposite for undressing - take the affected arm out LAST.
One big suggestion I do have (and they will probably tell you this in the hospital also) - is to make sure you put a pillow or two behind your shoulder when you are laying down, especially after the immobilizer is removed. This will keep your shoulder from "falling" backward as you sleep. I still sleep with a couple of pillows behind my shoulder - I do find that if I don't, I wake up often with pain and in the morning it's very difficult to get my shoulder moving. However, that may just be me - I do have some nerve impingement trouble, torn muscles and a probably torn rotator cuff in that shoulder (the rotator cuff is a relatively new thing that may or may not require additional surgery).
I also am looking at having to have additional joints replaced - both knees and at least my right ankle. The idea of joint replacement surgery was very scary for me - especially since when I had my shoulder done I was "relatively young" - age 45 - but I do feel it was definitely the right decision.
Be sure and ask lots and lots of questions of your surgeon - he/she should explain exactly what they plan on doing, what their plans for post op pain control is, what their plan for post op therapy is, etc.
Oh - also wanted to mention, in additional to general anesthesia, I had a nerve block done the morning of surgery, which not only permitted them to use less of the general anesthesia, but it also helped with post op pain - yes, I still had a good deal of pain, but at least I was still numb when I first woke up so I wasn't waking up in agony. The nerve block lasted for me about 8 hours total (surgery was about 2 1/2 hours long) - my roommate in the hospital had the same surgery/same surgeon/same nerve block and hers lasted a good 12 hours (lucky me for getting short changed - LOL - NOT)
If I can answer any more questions, please let me know.
As far as when your arm gets back to "normal" - again it will vary. An artificial joint will never be 100% like a "real" joint, so there is bound to be some restrictions/limitations. However, a good bit of this will also depend on how diligent you are with your post op therapy/exercises. The more you can tolerate them and push yourself to do the exercises despite pain, the better off you'll be. I do still have some limitation as far as range of motion (can't lift my arm completely over my head), but it is definitely MUCH better than before surgery.
For my surgery, I was in an immobilizer for 6 weeks post op. I was only permitted to remove it to shower, dress and for therapy appointments. The immobilizer was similar to a sling, where you arm is across your stomach, but this also had a foam insert that sat between my stomach and the sling portion, so my arm was not actually resting on my stomach area, it was held out from my body a bit. As I metioned, I had my surgery on a Monday and came home on Wednesday, but I was not permitted to take an actual shower until the Saturday following surgery, so almost a week. That was more a matter for letting the incision heal without getting totally soaked in a shower than it is for not moving the arm. I was instructed for the six weeks that I was in the immobilizer that even when I showered, dressed, etc., to move my arm as little as possible (of course except for therapy appointments). This meant bending over in the shower and letting my arm kind of fall away from my body in order to be able to wash my underarm area. Also, when you're dressing, you are to put the surgical arm into your shirt, etc., FIRST and then the non-surgical arm. This puts way less stress on the surgical arm. The opposite for undressing - take the affected arm out LAST.
One big suggestion I do have (and they will probably tell you this in the hospital also) - is to make sure you put a pillow or two behind your shoulder when you are laying down, especially after the immobilizer is removed. This will keep your shoulder from "falling" backward as you sleep. I still sleep with a couple of pillows behind my shoulder - I do find that if I don't, I wake up often with pain and in the morning it's very difficult to get my shoulder moving. However, that may just be me - I do have some nerve impingement trouble, torn muscles and a probably torn rotator cuff in that shoulder (the rotator cuff is a relatively new thing that may or may not require additional surgery).
I also am looking at having to have additional joints replaced - both knees and at least my right ankle. The idea of joint replacement surgery was very scary for me - especially since when I had my shoulder done I was "relatively young" - age 45 - but I do feel it was definitely the right decision.
Be sure and ask lots and lots of questions of your surgeon - he/she should explain exactly what they plan on doing, what their plans for post op pain control is, what their plan for post op therapy is, etc.
Oh - also wanted to mention, in additional to general anesthesia, I had a nerve block done the morning of surgery, which not only permitted them to use less of the general anesthesia, but it also helped with post op pain - yes, I still had a good deal of pain, but at least I was still numb when I first woke up so I wasn't waking up in agony. The nerve block lasted for me about 8 hours total (surgery was about 2 1/2 hours long) - my roommate in the hospital had the same surgery/same surgeon/same nerve block and hers lasted a good 12 hours (lucky me for getting short changed - LOL - NOT)
If I can answer any more questions, please let me know.
hi there thank you for your reply it is just general information i was asking about i wondered how long is the hospital stay? how long is it before my arm is back to normal? i cant wash my own hair at the moment as both my shoulders have very little movement due to RA im allso having my elbows replaced at a later date i am very scared but im sure it will be worth it take care.
I had a shoulder replacement done about 2 1/2 years ago. Were there specific questions you had about the surgery, or just general information about what to expect?
The best advice I can give for general information is to be very diligent about your post-op therapy. It will be painful at first and you won't want to do it, but it will also definitely improve your chances for a successful surgery/recovery.
If you have any other questions about the srugery, etc., please let me know.
The best advice I can give for general information is to be very diligent about your post-op therapy. It will be painful at first and you won't want to do it, but it will also definitely improve your chances for a successful surgery/recovery.
If you have any other questions about the srugery, etc., please let me know.
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