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Welcome to our Shoulder Surgery FAQ page. Here, you’ll find answers to the most commonly asked questions about shoulder conditions, treatments, and surgical procedures. Whether you’re dealing with shoulder pain, considering surgery, or looking for information on recovery, our comprehensive FAQs aim to provide clear and concise information. Our goal is to help you understand your options and feel confident in your treatment decisions. For personalized advice and in-depth consultations, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with our expert shoulder surgeon. Your health and well-being are our top priorities.
This depends on the surgery you will receive. If work was done on any muscles and tendons, or if plates, screws or prosthesis was inserted a sling is mandatory for 6 weeks post-operatively.
That will depend on the surgery that you required. Patients can expect to return to work a few days after surgery. If any repair was done to Ligaments, Muscles or if prosthesis was inserted into the shoulder, the timeline to return to sport will be 6 – 8 months.
You should not drive while you are in a sling; as such, I typically recommend that you do not drive for 6 weeks after the surgery. Patients who don’t have to wear a sling can drive 2 – 3 days after surgery.
It will be a General Anesthetic.
Surgery times vary according to the procedure but it varies from 60 – 120 minutes.
The pain is usually worse at night and sleeping is often difficult. It is difficult to find a comfortable position in bed and many people sleep in a recliner for several days or even weeks following surgery. It helps to take pain medication one hour before bedtime.
Most people’s expectations following shoulder arthroscopy are that they will be back to normal in a few days. This is not what most people experience. Most people notice that they are back to normal around 8-16 weeks. Even though there are only a few small incisions, there was a significant amount of work that was done inside the shoulder. The shoulder can be stiff and sore for several weeks and you can expect some discomfort. Please do not judge the effectiveness of the surgery until after you have given yourself ample time to recover from the surgery.
It takes a long time to get the benefit from the operation. After the sling is removed, the first 1-2 months involve regaining shoulder range of motion. Gradual strengthening occurs between 3-6 months. Useful function of the shoulder is not usually achieved before 5-6 months and often longer. Many patients are frustrated in the first few months because the shoulder is still sore and weak. It takes many months for the full benefit to be gained and physiotherapy is an important part of the recovery. Full healing in the body takes one year.
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