What To Expect After A Shoulder Scope Surgery?

By Author: Dr. Kevin Darr
Total Articles: 3
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Shoulder scope surgery or arthroscopy is a treatment recommended for people who are suffering from shoulder issues such as subacromial impingement, rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, and chronic tendonitis, among many others. If you are experiencing persistent pain and have been having difficulty moving your shoulders for a long time, you may be experiencing a type of shoulder disease and you may be a candidate for this surgical procedure.

Unlike conventional approaches to treating shoulder diseases, shoulder scope surgery is less invasive, requiring several smaller incisions to reach the injured tendon. A small camera—which is called the arthroscope—is inserted into one of the incisions for the doctor to see the injury and its surrounding tissue and perform the necessary repair.

Since shoulder scope surgery is minimally invasive, you may be able to go home immediately after the surgery. Nevertheless, there are things that you must know and post-operative steps that you must follow diligently to ensure success ...
... of the surgery.

Right after the surgery

Because you will get anesthesia during surgery, expect to wake up feeling groggy or nauseous. These sensations are normal, so don't worry—they will eventually wear off. Depending on the type and severity of your shoulder pain diseases, the doctor may allow you to go and rest at home on the same day as your procedure.

Pain management

When the anesthesia wears off, pain from the surgery may start to bother you. That's why you need to find a good physician and clinic that can offer effective pain management for your post-operative recovery. Since you will be the one responsible for managing your pain at home, your care team should be able to prepare and equip you with the right knowledge and skills so that you can perform the steps properly.

Some of the things you will need to do include:

• Taking medications such as pain reliever to help manage the pain - Before buying and taking any pain medication, make sure to check with your doctor first as some medications can cause bleeding and other side effects that may impact your recovery.

• Sleeping and resting - These two are vital parts of your recovery, so be sure to slow down. Don’t go back to your regular activities right away. Since it can be a challenge to sleep comfortably on a bed after the surgery, use a reclining chair instead or sleep on your other shoulder.

• Exercising your shoulders - Doing physical therapy can speed up your recovery because it will help you regain normal shoulder range of motion and strength. By performing the recommended exercises regularly, you can return to normal function faster.

About the Author:
Dr. Kevin Darr is a national leader in orthopedic medicine and is currently studying alternative treatments for orthopedic conditions. He is proud to bring Louisiana access to Cellular Therapy through his numerous IRB approved research studies. His research in this field is respected across the nation, as he is invited to train other doctors on these procedures.

Dr. Darr is committed to providing his patients with comprehensive, progressive orthopedic care, including today’s most innovative and best practices to achieve optimal orthopedic function and performance. In addition to traditional orthopedic treatments and surgery, he also offers minimally invasive alternatives utilizing state of the art technology and integrative