Question: How long does it take to recover from shoulder surgery?
Answer: A good orthopedic surgeon will always recommend surgery as the absolute last option. In most cases, there is a range of non-surgical treatments to try before surgery is necessary. But when patients have hit the proverbial wall of pain and conservative measures are no longer helpful, surgical intervention may be the only option.
When it comes to shoulder surgery, advances in the last several years have greatly improved patient experience and enabled them to recover faster, resulting in increasing numbers of patients who have surgery and go home the same day. Patients recover better at home and are happier when able to check out sooner.
Time & Experience Count
Shoulder replacement surgery (without complications) that is kept to just over a half-hour or so in a highly-controlled environment results in little blood loss. The less time the patient is under anesthesia, the better the recovery. There is less risk of infection, patients are more satisfied, and there are better function and less pain during a home recovery — all benefits of patients leaving a surgery center with their arm in a sling and headed home the same day.
Those considering surgery also benefit from getting as much information as possible prior to the operation, including reviewing physical therapy videos that clearly illustrate exercises. The video previews help patients and physicians to set and meet specific goals during recovery.
Outpatient surgery and home rehabilitation save patients time and money. Most patients can use their arm enough to care for themselves within a week after the procedure. After three months of follow-up appointments, the patient no longer requires office visits, but atrophy from the initial injury could take up to a year to fully improve.
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