after yourprocedure

When your procedure’s finished, you’ll be taken to the recovery area.

Nurses will monitor your breathing and vital signs. Once your signs are stable, they’ll take you to the ward.

Your shoulder will be wrapped in a dressing. Your surgeon may have inserted a small drainage tube to help keep extra blood and fluid from building up inside the joint. You may still have a urinary catheter as well as an IV line in your arm.

Your shoulder may be placed in a continuous passive motion machine. This can help to improve the range of motion in your shoulder and reduce stiffness. You'll wear a shoulder sling to support your arm whenever you're not using the continuous passive motion machine.

Pain relief

You’ll be given pain relief prescribed by your anaesthetist. By enabling you to move and breathe without too much discomfort, good pain relief can help reduce your risk of complications.

Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) is often used in the first day or so. This comprises an opioid drug delivered through a cannula into a vein. You can control the amount of pain relief you receive by pressing a button.

Injections of pain-relieving medication can be delivered by cannula or into a muscle.

Tablets or liquids can be given at regular times or when pain starts to bother you.

Getting mobile

The nurses will probably ask you to get up and walk around soon after your surgery. This is to speed your recovery and reduce your risk of complications such as blood clots. Your urinary catheter (if you have one) and IV line will be removed once you’re mobile.

You may experience swelling around the incision, with some minor blood loss. The nursing staff will monitor your incision. If you notice an increase in blood loss or pain, tell the nursing staff.

The physiotherapist will most likely visit on the day of your surgery, or the following day, to begin your rehab program.

The length of your hospital stay depends on your recovery and can vary from 1–2 days.

Aftercare

Resuming activities and watching for problems

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Information is provided by HCF in good faith for the convenience of members. It is not an endorsement or recommendation of any form of treatment nor is it a substitute for medical advice, and you should rely on the advice of your treating doctors in relation to all matters concerning your health. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, however HCF takes no responsibility for any injury, loss, damage or other consequences of the use of this information.