The shoulder joint supports the arms and helps people carry loads and maintain balance. Unfortunately, the shoulder joint is prone to injuries and illnesses like arthritis. Although the shoulder joint will heal by itself, you might opt for arthroscopic shoulder surgery West Chester to resolve issues like torn ligaments. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is minimally invasive as a surgeon uses tiny tubes and cameras to diagnose and treat shoulder issues. Although you will feel tired and have swollen shoulders days after arthroscopic shoulder surgery, these tips will increase the recovery process.
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Rest
After the arthroscopic shoulder surgery, the shoulder will feel sore, swollen, and painful, and resting will alleviate these symptoms. Sleeping improves the recovery process. Even if you don’t feel tired, you should use a reclining and ergonomic chair to support the shoulder and spine. You should put a thin, soft pillow behind the arm when lying down as it increases comfort and prevents further damage to the shoulder.
Walk
You might not walk soon after the treatment, but staying sedentary hurts the shoulder’s healing process. Therefore, you can begin walking as soon as the pain subsides, and you should increase the intensity when you feel better. Walking might boost blood flow to the shoulder, prevent constipation and improve your general well-being.
Avoid Strenuous Activities
Lifting heavy weights after surgery as it puts extra pressure on the joint. Even if you are used to lifting, your surgeon will caution against returning to work until the shoulder heals completely. Moreover, you should avoid activities like chopping wood, engaging in high-intensity sports, and other overhead work which strains the shoulder joint. Your surgeon will give directions on when you can start driving again, as driving requires using the shoulder joint to steer the vehicle.
Avoid Long Showers Which Affect the Bandage
You might get a bandage after arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Thus you should avoid long showers as they will soak the bandage and lead to infections. It is better to remove the sling and keep the arm away from the stream of water from the faucet when showering. Wait until the incisions heal to take a bath as warm water softens the skin around the shoulder, leading to the wound opening up, causing kore infection and pain.
Stick With the Medications
The surgeon might suggest painkillers and antibiotics to deal with pain and opportunistic infections after the surgery. Thus they will advise on the best way to take the medications and tell you when to restart other medicines. You should avoid aspirins and blood thinners soon after the surgery and understand exactly when it is safe to start using these medications. If the medications make you sick, you can take them after meals and seek advice from the doctor’s office.
The shoulder is at risk of trauma, but you should opt for arthroscopic shoulder surgery, a minimally invasive procedure. The surgery can correct issues such as muscle and ligament damage on the shoulder joint and improves your health. However, the possibility of quick recovery depends on the aftercare techniques. You can rest soon after the arthroscopic shoulder surgery as rest promotes healing. Then engage in light exercises like walking to promote a better range of motion. Finally, adhere to the medications as they lead to better healing in the long run.
