4 Common (and Treatable) Causes of Shoulder Pain
When you’re struggling with shoulder pain, your world can become a lot more challenging. Here, we look at some common culprits behind shoulder pain and how we go about treating them.
4 Recovery Strategies for Shoulder Surgery
You’ve been dealing with shoulder pain and limited use for far too long, and it’s time to take the next step and have us surgically repair the joint.
Each year in the United States, orthopedic surgeons perform up to half a million shoulder arthroscopies to repair rotator cuffs and address impingements or dislocations, among other issues.
With the surgery decision made, we assure you that, from our end, we’ve got you covered. Dr. William Schell is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has helped a large number of patients to overcome shoulder issues through surgery, and we’re confident we can do the same for you.
There is, however, much that you can do to influence your recovery journey and outcome, and we review some of those best practices here.
1. Prepare your home
You should count on not having full use of your shoulder immediately after surgery, and upi can do a little prep work with that in mind.
Look around your home and identify potential problems — things that you use two hands for, such as cooking, showering, cleaning, etc.
To make your life a little easier during recovery, we recommend that you prepare a few meals in advance of your surgery (or get that delivery app fired up). You can also group things together so they’re easy to find — remotes, phones, etc, so that you don’t have to reach as much.
It’s also a great idea to place extra pillows around your bed and couch as you might need a little extra support as you recover.
2. Get moving
It used to be that doctors recommended full rest while recovering from surgery, but that’s not really the case anymore. After your shoulder arthroscopy and as soon as you feel steady on your feet, we want you up and moving around to keep those healing resources flowing.
3. Participate fully in physical therapy
The odds are good that you are undergoing surgery because the use of your shoulder is important to you. To get the most out of the shoulder surgery, it’s paramount that you engage fully in your physical therapy (PT).
These exercises are designed by us to strengthen your shoulder and to preserve the range of motion in the joint. So, if you have one priority during your recovery, put your PT at the top of the list.
4. Be patient
While we want you to get moving and engaging in your PT, it’s also important to strike the right balance and not push your shoulder too hard. Please don’t engage in heavy lifting or anything else that places too much strain on the joint until it has fully healed, which can take months.
If you’re wondering what constitutes overstressing your shoulder, pay close attention to the joint — it will let you know. You can also work with us on a timeline for certain activities, and we will greenlight them as you progress.
Over the years, we’ve found that patients who are willing and enthusiastic participants in their recovery tend to fare very well, and we want that to be the case with you.
If you have any more questions about recovery, please don’t hesitate to contact us at our New York City office — which is located on Columbus Circle on the Upper West Side — at 646-381-2646. You can also send a message to us by clicking here.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Your Treatment Options for Chronic Knee Bursitis
Under normal circumstances, the bursa sacs in your knees are supposed to protect these joints. If you develop knee bursitis, however, these small sacs become the problem — a very painful one, at that.
5 Ways to Navigate the New Year With Healthier Knees
Did you know that one-quarter of the American population is hobbled by knee pain? If you agree that life is just easier with healthy knees, read on to explore ways you can boost the health of these important joints.
How Long Does It Take to Heal After Meniscus Tear Surgery?
You’re anxious to regain full use of your knee, but first you’ve got to get through surgery and recovery. While everyone heals in their own time, here’s a look at what a typical timeline looks like after meniscus repair surgery.
4 Telltale Signs You Have Tendon Damage
The 4,000 tendons in your body are essential for movement, as they connect your muscles to your bones. Given how hard these connective tissues work, it’s not surprising that they can become damaged in the process.
Why Does My Knee Keep Giving Out (or Feel Like It's Going to)?
Becoming weak in the knees over love is one thing, but knees that threaten to give out when you’re moving around are quite another. Here are some possible culprits behind knees that feel like they’re going to give out.