The shoulder joint has a group of muscles and tendons that holds the ball and socket joint called the rotator cuff. It facilitates free movement on your shoulder. If these muscles or tendons become torn or strain, a surgeon may recommend rotator cuff surgery.
With your shoulder, you can carry out a variety of tasks, from throwing a baseball to swinging to lifting heavy items. However, sometimes, a sudden injury or repetitive movements can damage the muscles and tendons in your shoulder, causing a rotator cuff tear.
In many cases, these problems respond to home care. However, if the pain continues for a long time, it is time to see a doctor. Dr Chandrasekhar, the orthopedician in Hyderabad, first examine symptoms and pass the test. Diagnostic imaging such as X-rays and MRI can help gather more information, and arthroscopic surgery of the rotator cuff is an option.
He offers a variety of surgical procedures, including minimally invasive technique where the surgeon inserts a camera and a small instrument through a small incision to repair rotator cuffs. Each process requires a specific recovery time. But with these eight tips provided by Dr Chandrasekhar, can make it as fast and painless as possible.
1. Wear Shoulder Sling or immobilizer:
The shoulder sling or immobilizer provides support and stability to shoulder while healing. Sling or immobilizer must be worn at any time or as often as per the doctor’s instructions. Avoid moving your entire arm when using this device, which is usually four to six weeks after surgery. You can move your wrists, arms and fingers, but limit the full movements of your arms. Follow doctor’s instructions when you can start removing a sling or immobilizer, which you will do gradually for a more extended period after surgery.
2. Participate in Regular Exercise:
The doctor will refer you to a physical therapist and recommend that you visit it regularly, especially if you experience severe rotator cuff tear. Physiotherapy helps you restore strength and flexibility in your shoulders when you recover. Physiotherapy may begin with a series of gentle passive lifting exercises. Active shoulder exercises that you can do help your injury heal faster, so you can get back to your active lifestyle more quickly. Follow all instructions given by your physiotherapist about how and when to do this exercise for maximum benefit.
3. Eat properly:
Both before and after shoulder surgery, you must eat right to improve healing. Nutrition is essential for healing, and without it, the healing properties of your body stagnate.
To optimize your treatment, make sure you get plenty of probiotics, fibre, and lean protein and a variety of fruits and vegetables. If you eat well before and after shoulder surgery, you will receive everything you need to get well.
4. Take Medications On Time:
Even if you eat or don’t eat, supplements can improve the body’s ability to recover from surgery. It can also help to speed up recovery time.
A multivitamin ensures that your body has a basis for what it needs to recover. Add B-complex for healing, vitamin D to increase muscle and tissue regeneration, and vitamin C and zinc to fight infection. Avoid vitamin A because it can cause bruising and reduce your recovery rate.
5. Change Your Sleeping Position:
After shoulder surgery, you may need to change the way you sleep to give your shoulder the fastest recovery time. If you are a side sleeper, avoid sleeping on the shoulder. Instead, sleep on another shoulder or try to sleep on your back with your arms supported by a pillow.
Although it may take some time to get used to it, avoiding sleeping on your surgery shoulder can speed recovery and relieve pain and swelling.
6. Use Ice Compresses:
Ice compresses can help with many problems after shoulder surgery. Doctors recommend cold compresses or ice packs to relieve pain and swelling before surgery and after surgery. Cold therapy can also reduce bruising and shorten your recovery time.
Depending on your needs, you can use ice in a plastic bag, or we recommend cold compression slings that simultaneously ice and holds your arm.
7. Avoid Certain Shoulder Positions And Arm Movements
During the recovery process, it is essential to avoid movements that can affect your healing. These actions usually include:
- Lifting heavy objects
- Stretching arms or shoulders
- Don’t try to reach the back of your body
- Raising arms above the head
- Moving the arms to the side
It is also essential to avoid certain positions during sleep that squeeze your shoulders, such as lying on your back or side that hurts.
8. Watch For Any Complications:
Complications are rare, but it is vital to know the signs of this case. Contact your doctor if you feel:
101 degrees or more
- Redness and discharge from a wound
- Severe pain
- Swelling in the surgical site
- Feel numbness or tingling in your fingers or in your hands.
Conclusion:
After all, perseverance and patience are the keys to recovery after rotator cuff surgery. We understand that you want to use your arms and shoulders as quickly as possible, but don’t do too early or hard and don’t overdo it. If you follow our recovery instructions and give your body time to recover properly, you will emerge from the other side and swing before you realize it.
Remember that rotator cuff surgery is the first step in repairing joints. How you treat your shoulder in the weeks and months that follow also affects the success of the operation. Right, follow the protocol provided by the doctor to cure as soon as possible.
If you have further questions about rotator cuff operations or further recovery, please contact Dr Chandrasekhar 91 9959588389 or you can use this website to make an appointment with the doctor.
