Patient education: Shoulder replacement – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is shoulder replacement? — This is surgery to replace a portion or all of a person's shoulder joint with artificial, or "prosthetic," parts (figure 1). It can reduce shoulder pain and improve the way the shoulder moves.

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

For the first 24 hours after surgery:

●Do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery.

●Do not make any important decisions or sign any important papers.

●Do not drink alcohol of any kind.

You should also:

●Follow all of your doctor's instructions about moving your shoulder after surgery.

•You might need to wear a sling for 4 to 6 weeks to support your arm or to limit shoulder movement. Ask your doctor how long you need to wear the sling.

•Work with a physical therapist to learn exercises to make the muscles around your shoulder stronger. They will help you move your arm and shoulder, lift, and reach so you can move normally. Most people start physical therapy and exercises 2 to 6 weeks after surgery. This is very important to help you recover as quickly as possible and get back to your normal daily activities.

•You might have to limit how you use the arm where you had surgery. Talk to the doctor about how you can move your arm and how much weight you can lift with that arm.

•You might have to limit driving for a while after surgery. Talk to the doctor about when it is safe for you to drive.

●Prop your shoulder on pillows, keeping it above the level of your heart. This can help lessen pain and swelling.

●Use ice to help you ease pain and swelling.

•Place a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel over your shoulder. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on for more than 20 minutes at a time. Use for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery.

●Take all of your medicines as instructed, including any medicines to prevent blood clots.

●Take medicines to help with pain.

•If your doctor prescribed opioid pain medicine, you might get constipated. Take a stool softener to prevent this problem.

•Instead of opioids, you can also take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain. Examples include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

●Take care of your incision – You might have stitches, skin staples, surgical glue, or a special skin tape on your incision.

•Keep your incision dry and covered with a bandage. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep your incision dry.

•Once you no longer need to keep your incision dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Pat it dry. Do not rub it or put your incision underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.

•Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on your incision. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.

•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandages.

What follow-up care do I need? — The doctor will want to see you again after surgery to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.

If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●You have drainage from your incision, or redness or swelling around it.

●Your pain or swelling is getting worse.

●Your hand or fingers are blue or gray, and numb.

●You cannot lift any weight on your arm, your shoulder "locks" in place, or your shoulder "gives out."

More on this topic

Patient education: Shoulder replacement (The Basics)
Patient education: Rotator cuff injury (The Basics)
Patient education: Osteoarthritis (The Basics)
Patient education: Shoulder pain (The Basics)

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Patient education: Osteoarthritis treatment (Beyond the Basics)