Shoulder Surgery Recovery Time

Undue stress on the shoulders during day-to-day life results in internal shoulder injuries in many people. While most of the people are relieved from the pain with antibiotics and massage oils, for some people, the injury aggravates and a shoulder surgery becomes the only option they are left with. Shoulder surgeries are necessary when shoulder muscles get dislocated, fractured or separated. Let us get a better idea about the different types of shoulder surgeries, shoulder surgery recovery exercises, and lastly, the shoulder surgery recovery time.

Types of Shoulder Surgeries

Today, with the advancement in medical sciences, any type of shoulder injury can be completely cured. Some of the most common shoulder surgery types are:

Rotator Cuff Repair
Rotator cuff is a set of four different muscles located in the shoulder joint. These muscles form tendons and insert onto the shoulder bone. The rotator cuff repair surgery is generally done to improve the functioning of muscles and tendons that move the joints in the shoulder, and also to completely relieve the patient from shoulder pain. Rotator cuff is usually done in elderly patients who experience pain due to weakening of the shoulder muscles.

Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is one of the most widely performed surgeries with regards to shoulder injuries. In this procedure, the surgeon determines the problem by examining the shoulder joint with the help of incisions. Further, the unwanted loose tissues are removed, and thus the shoulder pain is cured.

Prosthetic Shoulder Replacement
The human shoulder is often referred to as the ball and socket joint. Shoulder replacement over here implies the replacement of the ball and resurfacing of the socket. In some cases, people suffering from arthritis are treated with this kind of surgery.

Bankart Surgery
Bankart surgery aims at restoring the muscular stability of the shoulders by repairing the torn capsular detachments, and also by fixing the ligaments in place. This type of surgery is often undergone by athletes and other sportsmen that suffer from a shoulder injury and face the problems of recurrent dislocation.

Shoulder Surgery Recovery Tips

Often, shoulder exercises are believed to be the only way to recover from a shoulder injury. Remember, you should not start all the recovery exercises immediately after the operation. Increase your shoulder strength gradually and then go in for the exercises. So here are some shoulder surgery recovery exercises that would help you decrease the shoulder surgery recovery period. Not necessary that all these exercises are suitable for everyone, so before opting for any exercise, consult your orthopedist and get the right ones prescribed.

• Shoulder Flexion: This is a very simple exercise. All you have to do is just raise your arm upwards. See that your elbow is straight. Maintain the position for about 10 - 12 seconds, and if necessary, repeat the same for the other hand. Perform 3 repetitions in 3 sets everyday.
• Supported Shoulder Rotation: Sit beside a table, which is at a height a little above your waist. Rest your forearm on the table and then slide back and forth. Take care that you do not apply too much pressure on your forearm. 3 - 4 repetitions with 3 sets everyday are enough.
• Shoulder Abduction: Sit straight on a table and raise your arm at the side, with the elbows straight and the palm facing downwards. Remain in this position for about 8 - 10 seconds. 3 - 4 repetitions with 2 - 3 sets everyday would suffice.
• Walk Up Exercise: Stand straight near a door or a wall. Extend your arm upwards and crawl over the wall using your fingers. Try to reach as high as possible.
• Shoulder Extension: Stand with your back facing the wall. Keep your arms on the side. Now, with your elbows straight, push your arms on the wall. Stay in this position for about 4 - 5 seconds. Repeat this for 8 - 10 times everyday.

Shoulder Surgery Recovery Period

Recovery after a shoulder surgery might take a long time. It actually varies from person to person, depending on how fast your body responds to the recovery exercises and techniques. Recovery occurs in phases, and all these phases have been explained in this table

Phase	Description
Phase 1	This is the most initial phase, wherein the person wears a sling and allows the muscles to recover themselves. This is also called the immobilization stage, in which the person cannot perform any shoulder movements on his own. Rather, the movements are assisted by a physical therapist and all of them are done under his supervision. This phase lasts for around 5 - 6 weeks.
Phase 2	After about 6 weeks, the person gains enough strength to lift the arm on his own, and can also do some low intensity shoulder strengthening exercises.
Phase 3	On completing 3 months, many people are able to perform exercises by lifting weights around 6 - 10 pounds. But care must be taken not to overdo anything here and risk damaging the shoulder again.
Phase 4	It is after the completion of about 6 - 7 months, that almost 75 - 80% of one's strength is regained, and the person can perform his routine activities, without subjecting too much pressure on the shoulders.

Roughly, the shoulder surgery recovery time is about 6 - 7 months. However, for some people, it might extend to even a year. After all it is up to you to bring down the recovery time as little as possible. Punctuality in exercises coupled with a strong willpower to recover soon, would be vital tools in this regard!