Shoulder Replacement Surgery Recovery Elderly Patients – Procedure and How to Prep

Shoulder Replacement Surgery Recovery in the Elderly Can Be Very Successful! Total shoulder replacement surgery involves the insertion of an artificial metal ball and a stem to replace the damaged parts of the shoulder. Whether you suffer from arthritis or have a fractured shoulder joint, replacement surgery can significantly improve your arm’s mobility and drastically reduce chronic pain. 

The 2-3 hour surgery has a high success rate among the elderly. To prepare, you should stop taking medications like NSAIDs or blood thinners. Also, factors like the level of damage and prior surgery can affect your recovery time. In some cases, post-op care may include blood transfusions or hospitalization.

Read on to learn how you can prepare for surgery, what to expect, and steps to minimize risk.

How to Prepare for Your Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

Preparing for replacement surgery can include medical as well as logistical factors. You’ll have fewer complications if you properly consider all aspects of the procedure.

Medical Prep

Before the procedure, you should get a complete physical exam to make sure you’re in good health. If you have a viral infection or other illness, it can slow down the healing process and cause post-operative complications.

You’ll also need to stop other treatment plans you may be on. These can include NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, arthritis medications, and blood thinners.

Logistical Prep

Even if you have a perfect surgery, you will still need to recover and heal. Many people go home the same day. That means you need to arrange, a caretaker to bring you supplies, and a friend or family member to take you home after the surgery. 

Post-Operational Care

Another important aspect to consider is post-op care. Who is going to take care of you after the procedure? And what kind of regular care will you need? While you can go home after the surgery, it will take several weeks to recover.

During this time, you will need pain relief techniques like cold therapy. That means someone needs to arrange ice bags or cryo cuffs to keep down the swelling. Also, surgeons recommend avoiding baths for at least 3 weeks after shoulder replacement surgery. So you need to consider whether you’ll need help in the shower. 

Then there is the physical therapy that will continue for several months. You will need someone to drive you to and from the recovery center during this time. Shoulder replacement surgery definitely isn’t an easy fix, but you can avoid minor complications with the right planning.

What Can You Expect During A Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

Shoulder surgery may take 2 or 3 hours, during which a patient receives regional or general anesthesia. The surgeon uses a metal ball to replace the humeral head and attaches a plastic socket to the glenoid for a total shoulder replacement.

If a partial shoulder replacement is done, only the ball is placed to replace the joint. And in cases where the rotator cuff muscles are torn a reverse shoulder replacement surgery is necessary. Here the entire process is altered with the ball being used in place of the socket and vice versa.

It may seem complicated, but with a 90 percent success rate, shoulder replacement surgery is a safe medical procedure. Once the surgery is over, the patient is transferred to the recovery room and kept under observation for several hours.

Since shoulder replacement is major surgery, you may experience pain in the days or weeks following the procedure. Normally, patients are given pain relief injections immediately after the surgery and oral drugs days after.

Is The Process Different for Revision Surgery?

In the case of revision surgery, the procedure may vary slightly as the previous shoulder replacement will first need to be removed. These surgeries have a higher complication rate. However, these prostheses have a meager revision rate of 2.8 percent, with over 94 percent of prostheses surviving past the 10-year mark.

How Long is The Recovery Process for Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

Rehabilitation is a huge part of shoulder replacement surgery, with post-op care starting immediately after.

For 2 to 4 weeks after the surgery, you’ll need to keep your arm in a sling to rest the muscles properly. Consequently, you cannot lift heavy objects or carry out any strenuous activity.

Overall, you will begin to regain arm function around 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure. During this time, you will need to practice regular physical therapy at home and with your doctor.

Patients can expect to be able to drive and carry out routine tasks 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery. However, you will need around six months of consistent care before your muscles will be ready for more demanding exercises like swimming.

What Are Your Options for Pain Relief?

It is normal to experience shoulder pain after total shoulder replacement arthroplasty. You can consult with your doctor and choose an oral or injectable pain medicine. Medications like NSAIDs, opioids, and local anesthetics are all options you can consider regarding pain management. 

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are great for short-term pain relief and have no lasting side effects. However, they provide a mild level of comfort. Opioids are stronger, but these narcotics are highly addictive so take them with caution. 

Always consult with your surgeon to find the best pain relief system, and remember that you can always change your dosage or drug type when your pain levels start to improve.

FAQs

Here are a few other common questions people ask.

Will You Need A Blood Transfusion?

Studies show that the likelihood of people needing blood transfusions increases in patients older than 80.  In general it will be very unlikely that you will need a blood transfusion. 

Does The Procedure Require A Hospital Stay?

Studies show that while older patients do not have increased perioperative morbidity than younger patients, they are more likely to require longer hospital care. So while patient age has no bearing on the success rate of shoulder replacement procedures, it does impact the kind of post-operative care patients above 80 years of age may require.

Are There Any Major Complications With Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

In terms of major postoperative complications, the largest risk is that of infection. If your wound develops an infection, it needs to be cleaned out immediately, especially if the problem area is around the prosthesis.

Another potential issue is that the ball and socket may dislocate or loosen, in which case you’ll need revision surgeries to tighten the pieces.

Will You Need to See A Physical Therapist Before or After The Surgery?

You should definitely make arrangements for physical therapy if you are planning to undergo total shoulder replacement surgery. Once the procedure is complete, you will need to exercise regularly in order to heal your shoulder properly.

Generally, you should begin physical therapy one to two weeksafter your surgery. You will need to visit your doctor several times in the weeks after surgery. Eventually there will be longer periods in between office visits as you regain arm and shoulder movement.