Your shoulder is a complex joint with a wide range of motion. It comprises three bones: the humerus, the scapula, and the clavicle. The shoulder joint is also where your arm attaches to your body. Well, many things can go wrong with your shoulder, and sometimes you might even be forced to go through shoulder surgery. Aftercare after the surgery is very important as it will determine how fast you will heal. That said, here are 7 tips for a speedy recovery after your shoulder surgery;
1. Follow your doctor’s Instructions
After the surgery, your doctor often will give you instructions on what to do during your shoulder recovery. You have to follow them religiously. It might be boring, but it is very important for a speedy recovery after the surgery.
2. Have a good diet
Another thing that can help you recover quickly is eating a balanced diet. Eat foods that speed up the healing process, such as fish oil capsules and zinc supplements. You can also ask your doctor to give you a list of foods that you should add to your diet to heal faster.
3. Stay active
Many people tend to think that they should just rest after shoulder surgery. However, doing so may make the recovery process long. The more active you are, the better it is for a speedy recovery. You have to start small and increase your activities gradually until you get back to normal. One of the ways you can stay active is by stretching your forearm. However, if you feel some pain after the stretching, you can take some painkillers, and if it persists, seek medical advice.
4. Getting enough sleep
Lack of sleep can slow down the recovery process because it takes away your body’s energy. Therefore, be sure to get at least six to eight hours of sleep every day until you recover fully from your surgery. Also, ask for help from your family members to avoid straining your shoulder.
5. Use of cold packs or ice
Ice reduces swelling once you get home from shoulder surgery by numbing the nerves around the area where swelling is present. Once you get home, apply an ice/cold pack on the operated area of the arm for 20 minutes every two hours. This will ensure reduced pain in the long run.
6. Be patient
After going through the surgery, you may want to bounce back to your normal life as soon as possible. However, you need to be patient and take a day at a time. Do to rush the recovery process at all, as doing so may result in more complicated issues.
7. Go for checkup
Lastly, you will need to go for checkups even after you are fully healed. This ensures that there are no long-term effects of the surgery on your shoulder joint. Also, during the checkups, the doctor will be able to examine you and tell you if any changes will need to be made.
