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Shoulder Pain After Surgery - How Rehab Can Help?

By: Peter Harris


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If you've had surgery to your shoulder then no doubt you are familiar with shoulder pain after surgery. As painful as this may seem right now it will get better. This article will discuss what you can expect after the surgery and how you can help your pain.

Initially your arm will be immobilized in a sling if the surgery was relatively minor or an abduction brace if it was a major repair. This brace will hold the muscles and tendons slightly away from your body (in a more relaxed position) and keep the shoulder from moving unexpectedly. Your surgeon may require you to wear the sling or brace up to 6 weeks, usually dependent on the degree of surgery that you had.

The focus regarding shoulder pain after surgery is control - control of the pain. Typically medications are prescribed to assist with this. These meds may include some form of narcotic, muscle relaxer and anti-inflammatory. Your doctor will give you specific instructions in how to use these meds. Don't be afraid to take the meds. They are a much needed part of controlling your pain.

What about sleeping? This can be a great challenge for someone that has just had shoulder surgery. Many people find some comfort if they sleep in a reclined position. You can sleep in a recliner or simply prop several pillows behind your back to support yourself in an upright position. Most people that develop chronic pain don't sleep well. Sleeping can be as important to pain control as your medication is.

There are several phases in the rehab process after surgery. The first involves starting simple motion exercises to prevent the shoulder from getting to stiff. In the first phase passive motions are performed. This means that the shoulder muscles don't do any of the work. They are completely relaxed during these movements. This allows the joint to move and improve the flexibility without causeing strain to the muscles and tendons.

The next phase involves active range of motion. During this period you can move your arm on your own so their is some stress to the muscles and tendons. No resistance is used with these exercises. This will gently start to strengthen the involved structures without causing undo stress.

Once adequate healing has occurred after active range of motion the next phase that will help shoulder pain after surgery is strengthening. Due to the nature of the operation your rotator cuff muscles will be weak. A series of specific exercises will be taught to you to improve the strength of those muscles in a graduated fashion. This is done so as not to cause significant pain or disrupt the healing process.

The next phase of the rehab process involves returning to full activity. This often takes up to 6 months, sometimes longer. Many factors will determine how long the rehab process takes and this will vary for everyone. Expect a minimum of 4 months.

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Next, learn the most important component for helping shoulder pain after surgery (and before surgery). You will also receive my free report describing the number one exercise that will help you reduce your shoulder pain. You can find this information by clicking here now: Shoulder Pain After Surgery

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