Hospital Stay

Once you have decided to have an operation, be positive! Think only of the benefits of your operation and how it is going to cure you of your pain and stiffness. You should try to get into the best possible health, by stopping smoking and excessive drinking of alcohol. Try to reduce weight if you are overweight. Exercise if you can. If you have any chronic illnesses like diabetes or high blood pressure, get it treated. Stop any medication that could have an adverse affect on you operation – e.g. Ecosprin or painkillers.

An anesthesiologist will visit your before the operation. Tell him if you have any chronic diseases/allergies or if you are taking any medication. He will examine you and check the results of your blood test, ECG and X-ray. He will plan your anesthesia requirements and discuss it with you. You will have a combination of general anesthesia ( you are asleep for the entire operation) and regionalanesthesia ( for postoperative pain relief)

Your anesthesiologist will constantly and automatically monitor al your vital organ functions like ECG, blood pressure, respiration oxygen saturation, etc. He/She will give you anesthesia using small doses of the latest drugs and anaesthetic gases – using the most modern computer controlled machines & pumps, thereby ensuring that there are no adverse effects and that you wake up smiling soon after the operation. In MIOT Hospitals all this happens in a totally germ, free operation theatre.

When you are admitted to the hospital you will change into a hospital gown. Your vital signs are taken by a nurse. An intravenous line containing medications and fluids will be inserted comfortably into a vein on your arm or neck. At this point, your anaesthesiologist will arrive to begin administration of your anaesthetic for surgery. Once you are transferred to the operating room, you are moved to the operating table where the surgery will take place. This is often the last thing you remember before waking up in the recovery room.

The shoulder replacement procedure usually takes about 2-3 hours depending on the complexity of the condition.

In the recovery room, you will recover from surgery until you are awake and alert. You could experience chills or nausea-these are normal side effects of anesthesia. You may notice:

• Drainage tubes and catheters. A drainage tube and catheter may be in place
• Pain medication. To manage the pain you may feel right after surgery, you will be given medication.
• Elastic Stockings. You may be fitted with elastic surgical stockings that help prevent blood clots and improve circulation. You may wear these stockings every day for six to eight weeks following surgery.
• You are returned to your regular hospital room 12 hrs / 24 hrs /48 hrs. Your family members may then visit you in your room.

Most patients can eat solid food and get out of bed the day after surgery. IV tubes and lines are usually removed within the first few days following surgery. If a drain was placed in your shoulder, then it will probably be removed a few days after surgery.

After surgery you will feel some pain, but you will be provided medications to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

• Physical therapywill begin soon after surgery, often on the same day evening. It is very important to start moving the shoulder as early as you can.
• You will be wearing an arm sling for four weeks following surgery to support and protect the shoulder. You will do the following exercises out of sling once in 2 hours.
• Shoulder shrug and roll
• Pendulum exercises
• Assisted forward flexion of shoulder up to 90 degrees
• Elbow exercises with arm in internal rotation
• Wrist and hand grip exercises
• When not doing exercises, the arm is kept in sling and you must sleep with it
• Walking. It is imperative that you get up and begin moving as soon as possible. This ambulatory activity helps prevent clots and speeds your recovery.

• Your physical therapy will continue.
• Your dressings will be changed
• Before you are discharged from the hospital, your surgeon and physical therapist will review instructions for your continuing care and exercises at home. You will be given prescriptions for medication you need.