Preparation for Surgery

Before surgery, your doctors need to understand your overall health status. You will be evaluated in several ways.

• Complete medical evaluation. Your doctor will take your health history, an inventory of medications you now take, and will administer a total physical. X-ray images and CT scan will be taken of your shoulder that help the surgeon plan your surgery. Some patients will also need chest X-rays, ECGs and other tests to ensure they are strong enough for surgery and recovery.
• Preliminary lab work. As part of your pre-admission process, you will need to undergo routine lab work. Your physician’s nurse can explain what each test is and why you need it.
• Blood donation. May be necessary in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty cases. It is strongly recommended that the family members (or) relatives of the patients be the “DONORS” as it is the safest and ideal option.

To make your life easier post-operatively, it pays to think ahead about how to adapt your home environment for safety and greater efficiency. Here are some tips that can help:

• Arrange for help now. You won’t be able to drive immediately after surgery.This means you will need the assistance of someone who can drive you to your follow-up doctor’s appointments, as well as help you with shopping and errands. Try to line up this person’s assistance now.
• Reorganize your home. When you go home, you will be wearing a sling and will have limited use of the arm for up to four weeks. So, you will need help for few weeks with some simple tasks like dressing, bathing and cooking. It will be difficult to reach high shelves and cup-boards. Before your surgery, check and place every day essentials you may need on low shelves or easy- access places.

When packing your hospital bag, bring your list of medications and the telephone numbers of your relatives or designated “help” person. Bring walking shoes, loose, comfortable cloth, underwear, books, personal care items and cash for sundries. Please don’t bring jewelry, large amounts of cash, credit cards or other valuable items to the hospital with you.

In the initial stages, the pain can be helped with anti inflammatory tablets and physiotherapy. Steroid injection is not routinely recommended. In selected cases, Arthroscopic debridement can help to relieve symptoms in the early stages only.

When the arthritis is advanced, the only successful treatment is by shoulder replacement.

It is very important to tell your doctor about every single medication you are taking, even aspirin or ibuprofen. Some medications are not compatible with anesthetic, and others could increase bleeding or cause other problems. Your physician will determine which medications you can continue up until your surgery, and which ones you must discontinue.