Open shoulder surgery - Info/Recovery Time?

Question

I am going to have open shoulder surgery in May for snapping scapula and need to have scar tissue and/or a bursa removed from the area near my scapula. My doctor has said he want to perform open surgery because he feels this is the best option for my condition.

Some questions:...

1. He said I would need to be out 6 weeks from work.. Have others been out that long? How bad is the recovery?

2. What kind of therapy is given?

3. How much pain should I be expecting? I am soo scared to get this done and need to feel prepared for whatever is going to happen.

Any help is very appreciated!

Answer 1

I have not had the surgery, but I am a RN. You need to take the suggested time off from your physician. If you do not, you are taking the risk of prolonging your recovery time and reinjuring your shoulder. If you were to do this while on the job, they can hold you responsible and not pay you compensation for being off work.

You should be sent home with strict instructions on what to do and what not to do. It is important you abide by these instructions, for the reasons above. Range of motion and strength building exercises will be done, so additional scar tissue does not build up, or you lose the movement in your shoulder.

I have heard that shoulder surgery is one of the more painful joint surgeries, as opposed to say, a hip. Narcotic drugs will be prescribed to take care of this. You may not be pain free, but it should at least be tolerable enough to the point you can do your exercises without much problem. If what you are prescribed does not help, notify your doctor.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Ok i had shoulder surgery back in december cause i tore the cartilodge all in the front and and tore some muslce that like connects to my arm or something like that and they made a pretty big incision like from the top of my shoulder down to like the bottom of the shoulder area. So i guess it was open shoulder surgery :) Im only in High School and i still cannot do lacrosse till the end of march begining of april and thats a long time. Recovery is not bad at all i sat at home for about a week till i went back to school and all i did was layed in bed and took it easy. Im in physical theraphy right now and at first you have very little range of motion with your arm and it took about 6 weeks to just get that back! Now im doing full strengthing and the whole 9 yards. All they do is that and they might at the end give you ice and depending on the place electrmagnetic treatmeant. That is when they hook pads up to your shoulder and the machine gives you little jolts of electricity that help sooth the muscles and shoulder and its really cool :).And for pain well.......at first when i woke up after the surgery they asked me do you need more painkillers and i said no because they shot me up with so much when i was asleep that i couldent feel a thing. You will most likely be put in a sling and they will give you pain killers and antibiotics to keep any infection away. Just dont do any quick movements or use your arm at all it will just cause pain and it hurts if you do. Just take the pain killers and leave it. Heres some more info. Yes you can take a shower with stiches in just dont scrub the area. REST take it easy and sleep for the first few days and dont RUSH anything and finally listen to your doctor. He will tell you what you cant and what you cannot do and feel free to ask him any questions about your concerns.
Wish you luck and a get better for after surgery when you get it in may :)