When you’ve lost shoulder mobility, you may be ready to consider joint replacement surgery. If surgery sounds better than the pain you have, keep reading to learn essential facts you should know about joint replacement.
Be sure to reach out to Dr. Benjamin Szerliip in Cedar Park, Texas today if you have more questions regarding shoulder joint replacement surgery! We look forward to giving you the quality care you deserve.
More than one million hip, knee, and shoulder replacements are performed in the United States yearly, but you may think you’re not ready for a joint replacement. You should know, however, that many people have found that joint replacement surgery provides a better quality of life than simply dealing with the chronic aches and pains and the stiffness and swelling that degenerated joints create.
That is why Dr. Benjamin Szerlip has gathered some important facts you should know about joint replacement surgery. We aim to help you understand all aspects of the procedure and the benefits it can bring.
During a joint replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon removes all of the damaged bone, cartilage, and ligaments from your degenerative joint, replacing them with an artificial joint made of plastic and metal.
Because it’s a total shoulder joint replacement, once you’re healed, those aches and pains you had before the surgery are gone. Your joint no longer swells or becomes still. It moves with ease, and you can again engage in the things pain was keeping you from enjoying.
To ensure the best outcomes from your joint replacement surgery, we recommend that you spend at least 6 weeks preparing for your procedure. During this preparation period, you can strengthen the muscles surrounding your bad joint so that they offer better support and stabilization after your procedure.
The more you can expand the range of motion of your arthritic joint, the better it is post-surgery, as your muscles, tendons, and ligaments can stretch and move more fluidly than they would without this strengthening preparation.
In addition, we recommend that you quit smoking cigarettes, which improves how well your body can heal itself. If you’re overweight, we may suggest you try to lose some weight, which helps put less stress on your body and the new joint during recovery.
While joint replacement is a major surgical procedure, you cannot lie around afterward. For example, by the day after your hip or knee surgery, oftentimes even the same day, we get you up and taking steps. Expect to go anywhere from 10-200 feet on your first attempt.
You must engage in physical therapy and exercises to get the most from your procedure. Being sedentary not only slows your healing but can increase your risk for complications. That’s why we recommend doing physical therapy multiple times a week for at least 6 weeks and exercising twice daily at home. With the proper care and activity, your joint replacement heals more quickly than you thought possible.
For most patients, joint replacement surgery is a life-changing procedure. When bad joints make it difficult and painful to perform everyday activities—such as climbing stairs, reaching for an item, or getting out of bed—it stops you from doing the things you love. You may no longer ride your bike or travel to the soccer fields to watch your grandchild play ball.
Yet, after joint replacement surgery, you can live again. Your joints don’t ache, and you can move them without issue, meaning those activities you had to let go of because of pain can come back into your life.
Deciding to have joint replacement surgery requires careful consideration. Dr. Benjamin Szerlip can answer any questions and address any concerns you have, so schedule a consultation with him today. Our office is located in Cedar Park, Texas.
Medically reviewed by Benjamin W. Szerlip DO
