After Shoulder Replacement Surgery: Your Hospital Recovery

After surgery, you'll go to the recovery area. Once the anesthesia has worn off and your condition is stable, you can be moved to your hospital room. During your hospital stay, your healthcare team works to control your pain, get you up and walking, and start you on an exercise program to gently move and strengthen your new shoulder.

Your Exercise Program

After your surgery, you'll start a gentle exercise program for your shoulder. This program may begin as soon as the day of your surgery. Your exercise program is a vital part of your recovery. How much strength and movement you regain in your shoulder and arm depends in large part on how faithfully you do your exercises.

• Your surgeon or a physical therapist (a rehabilitation specialist) will start by gently moving your arm for you to keep your shoulder from getting stiff.

• Next, you'll begin to move your arm with the help of your other arm.

• As your shoulder heals, you'll begin to lift and move your arm to increase your range of motion and build strength in the joint.

Going Home

When it's time to go home, the hospital staff will talk with you about your home recovery. They'll show you how to bathe without getting your incision wet and how to do other home activities without injuring your shoulder. They'll also help you arrange for someone to take you home, because you won't be able to use your arm to drive. Your doctor may give you pain medication to take at home.