If you’ve scheduled a shoulder replacement, the right preparation can ensure a successful surgery and recovery.
Here’s your shoulder replacement preparation guide, covering everything from pre-procedure tests to tips for setting up your home for an ideal recovery.
What Is a Shoulder Replacement?
A shoulder replacement is a procedure in which a surgeon replaces damaged portions of your shoulder joint with prosthetic parts.
Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint. The head of your upper arm bone (the humerus) is the ball that fits into a socket on your shoulder blade. This socket is known as the glenoid.
Osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis), traumatic injury, or other factors can damage your shoulder enough to require replacement. Shoulder replacement uses metal and plastic prostheses to replace damaged bones. Your surgeon may press these prostheses into the bone or use bone cement to help hold the shoulder in place.
There are three major types of shoulder replacement surgery:
- Partial shoulder replacement — This surgery replaces only the ball.
- Total shoulder replacement — This surgery replaces both the ball and the socket.
- Reverse total shoulder replacement — This surgery replaces both the ball and the socket and reverses their positions. It attaches a replacement socket to the upper arm bone and a replacement ball to the shoulder. You may undergo this procedure for many reasons, including severe arthritis with a rotator cuff problem or a severe fracture.
About 100,000 people in the United States get shoulder replacement surgery each year.
How Do I Know I Need Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
Shoulder replacement surgery is an option for when you have severe shoulder damage. That damage can come from an acute injury such as a severe shoulder fracture or rotator cuff tear. It also can result from a degenerative condition like osteoarthritis.
Before deciding on shoulder replacement surgery, you should thoroughly discuss your treatment options with your doctor and an orthopaedic surgeon. Shoulder replacement surgery might be your best treatment option if:
- You can’t do or have trouble with routine daily activities because of your shoulder pain.
- You have shoulder pain even when you’re at rest and the pain is significantly affecting your quality of life.
- Your shoulder strength and range of motion are significantly reduced.
- You’ve tried other treatment options, such as physical therapy and medication, and your shoulder pain didn’t improve.
What Tests Do I Need Before a Shoulder Replacement?
Before shoulder replacement surgery, you will undergo a physical exam and medical history to ensure you’re healthy enough for surgery. Your surgeon may recommend tests to check on the state of your shoulder and your overall health, including:
- Blood work.
- An electrocardiogram (EKG).
- X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and/or computed tomography (CT) scans.
If you have a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease, you should visit your primary care provider (PCP), a preoperative clinic, and/or a specialist to ensure you’re healthy enough for surgery.
Before your procedure, you’ll hear from a member of your care team. They’ll tell you when to arrive for your surgery, when you should stop taking certain medications, and what to bring to the hospital for surgery.
How Can I Prepare for My Shoulder Replacement?
Preparing for your shoulder replacement consists of preparing yourself medically for the surgery while preparing your home for your recovery. Both aspects are important to ensure you have a safe, successful surgery and recovery. If you have any questions, contact a member of your care team.
A few things to keep in mind include:
- Diet — Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet in preparation for your surgery. You will have to stop eating and drinking non-clear liquids anywhere from six to 12 hours before surgery. Your care team will specify when to stop eating and drinking.
- Medication — Talk to your doctor about any medications you’re taking. Ask if and when you should stop taking them before the surgery. You should usually stop taking blood thinners — including prescriptions and over-the-counter medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen — around two weeks before surgery.
- Smoking and alcohol — If you smoke, try to stop before surgery. Smoking is a known risk factor that limits healing and increases the risk of infection. Talk to your surgeon about your alcohol consumption and avoid overconsuming it before surgery.
How Should I Prepare My Home for Shoulder Replacement Surgery Recovery?
Getting your house in order is an important step you can take in the weeks before your shoulder replacement surgery. Here are some of the things to keep in mind.
- Arrange for help — You may have trouble performing certain household chores — such as cleaning and cooking — for the first four to six weeks after surgery. Talk to family members, friends, neighbors, and others to see if they can help you with more strenuous household tasks. Talk to your orthopaedic provider about activities you can still perform (or can’t).
- Bathing — After surgery, you may need to keep your stitches dry. To make bathing easier, consider taking baths, using a shower chair, or using a detachable shower head.
- Clothing — Wearing a sling after surgery will make dressing harder than usual. Make sure you have loose-fitting clothing that’s easy to put on. Consider button-front shirts, front-hook bras, and slip-on shoes to make dressing easier. Your care team will also instruct you on safe methods of independently putting on clothing.
- Clutter — Make sure you’ve organized your home so that it’s free of tripping hazards.
- Driving — Talk to your orthopaedic provider regarding driving restrictions. You may not drive again for the first four to six weeks after surgery. You may need to ask friends, family members, and others for help with transportation home after the surgery and during your recovery.
- Meals — Because cooking may prove difficult immediately after surgery, consider precooked or easy-to-prepare meals.
- Medical supplies — Stock up on bandages and other medical supplies that you may need after surgery. Ask your doctor for advice.
- Reaching objects — You can’t reach overhead immediately with your affected arm after surgery. Take stock of your house and put items on lower shelves or other easy-to-reach places. You also could consider an assistive tool like a reaching-and-grabbing device. Your provider may lift these restrictions in the first several weeks.
- Sleeping — Talk to your surgeon about sleeping positions. You should avoid sleeping on your affected side. Consider using a recliner for at least the first few days after surgery. Although not required, many patients feel more comfortable sleeping in a reclined position for the first few days.
What Questions Should I Ask My Shoulder Surgeon?
You’ll likely have plenty of questions before your shoulder replacement surgery. Make sure you ask your surgeon and/or your care team everything you want to know. That way, you can ensure you’ve fully prepared for your surgery and recovery.
Here are some sample questions to ask:
- Why do I need a shoulder replacement?
- What exactly will you do during surgery?
- Do I need to make any lifestyle changes before surgery?
- These are my medications. Can I keep taking them before surgery?
- Are there any exercises I need to do before surgery?
- Do you have any tips for dressing, bathing, or sleeping after surgery?
- Do you recommend any assistive devices to help me after surgery?
- Is there anything else I can do to prepare my home?
- What time do I have to get to the hospital before surgery?
- How long will I have to stay in the hospital after surgery?
- How much pain should I expect and how will you treat my pain after surgery?
- Will I need to take any medicine after surgery?
- Will I need to wear a sling? For how long?
- What exercises will I have to do after surgery? Will I need physical therapy?
- What can’t I do after surgery?
- When can I go back to work?
- When can I start driving again?
- Can I return to sports?
- What’s my prognosis after surgery?
Remember that no question is a bad question. It’s best to have as much information as possible to ensure a successful surgery and recovery.
The orthopaedic and sports medicine experts at UPMC Orthopaedic Care specialize in treating all issues of the musculoskeletal system. Our surgeons have years of experience in performing all types of orthopaedic procedures, including joint replacements.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .