Shoulder Pain after Surgery

Shoulder Pain after Surgery: Is it Normal?

Posted on 7/13/2008 9:38:09 AM

Do you suffer from a mystery shoulder pain after surgery? Are you wondering whether it’s normal or a danger sign of something else?

Any type of bodily pain can be really debilitating and if it involves the hands and feet then the discomfort is trebled.

But what if you had a surgery done recently on your body, and now you’ve developed a persistent shoulder pain after surgery. Is this normal or is there a hidden danger signal you are unaware of?

The main reason for shoulder pains after surgery is due to the surgical cutting of sensory nerves during the surgical procedures. Sensory nerves are responsible for carrying sensations and they do grow back after surgery. Motor nerves or the nerves which co-ordinate muscle movement, are usually not involved by the surgery. As a result muscles are ready to do work after surgery, but the pain and swelling which results after surgery will severely restrict movement for a few days. A few things you can do to soothe your shoulder pain after surgery are mentioned below. But please do be aware that if the problem persists you will have to consult a good neurosurgeon or a doctor as soon as possible.

  • Any surgery on the shoulder will cause pain for a few days to a few months after surgery. You may also experience lack of feeling, aches and pains, as well as severe weakness on the side of the surgical areas. Your hand, arms, and shoulder following any major surgery like mastectomy, rotator cuff surgeries, or auxiliary dissection will cause severe shoulder pain after surgery. But regular exercise and consultations with an orthopedist are always good.
  • One common reason for developing shoulder pain after surgery is due to over work. If the pain is tolerable then use common over the counter creams and pills to control the pain. You can also try a pendulum exercise by which you rest your good hand on a flat area to support your body and lean forward. Make sure the painful hand is swinging forward and down the rotate it gently backwards and forwards like a pendulum. Avoid any movement which is painful and reduce the strain on your painful arm by relaxing it for a few days. If the pain persists for more than a few days get in touch with a doctor immediately.
  • Having regular consultations with a physiotherapist to treat your shoulder pain after surgery is good too. But combine it with an X-ray to check the joint on the inside too. If the pain is really severe, patients can opt for shoulder joint removal and replacement. The procedure is 90% successful but can be done only as a last resort.

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