Is shoulder replacement more painful than rotator cuff surgery?

Rotator cuff repair is more painful than other arthroscopic shoulder procedures. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2019 May;139(5):669-674.

What is the most painful type of shoulder surgery?

Rotator cuff repair is the most painful surgery in the first postoperative days. The main risk factor for pain is a work related accident or occupational disease, associated with higher VAS values from D1 to 1 year and greater morphine intake.

What is the difference between shoulder replacement and rotator cuff surgery?

The loss of the rotator cuff can produce pain and also loss of motion. A normal shoulder replacement is designed to work only if those tendons are intact. In contrast, a reverse prosthesis is designed for situations where the rotator cuff is torn or malfunctioning.

Is shoulder replacement surgery very painful?

Because shoulder surgery is painful, pain control is very important. Your regional nerve block should mask most of the pain but at times, the block may not work 100% and you may need to take oral pain medication to remain comfortable. During your hospitalization, you are encouraged to get out of bed and move around.

How long does the pain from shoulder replacement surgery last?

At approximately two weeks after surgery, individuals begin getting over the “hump,” and it's less painful than what it was before the procedure. Your pain should continue slowly decreasing. Most individuals are happy they had a shoulder replacement around a couple of months post-op.

Man receives artificial shoulder replacement after severe rotator cuff injury

Can you use your hand after shoulder replacement surgery?

Following Surgery

Directly following shoulder replacement surgery, many patients are unable to move the wrist and /or fingers of the arm that was operated on. This is absolutely normal and occurs due to the anesthetic block used during surgery.

Which is worse knee or shoulder replacement?

Summary: Contrary to widespread belief, total surgical replacement of arthritic shoulder joints carries no greater risk of complications than replacement of other major joints, a Johns Hopkins study suggests. Total shoulder replacements are as safe as swapping out hips and knees, according to Hopkins researchers.

What is the downside of a shoulder replacement?

What are the disadvantages of shoulder replacement surgery? Complications are relatively rare, occurring in 3-8% of patients, and include infection, fracture, instability, loosening of the prosthesis, continued pain and weakness, tearing of the rotator cuff and the need for revision surgery.

How long do you stay in the hospital after total shoulder replacement?

Typically, you will stay in the hospital for two to three days, but this depends on each individual and how quickly he or she progresses. After surgery, you may feel some pain that will be managed with medication to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

What can you never do after shoulder replacement?

How do you go to the bathroom after shoulder surgery?

Keep laxatives on hand

Purchase a stool softener or fiber laxative such as psyllium before your surgery so it's there if you need it. Fiber-rich foods such as oatmeal, beans, pears, strawberries, vegetables, and bran cereal also help prevent constipation.

Does a shoulder replacement fix a torn rotator cuff?

A shoulder joint that has been damaged by arthritis, a fractured shoulder bone, or a severely torn rotator cuff may be restored to its normal function through shoulder replacement surgery.

Why does rotator cuff surgery hurt so much?

A rotator cuff surgery is a major surgical intervention in the shoulder, and the reason that there is pain after surgery is the amount of normal surgical trauma. Cutting, drilling, cauterizing, and suturing tissues create pain and inflammation.

How painful is a rotator cuff surgery?

You will not feel anything. The anesthesiologist may also administer a nerve block, which will numb the shoulder. Nerve blocks last after you wake up, so you will likely feel very little pain when you first wake up from the surgery.

What is the easiest shoulder surgery?

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery to treat shoulder problems, including shoulder impingement and rotator cuff tears. The procedure usually takes less than an hour. Many people can go back to work or school in a few days. For more complex surgeries, recovery may take longer.

What age is best for shoulder replacement?

How old are your shoulder replacement patients? The typical age group for a shoulder replacement patient is 60-80 years old. I have performed shoulder replacements on patients as old as 88 and as young as the mid-40s.

How long should you sleep in a recliner after shoulder surgery?

Sleeping on an incline for 4-6 weeks after surgery is best. For the first week or two, a recliner may be the most comfortable option. Purchasing a 45 degree wedge from a medical supply store can also provide a stable base to prop yourself up in the bed. Wear your sling.

What percentage of shoulder replacements are successful?

How successful is shoulder replacement surgery? Shoulder replacement is one of the most successful procedures, and the 10-year survival rate of implants is nearly 90%. However, they may even last 20 years, depending on the activities the patient does.

Which joint replacement is the most difficult?

Knee replacement is technically more difficult to get right than hip replacement and this is one important reason why some patients have poorer results than others. A surgeon who does a good number of knee replacements will tend to have better results, but this is not the whole story.

What is the most difficult orthopedic surgery?

While removing old hardware implanted in the body may seem straightforward, it can be one of the more challenging orthopedic procedures. In fact, many orthopedic surgeons describe hardware removal to new trainees and residents to be "the most difficult procedure."

How soon after shoulder surgery can you shower?

You can take a shower 3 days after your surgery. Before you take a shower, wrap your shoulder in plastic (your shoulder should be wrapped in plastic until your stitches or the strips have been taken out). DO NOT take baths until your surgeon says it is safe to do so. Keep the dressings and puncture sites clean and dry.

How long after rotator cuff surgery can you sleep in a bed?

This is really going to depend on your exact surgery and how quickly you recover in general. However, a good rule of thumb is 4-6 months before you can go back to sleeping however you want.

How soon can you walk after rotator cuff surgery?

You can do things like walk immediately. Usually, you will be in a sling for a period of 2 to 6 weeks depending on the type of surgery. During that time you can remove the sling to extend the elbow several times a day.

How hard is it to recover from rotator cuff surgery?

How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery? It takes six to eight weeks for the tendon to heal to the bone. Complete recovery time varies by size of the tear. For a small tears, full recovery time is about four months, for large tears, six months.

What is considered a massive rotator cuff tear?

Abstract. Although many definitions have been used to define massive rotator cuff tears, a tear is generally considered massive if it is greater than 5 cm in diameter.