What can I do now?

You and your doctor may decide there are some things you can do now to manage your pain without surgery.

Treatment without surgery

Physical therapy

Physical therapists can help lessen your pain by teaching better posture or “form” for your day-to-day activities. Your physical therapist may recommend stretching and strengthening exercises, depending on your anatomy, joint functioning, and disease progression. They can teach you how to use assistive devices, like grabbers, zipper pulls, and long-handled shoe horns and bath sponges so you can reach for things that would otherwise cause you to stretch uncomfortably or beyond your current range of motion.

Lifestyle changes

Certain exercises and stretches may help. Talk with your doctor about the kinds of exercises that may strengthen the muscles around your shoulder joint, improve your range of motion, and help reduce your pain.¹

Medication

Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory medicines to help reduce the swelling and pain in your shoulder. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, and steroid medications, like corticosteroid injections, can be helpful.² Use of these medications must be monitored by your doctor.

Self-care

The acronym R.I.C.E. stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Your doctor may suggest these practical and conservative approaches to help joint pain from injury or overuse. Rest to avoid further injury. Ice your shoulder on and off for 15 minutes at a time. Apply an elastic bandage for compression of your shoulder to help reduce swelling and provide some support. Elevate your shoulder when you rest by propping up your head and shoulders on a pillow or wedge. Check with your doctor to understand what treatment is right for you.

Talk with your doctor about the non-surgical approaches to decreasing your shoulder pain. If these approaches don’t lessen your pain, you’ve still got options. Learn more about surgical approaches to relieve your shoulder pain.

Learn more about shoulder replacement

Learn more about minimally invasive solutions

References:

https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/exercise/
Cortisone shots. Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cortisone-shots/about/pac-20384794.

Important information

Shoulder replacement

Anatomic total shoulder joint replacement is intended for use in individuals with painful, disabling joint disease of the shoulder resulting from: degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis. Additional indications could include but not limited to: aseptic necrosis of the humeral head, proximal humeral fracture and revision of previous unsuccessful hemiarthroplasty or other procedures.

Reverse total shoulder joint replacement is intended for use in individuals with a functional deltoid muscle and with massive and non-repairable rotator cuff tear with pain disabled by: rheumatoid arthritis, non-inflammatory degenerative joint disease, humeral head fracture, traumatic arthritis and revision of devices if adequate bone stock remains.

Shoulder joint replacement surgery is not appropriate for patients with any active or suspected latent infection in or about the shoulder joint, any mental or neuromuscular disorder which would create an unacceptable risk of prosthesis in stability, prosthesis fixation failure or complications in postoperative care. Additionally, shoulder joint replacement surgery is not appropriate for patients whose anticipated activities would impose high stresses on the prosthesis and its fixation.

As with any surgery, shoulder joint replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, pain, infection, intraoperative complications, component wear, nerve damage, loosening of shoulder components and dislocation of the shoulder prosthesis.

Implant related risks which may lead to a revision or removal of the implant include being overweight, manual labor activities, some sports activities, patient age, activity level, medical conditions, alcohol or drug addiction, and mental disorders. Shoulder joint implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint

The information presented is for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level. The lifetime of any joint replacement is limited and depends on several factors like patient weight and activity level. Your doctor will counsel you about strategies to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device, including avoiding high-impact activities, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It is important to closely follow your doctor’s instructions regarding post-surgery activity, treatment, and follow-up care. Ask your doctor if a joint replacement is right for you.

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OT-AWI-53 Oct-2023