Shoulder instability is a condition in which the shoulder joint is loose and slides around too much or becomes dislocated (slips out of the ball and socket joint). Physical therapy may adequately strengthen and rehab the shoulder in some cases, including:
At the end of the surgery, the incisions will be closed with stitches and covered with a dressing (bandage). Most surgeons take pictures from the video monitor during the procedure to show you what they found and the repairs that were made.
Your surgeon may need to do open surgery if there is a lot of damage. Open surgery means you will have a large incision so that the surgeon can get directly to your bones and tissues.
Follow any discharge and self-care instructions you are given.
Recovery can take one to six months. You will probably have to wear a sling for the first week. If you had a lot of repair done, you may have to wear the sling longer. When you can return to work or play sports will depend on what your surgery involved. It can range from one week to several months.
Physical therapy may help you regain motion and strength in your shoulder. The length of therapy will depend on what was done during your surgery.
If you have experienced a shoulder injury or are experiencing painful shoulder movement, our team can help. Call 1-855-NH-SPORT to schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic sports medicine shoulder specialists.