Pain Relief After Shoulder Surgery

Recovering from shoulder surgery can vary from person to person and surgery to surgery. Regardless, a great deal of pain often accompanies shoulder surgery. Many medications for heavy pain are replete with side effects, and they may make you drowsy and confused. Using vitamins, herbs and homeopathic remedies may be the healthiest way to recover.

Vitamins and Minerals

• Proper nutrients are essential to a full, quick recovery. Vitamin E can improve the healing process by reducing internal scarring and reducing blockages. Vitamins A and C (along with E) are anti-oxidants and can stop the free radicals that slow healing. Evening primrose oil can relieve inflammation and stimulate the body to produce more anti-inflammatory compounds. The calcium, magnesium and silica minerals are extremely important in healing connective tissue and supplying the body with important building blocks. Take 10,000 international units of vitamin A, 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C (with bioflavonoids), 400 international units of vitamin E, two 500 milligram capsules of evening primrose oil three times a day, 500 milligrams of magnesium, 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 1,000 milligrams of silica daily, starting as soon as your surgery ends (See Reference 1 and 3).

Herbal Remedies

• Create a poultice of mashed comfrey roots to begin relieving pain and promote healing. Many essential oils provide pain relief while you take a relaxing bath. Eucalyptus and rosemary oil act like an analgesic, dulling pain. Add 10 drops of each to bath water. Oils such as peppermint, lavender and wintergreen can be massaged into the skin to dull nerve endings in the shoulder area. Taking supplements of ginger or white willow bark can block pain-signaling prostaglandins in the body. Other herbs that can reduce pain and inflammation are cat's claw, pau d'arco and tumeric. Take astragalus, echinacea and American ginseng to strengthen your immune system and quicken the healing process. Gotu kola is a known wound healer and can be taken as an herbal tea. These pain remedies are likely to have very few side effects and will not promote addiction like many medical pain relievers such as morphine (See Reference 1 and 2).

Homeopathic Remedies

• One of the most effective pain relievers may be a cream made from homeopathic arnica. This substance is able to relieve bruising quickly and may boost healing while reducing pain significantly. Ruta is a homeopathic remedy that can be taken orally to heal connective tissue and cartilage after surgery. Staphysagria can be used to ease extreme pain in the shoulder area. Rhus toxicodendron can ease stiffness, soreness and restlessness after surgery. To ensure that you are taking the proper remedy and dosage, see a licensed homeopath (See Reference 1).