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Pain Relief After Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses a tiny camera as a visual aid to guide a surgeon's repair efforts. It is used as an alternative to traditional open surgery, and typically provides quicker healing and recovery times. Like conventional surgery, arthroscopy causes post-surgical pain. Proper relief requires the use of certain techniques during surgery, as well as post-operative medication, cold therapy and physical therapy.

  1. Surgical Techniques

    • If you are scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy, proper planning on the part of your surgeon and anesthesiologist can have significant positive effects on your post-surgery pain. The basic idea here is to desensitize your shoulder during surgery to reduce your body's natural inflammatory pain response. One method used for this purpose is the local injection of drugs such as lidocaine or bupivacaine. You may also undergo a procedure called a peripheral nerve block, which involves injecting a numbing agent near the nerves that normally allow sensation in the shoulder area. These techniques are used in addition to normal general anesthesia. Typically, they provide greater long-term pain relief than use of the same medications would after surgery.

    Medications

    • You will also be given medications after your surgery to help control your pain. Potential options here include acetaminophen (Tylenol), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), aspirin and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve). If your pain is more severe, your doctor may prescribe temporary use of an opioid such as codeine, or the synthetic opioid tramadol (Ultram). Your doctor may also choose to use a constant infusion pump, which delivers a regular, controllable amount of painkiller to your shoulder throughout the day.

    Cold Therapy

    • Cold therapy involves the use of ice or another cold source to inhibit your postoperative pain. This technique is especially effective in the first 48 hours after surgery, and can provide significant relief by lowering the metabolic rate in your shoulder and reducing inflammation. In addition to ice bags, your doctor may treat you with reusable cold packs or specialized refrigeration devices. Typically, this therapy is given several times a day in 20-minute intervals. Make sure your surgery site stays dry during treatment.

    Physical Therapy

    • According to the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, intensive physical therapy is another common component of a thorough approach to pain relief. You may require physical therapy in the aftermath of an arthroscopy that involves structural repair. If this is the case, your doctor and physical therapist will set out a schedule of exercises designed to restore pain-free strength and flexibility to your shoulder. Common exercises used for this purpose include shoulder rotation, abduction (lifting your arm away from your body) and adduction (lowering your arm toward your body)). Follow all physical therapy instructions to make sure your shoulder heals properly and without pain. Consult your doctor or physical therapist if you have any questions regarding your exercise routine.

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