Shoulder Replacement : Treatment, Procedure, Cost And Side Effects

Shoulder replacement is a surgical procedure where in all part or a partial part of the glenohumeral joint is replaced with the help of an prosthetic implant. This type of surgery of shoulder replacment is done to relieve arthritis pain or fix severe physical joint damage caused due to some injury.This is something very crucial which is done when every other medication fails. The shoulder replacement surgery is done to prevent the patient from severe pain. It is also done when the patient suffers from severe arthritis. When a person suffers from a huge pain in the shoulder, in this case, the shoulder can be replaced. Before opting for the surgery, one should first get himself treated thoroughly. Patients should take all the necessary tests before thinking about the surgery. The surgery removes the natural bone and adds an artificial one. The artificial bone is made up of plastic or metal. One should ask the doctor for all the other treatments that may help in reducing the shoulder pain. If the patient is ready for the test, then there is again a big obstacle in the way. One should always search for the best surgeon for the surgery. The surgery has many complications and hence it needs a good doctor to help tackle the complications and other problems. The patients will have to stay in the hospital for a very long period. This makes a hospital necessary. One should look for a good hospital for the shoulder replacement surgery.

Our shoulder has many parts. There are ball and socket joints, long bones and short bones. The treatment replaces the ball from the socket, and sometimes the treatment is also done for the long bones replacement.

1. Total shoulder replacement – this is the most common shoulder replacement. It replaces the ball at the top of the humerus with a metal ball, which gets attached to the remaining bone. The socket gets covered with a new plastic surface.
Partial shoulder replacement – only the ball gets replaced. Reverse shoulder replacement – this is usually done when the patient has torn a rotator cuff. It's also done when another shoulder replacement surgery didn't work. The metal ball gets attached to your shoulder bones, and a socket is implanted at the top of the patient's arm.

These all are the methods of doing shoulder joint surgery. The surgery is quite complicated and hence it needs huge attention for the doctor too for the treatment. The treatment is done under huge guidance and every doctor will not take up the surgery. This shoulder replacement surgery is always done by well-experienced doctors and if the doctor is not experienced then the patient may have severe complications during and after surgery.

The treatment or the surgery takes 3 hours. The patients are treated by opening their shoulder. The patients are first injected with local anaesthesia so that they can stay calm during the whole procedure of the shoulder replacement surgery. Through anaesthia the portion near the shoulder is numb and the patient thus feels no pain during the surgery. The surgery needs the whole team of experienced doctors. The patients are required to have many precautions to get fit early. The whole treatment is done in the ICU. The doctor enters the shoulder and looks for the part to replace. They remove the infected part and add the new part that is made up of plastic or metals. They again do some of the work which they have to do for the joining of veins and arteries. Not everyone can dictate the procedure of the treatment as there are many things that the only doctor can illustrate. After doing all the necessary processes which take almost three hours. Sometimes, it even takes more than three hours. When the problem is severe then the surgery time gets increased. After the entire job, then stitch the skin and bring the patient to consciousness. The patient will feel some pain and that is because some foreign particle is entering the patient's body. Now after surgery, the doctor will look for the complications and will then work on it.

Anyone with severe shoulder pain or damage would be eligible for the treatment.The doctor will then examine the condition and will give the necessary medication and will ask for surgery if it is necessary.

Persons who are suffering from other diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, are on blood thinners , have heart blockadge are opted to undergo shoulder plaster and self healing which can be painful and time consuming. But if the condition is serious then the patient shall be first treated for other ailments and then this surgery is done. Elderly people who dont have the stamina to withstand the treatment are not advised to undergo the treatment. Moroever one may sometimes have a sprain or something which can be treated with some regular exercises.

It is actually not called as side effects rather it is termed as complications in this case. There may be some of the complications after the surgery. The doctor is human too and there are chances of not doing the surgery correctly. This results in complication. The complications are known by the doctors and they can treat them well. There can be a low risk of strokes, heart attacks, pneumonia, and blood clots. Blood clots occurring in deep veins, called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), are of particular concern during the shoulder replacement surgery. If DVT is left untreated then it can be a life-threatening condition. Hence, the complications should be taken for serious and should be treated as soon as possible.In case any patient reports any other complexity after undergoing the treatment the patient is advised to consult the doctor immediately.

The patients will certainly be in the hospital for some of the days. Once they are discharged, they must change their routine if they wish to get fit quite early. The patients now will not be able to move their shoulder much. If they wish to move, they must be moved in presence of somebody with due care. If the patient lives alone, he or she must call somebody to look them up. The patients will not be able to move much now. They must do any movement under proper guidance. The home should be made comfortable for the patient.

The patient will not get cured all of a sudden.The treatment recovery time varies from the patient condition to condition and differs from the mode of the treatment opted for the patient. After 4 or 5 days they get discharged. At home too they must follow the doctor's prescription and other necessities. The patients are then asked to meet the doctor regularly. After 5 weeks, then after 3 months, then 6 months, then 12 months, then 24 months lastly. It will take ample time to get fully cured.

A most important thing in the treatment is the physiotherapy and that need to be practised daily. The patient should exercise their hands as much as possible. The hands first will don't feel like moving, but after doing some of the physical exercises, it will get better.

The cost is around 1050000 INR for both shoulders replacement and it varies due to many factors. There may be an extra charge for medication and extra facilities in the hospital.

Yes, the results are permanent but it takes time. The shoulder replacement surgery is a certified surgery and its results are permanent. It works as a joiner of bones and once the bones are joined it is almost permanent unless the patient met with an accident. The results are excellent and many patients have got their shoulder problems solved by the surgery.

It needs a lot of muscle exercise to get fit. The shoulder is newly made and it needs some exercise to get it to function properly. In early days, it will give huge pain but after some days it will settle down and will not give much pain.

There is practically no alternative for the treatment. Some of the home remedies can give temporary relief but for a perfect treatment, one should go for the shoulder replacement surgery. The surgery is very effective. The patients should take care of certain things before and after the surgery. This will increase the rate of getting wellness.