Exercises after surgery
Sawing exercise Tension exercises Shoulder blade mobilization
- Stand next to the bed or a chair, hold on to it with your healthy arm and bend forward slightly so that the operated arm can swing freely
- Angle the elbow of the operated arm and perform a sawing movement with the arm, move it loosely back and forth, try to achieve the movement range of 90° forward flexion
- Angle the operated arm, hold the upper arm firmly against the upper body and place the hand of the healthy arm on the forearm of the other
- Tense the muscles of the operated arm outwards, up and down against the resistance of the other arm, hold the tension for 30 seconds each time and then relax the arm briefly
- Repeat this 3 times for each direction
- Sit or stand upright, relax the muscles of the operated shoulder and let the arm hang loosely
- Pull the shoulder forward and up towards the nose, then pull it backward and down so that the shoulder blade moves towards the spine
- Repeat this 15- 20 times
Drugs
After a shoulder TEP, pain-inhibiting drugs are an important part of the therapy, as the new joint and surrounding structures are constantly irritated by the mobilization. On the one hand, pain-reducing and at the same time anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or diclofenac are used. These are recommended for the first few weeks and can then be taken as needed.
If the pain can no longer be relieved by these drugs, stronger pure painkillers such as novalginsulfone or tramadol can also be prescribed. These medications can attack the stomach lining, which is why an additional remedy to protect the stomach is often prescribed if taken over a longer period.