What Causes Nerve Pain After Reverse Shoulder Replacement?
It isn’t exactly normal to experience nerve pain after reverse shoulder replacement. However, in most cases, the pain tends to develop due to several factors, some of which are mentioned below.
- Trauma or Injury During Surgery
During the procedure, nerves in the shoulder area may get stretched, compressed, or even cut unintentionally, leading to postoperative nerve pain. - Nerve Inflammation
The body’s natural response to surgery is inflammation, which usually irritates the nerves surrounding the surgery site, leading to pain. - Poor Aftercare
It is necessary to take good care of your arm and shoulder after the reverse replacement surgery. Failing to look after your shoulder can put pressure on the nerves, resulting in a lot of pain and discomfort.
Is Nerve Pain After Reverse Shoulder Replacement Normal?
While some degree of pain is expected after any surgical procedure, dealing with severe or persistent nerve pain is not a normal side effect, especially if it doesn’t go away.
The best way to handle this is to address it immediately. You can also try engaging in physical therapy or taking pain relievers to alleviate some pain, but if nothing works, make sure to let your orthopedic surgeon know as soon as possible.
Dr. Michael Cusick is a trained orthopedic surgeon who has years of experience in shoulder & elbow surgery. He also specializes in fractures, trauma injuries, arthroscopies, and reconstruction surgeries, especially total joint replacement for the shoulder and elbow.
How to Soothe the Pain
If you are experiencing nerve pain after reverse shoulder replacement surgery but don’t know how to ease the pain, take a look below.
- Take Your Medications on Time
The medications prescribed by your doctor, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, must be taken on time as they help manage nerve pain. - Physical Therapy
Physical therapy helps improve the shoulder’s mobility and strengthens surrounding muscles, all of which effectively reduce nerve pain. - Alternate Between Cold and Hot Compress
Alternating between cold compresses and heat packs can help reduce inflammation and provide temporary relief from nerve pain. - Schedule Follow-Up Visits to Your Doctor
Don’t forget to schedule follow-up appointments with your doctor to monitor your progress and address any concerns as soon as possible.
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Thank you for a pleasant experience! The front office staff as well as the medical staff made me feel like family. They answered all my questions and I didn't feel rushed. The wait time was also less than 5 minutes of my scheduled appointment.
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Very enjoyable experience, the people are super nice and extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend Dr Cusick and his team
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DR CUSICK was very thorough. He explain everything so I could understand. I didn't feel like I was being rushed through.he took time with me
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Closing Words
All in all, nerve pain after reverse shoulder replacement surgery can be a stressful experience, but it is important to remember that the pain is often temporary and can easily be managed.
Nevertheless, if you are experiencing persistent or severe nerve pain, do not hesitate to contact Michael Cusick, MD, at (713) 794-3599 for an in-depth evaluation and treatment plan.
