The shoulder or proximal humerus treated with surgery takes about 3 months to heal completely. If this occurs, individual screws will need to be removed to lessen the risk of post-traumatic arthritis. Sometimes the bone collapses during the healing process and several screws can penetrate the joint. However, if the metal becomes infected or is painful 1 year after surgery it can be removed. The metal plate and screws usually stay in for life and are not routinely removed. You should not drive a car if you are still taking narcotic pain medication. This usually takes about 6-12 weeks Driving Return without restriction to jobs that require heavy lifting or manual labor. Patients can usually return to a desk job or light duty after a few days. Most patients need about 3-4 months of therapy to regain their preinjury range of motion and strength. At six weeks from surgery, you will begin strengthening and more aggressive stretching. For 4 weeks you will limit weightbearing and work with therapists on range of motion, scar and soft tissue mobilization. Usually, patients do 1-2 visits with the therapists a week and must continue these exercises at home daily for a good result. This starts after your first clinic visit. Physical Therapyīecause shoulder fractures tend to get stiff after surgery, most patients with proximal humerus fractures benefit from physical therapy. After that time if x-rays show good healing bone you can return to more regular activity and lifting. You should not lift more than 5 pounds for the first 6 weeks after surgery. You do not need to wear it if you do not want to. You are given a sling for comfort after surgery. They will be removed at your first postoperative follow up appointment 10-14 days after surgery. Your wound has been closed with sutures or staples depending on your surgeon’s preference. High blood sugar can put you at risk for infection, wound complications and the bone not healing (nonunion). If you are diabetic keep your blood sugar well controlled. Edible use avoids the other risks associated with smoke inhalation and has more controllable dosing. THC use avoids the constipation and addiction potential associated with narcotic use. In Nevada, marijuana is legal, and you do not need a doctor’s prescription to get it. THC and CBD products can be helpful for postoperative pain and decrease the amount of narcotics you need. If these rules are bent, the orthopedic surgeon can lose his medical license, insurance contracts and be unable to care for other patients like you. If you need prolonged narcotics, we can refer you to a pain management specialist. If you already get narcotics from your primary care doctor or pain management doctor the orthopedic surgeon cannot write you a separate prescription. This must be prescribed in only a 5 day supply each time. The orthopedic surgeon by law can only give you narcotic pain medicine for 2 weeks after surgery. Do not take more than 4 grams of Tylenol a day or it can hurt your internal organs. It is ok to take anti-inflammatory medicine like Motrin (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) as well. You have been given a prescription for narcotic pain medication. Do not immerse your wound in a bath or hot tub until your stitches or staples are removed. If it gets wet, remove the bandage and place a new one. Your dressing from surgery is waterproof. You may shower immediately after surgery. If it is leaking, replace dressing with a clean gauze pad and tape. If the wound is dry, you do not need to cover it with a new bandage. After 2 days you can take off the dressing. Your wound was closed with either sutures or staples. You will be seen at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months from surgery where the provider will examine you and x-rays will be taken to follow bone healing. If you do not have one, please call the office to schedule at 77 as soon as you can. Usually, this appointment is made when you schedule surgery. You should see your surgeon or his physician assistant 10-14 days after surgery. Postoperative x-ray of shoulder & proximal humerus fracture. John Zebrack, MD General Orthopedic Surgery Jeffrey Webster, MD General Orthopedic Surgery Nichole Joslyn, MD Hand & Upper Extremity Thomas Christensen, MD Hand & Upper Extremity James Christensen, MD Hand & Upper Extremity Nikola Babovic, MD Hand & Upper Extremity
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