Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding precautions to be observed during immediate phase of post shoulder replacement surgery as follows:
- Compliance with weightbearing limitations: Limitations could be imposed with regards to weightbearing on the shoulder in the immediate phase of post-shoulder replacement surgery. Check with your surgeon for any weightbearing limitations in your case and observe compliance with the recommendations made.
- Compliance with SCDs: As the mobility and range of motion in the joint is limited during immediate post-surgical phase, blood tends to pool in the deep veins of the limb and increase risk for clot formation. You could be recommended use of sequential compression devices (SCDs) for at least 8 hours a day during immediate post-surgical phase. These devices have sleeves that are wrapped around your limb. Upon activation of the device, the sleeves cause sequential compression of the limb. This compression promotes movement of blood up along the veins, prevents pooling of blood in the limb, and thus reduce risk for clot formation.
- Compliance with fist pumps: Fist pump exercises are very important to keep the blood moving up along the veins in the surgical upper extremity, prevent pooling of blood due to gravity, and thus prevent formation of clots. Observe compliance with practicing the recommended number of fist pumps every day to help keep the blood moving.
