Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding findings to watch for and report to the physician after the shoulder replacement surgery as follows:
- Signs and symptoms of embolus formation: The blood clot or thrombus formed in the deep veins of the limb, if it were small enough, can travel up along the veins in the limb and get deposited in various body parts. These blood clots traveling in the blood to get deposited in various body parts, such as, lungs, heart, and brain are called emboli. Deposition of the blood clot in the lung can result in sudden onset of chest pain, extreme shortness of breath, and dry cough. Deposition of the blood clot in the heart can result in an episode of heart attack with sudden onset of chest pain and extreme shortness of breath. Deposition of the blood clot in the brain can obstruct blood flow to different vital parts of brain resulting in an episode of stroke, with weakness or paralysis of one side of body, facial drooping on one side, and impaired speech. After shoulder replacement surgery, patients and caregivers must keep a close watch for any above-mentioned signs and symptoms of embolus formation and report to the physician at the earliest for measures to prevent further complications.
- Uncontrolled pain and swelling: Pain and swelling in the surgical limb should progressively decline over 2 – 3 weeks after the surgery. Compliance with medications for pain control and therapy recommendations should add to the improvement in pain control. Uncontrolled pain and swelling in the limb, despite compliance with pain medication and therapy recommendations, can indicate an underlying serious complication like infection. Patients and caregivers must keep a close watch for poorly controlled or progressively worsening pain and swelling in the surgical joint and report to the physician for further management measures.
- Progressively increasing rigidity in the joint: Range of motion in the surgical shoulder should progressively improve over 3 – 6 months after the surgery. Compliance with the therapy recommendations is very essential towards meeting this goal. Any rigidity in the surgical shoulder, despite compliance with therapy recommendations must be reported to the physician for further investigation.
