Bone spurs are usually harmless and may go unnoticed. However, when they occur in a joint, such as your shoulder, they can cause pain and loss of motion. When this happens, you may need surgery. The rehabilitation for shoulder surgery begins with stretching exercises and progresses to strengthening of the joint. Recovery can take several months, depending on the amount of repair needed.
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs are small projections that develop on the edges of bones. They usually appear in joints, where one bone meets another, which makes your shoulder, where three bones join to form the joint, susceptible to bone spurs. Bone spurs are usually painless. However, occasionally they can rub against nerves and bones and cause pain and loss of motion in your joints. When this occurs, surgery may be needed to remove the spur. Surgery can be done in an open procedure, where your skin is cut open, or arthroscopically, where a small incision is made and a camera and small tools are inserted to remove the spur.
Rehabilitation
Following surgery, the first step in the recovery process is immobilization. During this time, your arm will be in a sling to allow your shoulder to begin to heal on its own. When you are deemed ready, you can begin rehabilitation exercises. At first, physical therapy will focus on restoring range of motion in your shoulder and helping promote circulation and prevent stiffness. About four to six weeks after surgery, you can begin strengthening exercises to rebuild your shoulder muscles. Your physical therapy may be difficult at first, but should gradually become easier. Make sure that your rehab is supervised by a professional physical therapist.
Recovery
Recovery is based on the amount of work needed to repair your shoulder rather than the type of surgery you had. When treating bone spurs in the shoulder surgically, your doctor may make other repairs if you are suffering from another condition such as osteoarthritis. If this is the case, recovery time will increase. Full recovery following shoulder surgery can take anywhere from one to six months. Most patients can gradually begin to resume activities after several weeks.
Considerations
Always follow your doctor's instructions regarding your recovery and rehabilitation. You can use pain medication and apply ice to your injured shoulder to relieve any pain during your recovery. If any complications arise such as increased pain or swelling, numbness or tingling of the arm or hand, or redness, warmth or tenderness, consult your doctor right away. To prevent further injuries, make sure to complete your physical therapy program in its entirety. In general, patients who do so have the best results.
