How Is Pain Managed After Shoulder Replacement? Nerve Blocks and the First Nights Explained

The night before her operation, a retired schoolteacher I once interviewed sat at her kitchen table doing something she had not done in years: writing a list of questions in pencil. The first one was not about the implant, the surgeon, or how long she would wear a sling. It was, in her words, “How much is this going to hurt, and what happens when the numbing wears off at two in the morning?”

That question sits at the center of almost every pre-operative conversation about shoulder replacement, and it deserves a straighter answer than most people get. Pain after shoulder replacement is real, it follows a fairly predictable arc, and the tools used to manage it have changed considerably over the last two decades, with nerve blocks doing much of the heavy lifting on the first day.

What follows is the version of that answer a careful editor would want: what actually happens in the joint, why the first two nights are the hardest, and how the plan is built so that no single medicine has to carry the whole load.

What actually happens to the shoulder during a replacement, and why it hurts afterward

A shoulder replacement, or shoulder arthroplasty, is an operation in which the worn ball of the upper arm bone and often the socket of the shoulder blade are replaced with metal and plastic parts. In an anatomic replacement, the new ball goes where the old one sat. In a reverse replacement, the ball and socket swap positions so that the deltoid muscle, rather than the damaged rotator cuff, powers the arm. MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic both describe these as the two main designs a surgeon may choose between.

Getting to the joint means passing through skin, the fatty layer, and the seam between two large muscles at the front of the shoulder. The surgeon then releases part of the joint capsule, removes the arthritic ball with a saw, and prepares the socket. Bone is living tissue with its own nerve supply, so cutting and reshaping it produces a deep, aching signal that is quite different from the sting of the incision.

Three sources of pain therefore overlap in the first days. The skin wound throbs and is tender to touch. The muscles and capsule that were stretched or released feel bruised and stiff, especially when the arm moves. The bone itself aches with a dull, heavy quality that many people describe as a toothache inside the shoulder. Swelling adds pressure to all three.

Understanding this layering explains why one medicine rarely does the job on its own, and why anesthesiologists reach first for a nerve block. The block interrupts the signal before it reaches the spinal cord, buying time for swelling to settle and for the rest of the plan to take effect.

How is pain after shoulder replacement managed in the first 24 hours?

The first day follows a script that most anesthesia teams know well. Before the operation begins, while the patient is awake or lightly sedated, an anesthesiologist places a regional nerve block: a local anesthetic injected around the nerves in the neck that supply the shoulder. Cleveland Clinic describes a nerve block as medicine placed near a specific nerve or bundle of nerves to stop pain signals traveling to the brain, and for shoulder surgery this almost always means the interscalene approach, discussed in the next section.

General anesthesia is then given so the person sleeps through the surgery, but the block means far less anesthetic and far fewer opioids are needed during the operation itself. When the patient wakes in the recovery room, the shoulder and often the whole arm feel heavy, warm, and numb. Many people report being surprised at how comfortable they are.

Nurses use this window deliberately. Scheduled non-opioid medicines are started while the block is still working, so that a baseline level of pain control is already in place when sensation returns. Ice or a cold-therapy wrap is applied over the dressing to limit swelling. The arm is placed in a sling with a small pillow behind the elbow, keeping the joint slightly forward, which most people find less painful than letting the arm fall back.

Getting out of bed happens early, often the same afternoon, because moving reduces the risk of blood clots and helps people feel more like themselves. MedlinePlus notes that a hospital stay is typically short, sometimes one to three days, and some centers now send people home the same day when a block is in place and a caregiver is available. The prescribing team decides what is appropriate for each person.

What is an interscalene nerve block for shoulder surgery, and how does it feel?

The interscalene block takes its name from the two scalene muscles on the side of the neck; the nerves that run between them, the brachial plexus, carry nearly all sensation from the shoulder. Using ultrasound to see the nerves in real time, the anesthesiologist guides a thin needle to that space and injects local anesthetic, the same family of medicine a dentist uses. The injection itself feels like pressure and a brief pinch; sedation is often given first.

Within minutes the shoulder grows warm and tingly, then numb. Because the same nerves control the muscles, the arm becomes weak or limp for the duration of the block. This is expected and is why the arm is supported in a sling. A few other effects are common and harmless: a hoarse voice, a droopy eyelid on that side, and a feeling of shortness of breath at rest because the nerve to the diaphragm often shares the space and is temporarily quieted. People with significant lung disease are sometimes offered a different block for this reason, a decision the anesthesia team makes case by case.

How long it lasts depends on the medicine chosen. A single injection typically wears off over the course of a day, sometimes stretching longer with certain long-acting formulations or additives, as Cleveland Clinic outlines. Some teams place a thin catheter and leave it in for a couple of days so that anesthetic can be delivered continuously; others rely on a single shot.

The trade-off is what happens when the block ends. Sensation does not return gradually as a gentle warning; it often arrives over an hour or two, frequently at night. Anticipating that moment, rather than reacting to it, is the whole point of the layered plan.

Why the second night is often harder than the first, and what "rebound pain" means

Ask anyone who has had a shoulder replaced which night was worst, and the answer is rarely the first. The first night belongs to the block. The second night, or the small hours between them, is when the anesthetic fades and the full picture of surgical pain arrives at once, sometimes felt as more intense than expected. Anesthesiologists call this rebound pain, and it is well recognized after regional anesthesia for shoulder operations.

Two things make it feel abrupt. Inflammation in the joint has been building quietly under the numbness for a day, so the tissues are at their most swollen just as sensation returns. The contrast effect is real too: going from near-zero pain to moderate pain in an hour feels worse than waking from surgery with the same moderate pain.

The management strategy is timing. Teams typically instruct people to begin their scheduled oral medicines before the block wears off, often the evening of surgery, rather than waiting for pain to appear. Ice is reapplied. Some people find that sitting more upright, or sleeping in a recliner, makes the transition gentler because the arm swells less when it is not below the heart.

Knowing what to expect is itself protective. People who have been told “you may wake at 2 a.m. with the shoulder throbbing, and here is exactly what to do” report less distress than those caught off guard. Write the plan down before leaving the hospital, including who to call overnight if the pain feels unmanageable. Rebound pain should peak and then settle over the following day or two as the medicines take over; pain that keeps climbing, or that comes with fever or a rapidly swelling arm, is not rebound and warrants a phone call.

How long does pain last after shoulder replacement? A realistic timeline

The honest answer has three parts, and they run on different clocks.

Acute surgical pain, the kind that needs regular medicine around the clock, is typically most intense in the first three to five days and eases noticeably over the first one to two weeks. Mayo Clinic describes most people returning to light daily activities within roughly two to six weeks, and MedlinePlus advises that a sling is usually worn for about the same span, with the treating surgeon setting the exact schedule. Needing strong medicine well beyond the second week is something the team will want to hear about.

Activity-related aching runs on a slower clock. As physical therapy progresses and the arm is asked to reach, lift, and rotate, the muscles and capsule protest. This is soreness rather than surgical pain, and it commonly waxes and wanes for several months. Johns Hopkins notes that full recovery of strength and motion often takes many months, and many surgeons describe continued gains through the first year.

Then there is the long tail. A proportion of people report some ongoing discomfort a year or more after surgery, which is why several high-ranking articles on this topic carry the phrase “persistent pain is common.” What the evidence actually shows is more nuanced: most of that late pain is mild, is often related to the muscles around the joint or to arthritis elsewhere, and is usually far less than the pain that led to surgery. A small number of people develop pain from a specific cause such as loosening or infection, covered later in this article.

Sleep disruption, stiffness first thing in the morning, and a sense of the arm being “heavy” tend to fade in step with the acute phase. Numbness around the incision can outlast everything else and is generally harmless.

Which medicines are typically used, and why several at once?

Modern post-operative pain plans are built on a principle called multimodal analgesia: combining medicines that work through different mechanisms so that each can be used in a modest amount. The CDC’s clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids for pain explicitly favors this approach after surgery, with non-opioid options as the foundation and opioids added only when needed and for the shortest reasonable time.

The foundation is usually acetaminophen, which dampens pain signaling in the central nervous system, given on a schedule rather than “as needed” during the first days. Anti-inflammatory medicines, the NSAID class, work at the site of injury by reducing the chemical messengers that drive swelling and sensitize nerves; whether they are used, and for how long, depends on kidney function, stomach history, and bone-healing considerations that the surgical team weighs. Some teams add a nerve-calming medicine from the gabapentinoid class for a short period, though the evidence for benefit after shoulder surgery is mixed and side effects such as drowsiness limit its use.

Opioids sit on top of that foundation, not beneath it. MedlinePlus describes them as medicines that bind to receptors in the brain and spinal cord to blunt the perception of pain; they are effective for breakthrough pain but carry constipation, nausea, drowsiness, and dependence risks that grow with duration. Most people find they need them mainly at night and before therapy in the first week, then taper off naturally.

Ice, elevation, and the sling are part of the pharmacology too, in the sense that reducing swelling reduces the signal the medicines have to suppress. Every decision about which agents, in what combination, and for how long rests with the prescribing clinician, who knows the person’s other medicines and medical history.

Who is shoulder replacement usually for, and who is usually asked to wait?

Surgeons generally offer a shoulder replacement when three things line up: the joint surface is worn or destroyed, the pain and stiffness interfere with sleep and daily tasks, and non-surgical measures have been given a fair trial. MedlinePlus lists the usual reasons as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, severe fractures, bone death from interrupted blood supply, and arthritis that follows a large, irreparable rotator cuff tear. Mayo Clinic adds that the reverse design is specifically suited to people whose rotator cuff can no longer power the arm.

Non-surgical measures typically tried first include activity modification, physical therapy focused on the muscles around the shoulder blade, anti-inflammatory medicines where safe, and corticosteroid injections into the joint. For many people these buy months or years of acceptable function, and the decision to move toward surgery is about quality of life rather than a fixed threshold on an X-ray.

Some people are asked to wait, or offered a different route. Active infection anywhere in the body is a reason to postpone, because bacteria in the bloodstream can settle on a new implant. Poorly controlled diabetes, heavy smoking, and significant malnutrition raise wound-healing and infection risks and are often addressed first. Severe nerve damage to the shoulder muscles, or bone too thin to hold an implant, can make a replacement unlikely to help. Very young, very active people may be steered toward joint-preserving options for a time, since implants have a finite lifespan and revisions are more complex than first operations.

None of these are absolute rules. They are conversations, weighed by an orthopedic surgeon alongside the person’s goals, and the final recommendation always belongs to the treating team.

Pain-control tools after shoulder replacement compared

Seeing the main tools side by side makes the logic of the layered plan clearer. The table below summarizes how each works, when it is typically used, and what people most often notice. It describes general categories only; the specific plan is set by the anesthesia and surgical teams.

Tool	How it works	Typical window	Common trade-offs
Interscalene nerve block	Local anesthetic around the brachial plexus interrupts signals before they reach the spinal cord	Placed before surgery; single shot lasts roughly a day, catheters a few days	Numb, weak arm; hoarse voice; temporary breathlessness; rebound pain when it fades
Acetaminophen	Reduces pain signaling in the central nervous system	Scheduled from day of surgery through the acute phase	Few side effects at prescribed levels; ceiling on effect
NSAIDs	Block inflammatory chemicals at the site of injury	Short course when kidneys, stomach, and bone healing allow	Stomach irritation, kidney strain, bleeding risk
Opioids	Act on receptors in brain and spinal cord to blunt perception of pain	Breakthrough pain, mostly nights and before therapy in week one	Constipation, nausea, drowsiness, dependence with prolonged use
Ice and elevation	Constrict blood vessels, reduce swelling and nerve sensitivity	From recovery room, several times daily for weeks	Skin irritation if applied directly; inconvenience
Sling and positioning	Rests healing tissue, prevents arm from drifting backward	Weeks, per surgeon	Stiffness elsewhere; neck strain if worn too tight

Two patterns stand out. The block and the scheduled non-opioids together cover most of the ground, which is exactly why the CDC guideline treats opioids as an add-on rather than a starting point. And the non-drug tools, easy to overlook, are the ones people can control most directly at home.

How to sleep after shoulder replacement surgery

Sleep is the part of recovery people are least prepared for and most affected by. Lying flat lets the operated arm sag backward, stretching the freshly closed front of the shoulder and increasing swelling because the joint sits level with or below the heart. Rolling onto the shoulder is a non-starter. The result, for many, is a run of short, fractured nights that make daytime pain feel worse.

The most common solution is not to lie flat at all. A recliner, or a bed propped with a wedge pillow and several regular pillows behind the back, keeps the torso at roughly 30 to 45 degrees, a position most people find they can hold for hours. A pillow under the operated elbow and forearm supports the arm so it is not hanging from the shoulder, and a small rolled towel behind the elbow prevents the drift backward that hurts. Sleeping on the non-operated side is possible for some once the incision is comfortable, with the operated arm resting on a body pillow in front.

Timing matters as much as position. Taking scheduled medicines as the team directs about an hour before settling down, icing the shoulder for the last twenty minutes before bed, and keeping the room cool all lower the baseline before sleep. Some people set an alarm for the middle of the night during the first week so that scheduled medicine is not missed, then stop as pain eases.

Whether to wear the sling in bed varies by surgeon; MedlinePlus advises following the specific instructions given at discharge. Expect the first two or three nights to be the roughest, with steady improvement over the first two weeks. Poor sleep beyond that point, especially alongside rising pain, is worth mentioning at follow-up.

What do the first two weeks at home usually look like?

Day one at home is about logistics. Someone else drives. The kitchen has been rearranged so that plates and cups are at waist height. Clothes button or zip in front, because reaching overhead is off the table. MedlinePlus’s discharge guidance covers these practicalities: keeping the incision clean and dry, avoiding lifting anything heavier than a cup with the operated arm, and not pushing up from a chair with that hand.

Days two through five are the medicine days. Pain is at its most demanding, scheduled non-opioid medicines run around the clock, and ice is applied several times daily. Gentle exercises begin almost immediately, typically opening and closing the hand, bending and straightening the elbow, and moving the wrist, all of which pump swelling out of the arm without stressing the shoulder. Many surgeons also start pendulum exercises, letting the arm hang and swing gently, within the first days. A physical therapist usually sees the person in the first or second week to teach these safely.

By the end of the first week, most people notice a turn: the deep bone ache has softened, opioid use is winding down to nights if used at all, and getting dressed takes fifteen minutes instead of forty. The incision is checked at a follow-up visit, often around two weeks, and stitches or staples are removed if they are not the dissolving kind.

Week two brings the beginning of passive range of motion, in which the therapist or the person’s other arm moves the shoulder while the shoulder muscles stay relaxed. Soreness after these sessions is normal. Pain that is sharper, new, or accompanied by swelling and warmth is not, and should be reported to the team.

What is life like after shoulder replacement in the months that follow?

Around the six-week mark, the sling typically comes off for good and the character of recovery changes. Mayo Clinic describes this as the point where more active use of the arm begins under the guidance of a therapist. The joint is stable, the soft tissues have knitted, and the job shifts from protecting the shoulder to rebuilding it.

Physical therapy moves from passive to active motion, then to strengthening. Reaching for a shelf, washing hair, fastening a seatbelt with the operated arm: these come back one by one, usually between weeks six and twelve, though the order and pace vary widely. Driving generally resumes when the sling is off, the person is no longer taking opioids, and they can control the wheel confidently; the surgeon gives the go-ahead. Desk work often restarts earlier, physical work later.

Pain in this phase is mostly muscular. The deltoid and the muscles around the shoulder blade, weak from years of arthritis and weeks of rest, complain as they are asked to work. Warmth and a deep ache after therapy are expected; they settle within hours. Sleep normalizes for most people during this window.

Beyond three months, strength keeps improving, with Johns Hopkins noting that reaching a plateau can take a year or more. The realistic goal is a shoulder that lets a person dress, cook, garden, swim, and sleep without waking, with pain far below where it started. Contact sports, heavy overhead lifting, and repetitive impact are usually discouraged for the life of the implant to protect it. Regular follow-up with X-rays continues at intervals the surgeon sets, so that any change in the implant’s position can be spotted before it causes trouble.

What are the symptoms of a failed shoulder replacement?

“Failed” is a heavy word for what is usually a specific, identifiable problem, and it is important to separate the normal ups and downs of recovery from the signs that a surgeon needs to look more closely. This section is not a self-diagnosis tool; it describes the patterns that prompt an orthopedic team to order imaging or tests.

The most common concern is pain that changes direction. Recovery pain trends downward over weeks even if it bumps along the way. Pain that had improved and then steadily worsens over months, particularly a deep ache at rest or at night, is the pattern that raises questions about loosening of the implant, where the bond between metal and bone weakens. Infection around an implant can be dramatic, with fever, redness, drainage, and rapidly increasing pain, or it can be subtle, showing up as persistent aching, stiffness that will not improve, and a general sense of being unwell months after surgery.

Mechanical problems have their own signature. A new clunk, catch, or feeling that the shoulder is slipping out of place can indicate instability, which is a recognized risk particularly with reverse designs. Sudden weakness lifting the arm after a period of good function may point to a tear of the tendon repaired during an anatomic replacement or to a nerve problem. A fracture around the implant after a fall produces sharp pain and inability to use the arm.

Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus both list infection, dislocation, implant loosening, fracture, and nerve injury among the recognized complications. Investigation typically involves X-rays, blood tests for inflammation, and sometimes aspiration of joint fluid or advanced imaging. Many problems can be treated without further surgery; some require revision. The assessment, and every decision that follows, belongs to the treating surgeon.

What people often get wrong about pain after shoulder replacement

The first myth is that a nerve block means no pain. It means very little pain for roughly a day, followed by a transition that can feel abrupt. People who understand this take their scheduled medicine before the block fades and ride out the second night far better than those who expect the numbness to simply taper away.

The second is that strong opioids are the main tool. The CDC guideline is clear that non-opioid medicines form the foundation and opioids are added briefly for breakthrough pain. In practice, most people use opioids mostly at night in the first week and stop within two weeks. Relying on them as the primary approach tends to trade pain for constipation, nausea, and grogginess without better relief.

Third: “no pain, no gain” in therapy. Soreness after passive stretching is expected; sharp pain during it is a signal to stop and check with the therapist. Overzealous early motion can strain the tendon repaired during an anatomic replacement or destabilize a reverse one. The therapist’s progression exists for a reason.

Fourth: the arm should be kept completely still to protect the implant. Hand, wrist, and elbow movement from day one reduces swelling and stiffness and is encouraged in MedlinePlus discharge guidance. Rigid immobility of the whole limb makes everything hurt more.

Fifth: if the shoulder still aches at three months, something has gone wrong. Muscular aching with activity commonly persists for many months as strength returns; it is the direction of travel that matters, not the presence of any discomfort.

And finally, that ice is optional. It is one of the few tools with almost no downside, and people who use it consistently tend to need less of everything else.

Questions to ask your care team before and after surgery

The most useful questions are the specific ones, asked before the day of surgery when there is time to plan. On anesthesia, it helps to ask whether an interscalene block is planned, whether it will be a single injection or a catheter, roughly how long the team expects it to last, and what exactly to do when sensation returns, including at what time to take the first scheduled medicines. People with lung conditions might ask whether the temporary effect on the diaphragm is a concern for them and whether an alternative block is being considered.

On medicines, good questions include which non-opioid medicines will be scheduled and for how long, whether any of the person’s regular medicines need to be paused or adjusted around surgery, what the plan is if pain is not controlled at home, and whom to call overnight. Asking how the team expects opioid use to wind down, and what to do with any unused tablets, is reasonable and increasingly encouraged.

On the days after, ask whether the sling is worn in bed, when showering is allowed, when hand and elbow exercises begin, when the first therapy appointment is, and which specific movements are off-limits and for how long. For anatomic replacements, ask which tendon was repaired and what protects it. For reverse replacements, ask which arm positions carry a dislocation risk.

Looking further out, ask when driving and work are realistic, how follow-up X-rays are scheduled, and which changes in pain, motion, or the incision should prompt a call rather than waiting for the next visit. Writing the answers down, ideally with a companion in the room, turns a rushed clinic conversation into a plan the household can follow at two in the morning.

When to call your doctor: red-flag signs after shoulder replacement

Most bumps in recovery are ordinary, but a small set of signs should prompt a same-day call to the surgical team, or emergency care if severe. These are drawn from MedlinePlus discharge guidance and Mayo Clinic’s list of recognized complications.

Call promptly for pain that is escalating rather than easing after the first few days, or pain that is not controlled by the prescribed plan. Fever, chills, or feeling generally unwell, especially with redness, warmth, increasing swelling, or fluid draining from the incision, can indicate infection and needs assessment quickly. An incision that opens, bleeds persistently, or develops a foul smell falls in the same category.

Seek urgent care for a calf or thigh that becomes swollen, tender, or warm, or for sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood, which can signal a blood clot in the leg or lung. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand or fingers that persists well after the nerve block should have worn off, or a hand that is cold, pale, or blue, means a nerve or blood-flow check is needed.

A new clunk, a feeling that the shoulder has shifted or come out of joint, sudden loss of the ability to lift the arm after it had been improving, or any fall onto the shoulder warrants a call the same day. Severe drowsiness, confusion, very slow breathing, or vomiting that prevents keeping fluids down while taking prescribed pain medicine is also a reason to contact the team or seek emergency care.

When in doubt, call. Surgical teams would much rather hear about a false alarm at ten at night than about an infection that waited until the next scheduled visit.

Frequently asked questions

How long does severe pain last after shoulder surgery?

The most intense pain after shoulder replacement usually lasts three to five days and eases noticeably by the end of the first or second week. Mayo Clinic describes most people returning to light daily activity within about two to six weeks. Aching with exercise commonly continues for months as muscles rebuild. Severe pain that persists or worsens beyond the second week should be reported to the surgical team.

How to sleep after shoulder replacement surgery?

Most people sleep best semi-upright in a recliner or propped on a wedge and pillows, with the operated arm supported on a pillow so it does not sag backward. Icing before bed and taking scheduled medicines as directed help lower baseline pain. Lying flat or on the operated side is generally avoided in the early weeks. Whether to wear the sling overnight depends on the surgeon’s instructions.

What is an interscalene nerve block for shoulder surgery?

It is an injection of local anesthetic, guided by ultrasound, around the bundle of nerves in the side of the neck that supplies the shoulder and arm. Placed before surgery, it numbs the shoulder for roughly a day and reduces the anesthetic and opioid needed during and after the operation. Temporary arm weakness, hoarseness, and mild breathlessness are common and expected effects.

Why does my shoulder hurt more the second night after surgery?

The nerve block that made the first night comfortable typically wears off within about a day, often overnight, and full sensation returns while swelling in the joint is near its peak. Anesthesiologists call this rebound pain. Starting scheduled non-opioid medicines before the block fades, icing, and sitting upright soften the transition. Pain should then settle over a day or two rather than continue rising.

What are the symptoms of a failed shoulder replacement?

Patterns that prompt a surgeon to investigate include pain that improved and then steadily worsens, especially at rest or at night; fever, redness, or drainage suggesting infection; a new clunk or feeling of the joint slipping; sudden weakness after a period of good function; or sharp pain after a fall. Recognized causes include loosening, infection, instability, fracture, and tendon problems. Only the treating team can assess these.

What is life like after shoulder replacement surgery?

After the sling comes off around six weeks, therapy shifts to active motion and strengthening, and everyday tasks such as dressing, washing hair, and driving usually return between weeks six and twelve. Muscular aching after exercise is common for months. Johns Hopkins notes strength can keep improving for a year or more. Heavy overhead lifting and contact sports are typically discouraged long term to protect the implant.

How long will I need opioid pain medicine after shoulder replacement?

Many people use opioids mainly at night and before therapy during the first week and stop within about two weeks, with scheduled non-opioid medicines carrying most of the load. The CDC guideline recommends the shortest effective course after surgery. Individual plans vary with the person’s history and other medicines, so the prescribing clinician sets the schedule and how to taper.

Is it normal for the whole arm to be numb and weak after a nerve block?

Yes. The interscalene block affects the nerves that carry both sensation and movement, so the arm is expected to feel heavy, tingly, and weak until the anesthetic wears off, typically within about a day. The sling protects the arm during this time. Numbness or weakness in the hand that persists well beyond that window should be reported to the surgical team.

Can I ice my shoulder after replacement surgery, and how often?

Ice or a cold-therapy wrap over the dressing is a standard part of early recovery because it reduces swelling and nerve sensitivity, lowering the amount of medicine needed. It is commonly applied for around twenty minutes several times a day, with a cloth barrier to protect the skin. The surgical team will specify any limits, particularly around the incision while it heals.

When should I worry about pain after shoulder replacement?

Contact the surgical team the same day for pain that is rising rather than easing after the first few days, pain not controlled by the prescribed plan, fever or wound redness and drainage, a new clunk or slipping sensation, or sudden weakness. Seek emergency care for chest pain, shortness of breath, a swollen painful calf, or severe drowsiness while taking pain medicine.

References

• MedlinePlus: Shoulder replacement
• MedlinePlus: Shoulder replacement – discharge
• CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain
• MedlinePlus: Pain medications – narcotics

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.