Recovery after orthopedic surgery, week by week
Post Op Physio Recovery Most broken shoulder blades heal without surgery, in a sling with early movement, and the bone usually knits in 3 to 4 months. Surgery is kept mainly for breaks into the shoulder socket, and the first priority is checking the chest and lungs.
Some people do run after a knee replacement, but most surgeons advise against regular running and the long-term evidence on wear is thin. What surgeons say, partial vs total, and a walk-to-jog plan with criteria if your surgeon clears you.
You can usually stop using crutches once your surgeon allows full weight and you can walk without a limp. Step down from two crutches to one crutch or a cane, held on the side opposite your operated leg, then to nothing.
Most golfers get back to the course after a shoulder replacement, usually playing a full round around six months after surgery. How anatomic and reverse replacements differ, the stage-by-stage return, and swing changes that protect the shoulder.
Most people go back to a desk job two to six weeks after orthopedic surgery, while standing jobs take six to twelve weeks and heavy manual work three to six months or more. Your surgeon sets the earliest date, and a phased return makes the first weeks back easier.
About 9 in 10 golfers get back to the game after a hip replacement, usually putting within weeks and playing a full round by around 3 to 5 months. The stages, lead vs trail hip, precautions by approach, and shoes, carts and walking the course.
Most people can drive again two to twelve weeks after orthopedic surgery, depending on the operation, which leg it was and whether your car is automatic or manual. The real test is a pain-free emergency stop with no drowsy painkillers on board, and your surgeon’s advice comes first.
AC joint arthritis causes pain on top of the shoulder, worse reaching across your body, lying on that side and pressing weights. Most people settle with activity changes and exercise, and removing the end of the collarbone is an option if it keeps coming back.
Most knee bursitis settles in a few weeks once you stop kneeling on it, with ice, rest and simple pain relief. If the swelling is red and hot, or you have a fever, it may be infected and needs a doctor the same day.
A stiff shoulder after breaking the top of the upper arm is normal. It loosens noticeably after the first 4 to 6 weeks and keeps improving for up to a year, and here is what to do in each phase and when it’s something more.