Shoulder instability is either an acute or a chronic orthopedic condition that occurs when the ligament or labrum (the soft cartilage that reinforces the ball-and-socket joint) gets stretched, torn, or detached, causing the ball of the shoulder to move either partially or fully out of the socket.
Shoulder instability can be caused by repetitive movements; traumatic injury, such as a fall, car accident, or sports collision; or genetic defect (ligaments are naturally loose and the injury eventually happens).
If you’re experiencing symptoms of shoulder instability, such as decreased range of motion, bruising, swelling, or feeling as though the shoulder is going to give way, have it checked out by a shoulder surgeon. Your doctor will usually start with conservative interventions, but if your symptoms are unresponsive, your doctor will likely recommend shoulder stabilization surgery.
When talking to your surgeon about shoulder stabilization surgery, knowing the right questions to ask them greatly help you make a well-informed decision. Here are some questions worth including in your list.
Basic Questions About Shoulder Stabilization Surgery
The following questions help you gain a basic understanding of shoulder stabilization surgery. Make sure to list them down, so you can discuss them all during your appointment:
- What is shoulder stabilization surgery and is it an invasive procedure?
- Am I a candidate for this procedure?
- What’s the success rate?
- How many shoulder stabilization surgeries have you already performed?
- What will happen if I decide against surgery?
- Is this the only recourse?
- Does postponing surgery put me at risk of sustaining more damage to my joint?
- Are there any special preparations I need to make?
- Will I be sedated for the procedure?
Questions About Your Recovery
Asking as many relevant questions about your surgery as possible also greatly helps ease your anxiety and hesitations about the procedure.
Listed below are questions about your recovery that are also worth discussing with your surgeon:
- How long is the downtime?
- What will my rehabilitation program be like?
- How soon does my physical therapy program start?
- How much pain will I experience after the surgery, and how will I take care of it?
- How long is the recovery period?
- How do I care for my incisions?
- What signs of complications should I watch out for?
- Will I need help with household tasks and hygiene when I return home?
- When can I drive, return to work, and/or play my sport again?
Shoulder Stabilization Surgery in Lutherville, Maryland
At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, our board-certified shoulder surgeons take great pleasure in not only providing unrivaled care but also in equipping our patients with useful information and empowering them to make the best decisions about their health care.
To see one of our shoulder surgeons, give us a call at (410) 296-6232, or use this secure form to request an appointment. We have several satellite offices throughout Maryland: in Baltimore, Bel Air, Clarksville, Eldersburg, Pasadena, and Westminster.
