Narcotic requirements following shoulder arthroplasty are low using a multimodal approach to pain

Recent “multimodal” approaches to pain, although understudied, have shown promise in reducing reliance on narcotics in shoulder arthroplasty (SA). Many surgeons report being unsure of how many narcotic pills to prescribe following surgery. As result, patients are prescribed upwards of 60 oxycodone 5mg pills for a 6-to-12-week treatment period despite studies showing postoperative pain can be managed without any medication at all.