You will need to cover the dressing to keep it dry while showering the first 3 days after surgery. We suggest covering the shoulder with plastic wrap above and below the dressing and taping it in place. You may remove the dressing and shower normally 3 days after surgery allowing your incisions to get wet.
You may let soap and water gently wash over your incisions, but do not scrub them. Pat them dry with a towel, then recover each of the incisions with a band-aid. You may not soak in a bathtub or go swimming until your sutures have been removed and your incisions are well healed.
After 5 to 7 days, you can leave the incision undressed if the area remains dry. You should keep your incision dry (no shower or bath) until 5 days after your surgery, at which time you can begin to shower. Do not bathe, swim, or use hot tubs for at least 3 weeks after your surgery.
No active motion of the shoulder, such as reaching outwards or upwards, is allowed. No motion such as that required to wash your hair, do laundry, wash dishes, or clean windows with the arm is allowed in the first 6 weeks.
You will most likely need to sleep in a semi-reclined position for at least six weeks after surgery, sometimes longer. If you don't own a recliner, it may be worthwhile to buy one or borrow one from a friend before you have your shoulder surgery.
If you sit or lie down, you can loosen the sling, but don't remove it. This lets your elbow straighten without moving the shoulder. You can also support your arm on a pillow. Remove the sling only to do prescribed exercises or to shower.
You may remove your arm from the sling to bend and straighten your elbow and to move your fingers several times a day. You may remove the sling to bathe, dress, and perform elbow range of motion several times a day. It is important to wear the sling while sleeping.
Introduction: Pain can be severe during the first days after arthroscopic surgery, and acute pain is an important outcome in clinical trials of surgical technique or anaesthetic strategy.
Think about all the things you do that require you to raise your arm or use it to push or pull because you'll need to avoid these movements while your shoulder is healing. Even the simplest daily activities like brushing your teeth or reaching into the kitchen cabinet won't be possible.
Light housework may resume after 6 weeks. More strenuous housework should be avoided until 3 months after your operation. After approximately six weeks you will be given permission to resume light activities of daily living. Always maintain a good posture and avoid hunched or drooped shoulders.
First and foremost, it's important to rest after surgery. You should avoid any lifting or strenuous activities, as these can place too much strain on your shoulder and slow the healing process. Get plenty of sleep to help your body heal and allow yourself time to relax. Managing pain after surgery is also important.
Do not sleep flat on your back. Sleeping on an incline for 4-6 weeks after surgery is best. For the first week or two, a recliner may be the most comfortable option. Purchasing a 45 degree wedge from a medical supply store can also provide a stable base to prop yourself up in the bed.
A rotator cuff surgery is a major surgical intervention in the shoulder, and the reason that there is pain after surgery is the amount of normal surgical trauma. Cutting, drilling, cauterizing, and suturing tissues create pain and inflammation.
Most patients, who have undergone rotator cuff surgery, can return to car driving within two weeks of surgery. Before you plan to drive after the rotator cuff surgery, first, you need to consult your doctor to make sure that your recovery is going on according to the plan.
You won't want to wear a bra for at least two weeks because of discomfort at the incision. Plain cotton panties are best.
Applying heat or ice to your shoulder can help relieve rotator cuff pain at night. Heat may work better for some individuals in relieving rotator cuff pain at night since it tends to soothe the area and increase blood flow.
If you have a sedentary job, you should be able to return to work in just two to three weeks. If you have a job that requires a lot of pushing, pulling, or lifting with your arms, you may need to take three to four months off from work to focus on your rehabilitation.
First two weeks:
At this point, there should be no active movement of the shoulder, and there should be nothing placed in the hand while the arm is in the sling. Patients who are compliant with the sling and range of motion exercises typically have fewer complications later in the process.
It is well known that rotator cuff surgery is a major operation where the rotator cuff tendons (Figure 1) are sewn back to the upper arm bone (humerus) (Figures 2 and 3). The other major reason patients have pain after rotator cuff surgery is due to stiffness of that shoulder.