Tips for Self Care after Shoulder Surgery

Tips for Self-Care

Note: it is important to maintain shoulder precautions during self-care activities to avoid dislocation.

In general

After the surgery, you may put on your clothing under the shoulder immobilizer unless your surgeon specifies that you must have the immobilizer on at all time.
You can use regular clothing: pullovers or front opening shirts.
You may continue to use bra. This will not affect the surgery site.
If you are unable to reach down to put on shoes, socks or pants, your occupational therapist may be able to recommend adaptive equipment to assist you such as a reacher, sock aid, long-handle shoe horn, and elastic shoe laces.

Undressing

Remove clothing from your unaffected arm first.
Use your unaffected arm to remove clothing from the side on which you had shoulder surgery.

Putting on Clothing

Using the Toilet

If you have a difficult time reaching your bottom to clean yourself after using the toilet, you should use a toileting aid.
Check with your occupational therapist for equipment recomendations.

Showering

You may shower after 72 hours after surgery. You should not, however, soak your wound.
Take off the shoulder immobilizer per instructions.
Continue following shoulder precautions while your sling is off.
Cover the incision site with plastic wrap taped into place to prevent incision and dressing from getting wet prior to the first follow-up visit with your surgeon. If your dressing becomes wet, remove it and replace it with a clean, dry dressing.
After your staples/sutures have been removed (usually at the first follow-up appointment), you may shower without covering the incision. You should not, however, soak in a bath tub, hot tub, pool, etc., for the first month.
Only use the unaffected arm for lathering.
Keep the surgical arm at your side.
If you need help, we recommend that you have a caregiver or family member assist you.