Shoulder surgery will help to restore a great deal of strength and function in your shoulder area, but this improvement won’t happen overnight. Depending on your underlying issue and the procedure you receive, there’s a good chance that you have weeks or months of recovery ahead of you, and life won’t always be easy as you work to overcome certain physical and mental challenges that arise during rehabilitation. However, if you come in with the right mindset and a smart plan, you can make life a bit easier during your post-op recovery stage. In today’s blog, we share some tips for making your life a little easier after shoulder surgery.
Shoulder Surgery Recovery – Setting Yourself Up For Success
Although you’ll eventually regain significant function in your shoulder joint, it will be weak and uncomfortable in the early stages of your recovery, and that can make daily tasks quite difficult. Here’s what we recommend to make life easier during that early recovery stage after shoulder surgery:
- Partake In PT – For starters, arguably the single best thing you can do for your shoulder health is to partake in your physical therapy program as recommended by your surgeon. Once you’re cleared for movement exercises, dive right in. These PT exercises are crucial for establishing strength, improving flexibility and increasing overall shoulder function, all of which will serve to make your life easier in the long run. The exercises may not be easy in the moment, but the work you put in now will certainly be worth it in the end. The best thing you can do for your long-term shoulder health is to give PT your all.
- Prepare Healthy Meals – Cooking and cleaning the kitchen won’t be easy if you’re down to one functional shoulder, so prep for this possibility ahead of time. Prior to surgery, cook some healthy meals that can easily be reheated so that you don’t need to spend a lot of time in the kitchen while you’re down to one good arm. Greasy junk foods can be pro-inflammatory, which isn’t ideal following a surgery, so try to eat healthy and limit the fast food options. Preparing healthy foods ahead of time can greatly reduce the urge to order in or grab fast food.
- Consider Your Wardrobe – Many shoulder surgery patients will find it harder to get dressed in the morning, so lay out some clothes that are easier to get on before you go in for surgery. Button up shirts are usually easier to slip on your recovering shoulder and arm, and pants with elastic waistbands can ensure you don’t have to try to secure a belt or a button to keep them on your body. Lay out some outfits ahead of time so you’re not digging through drawers or doing a bunch of laundry once you’re back home after shoulder surgery.
- Arrange Help – Life will be much easier if you have a second set of hands for some tasks, so ask a loved one, a friend or a family member if they’d be willing to help you for a bit after surgery. Tasks like getting dressed, driving and cleaning your incision site will not be the easiest after surgery, so having someone to assist with these tasks will be incredibly helpful. You’d lend a hand to a friend in a similar spot, so don’t feel like a burden asking for a little assistance after your procedure.
- Understand Your Pain Med Schedule – Pain and discomfort are a natural part of the recovery process, but you can work to keep these issues at bay by really understanding how to optimize your medication regimen. Whether you have prescription painkillers or over-the-counter meds, make sure you talk with your surgeon and your care team prior to discharge so that you understand when you’ll want to be taking your medication. Taking too much can increase your likelihood for addiction and abuse, while taking medication too late can lead to periods of extreme discomfort. Life will be easier if you understand how to appropriately take your pain medications to manage discomfort during the early stages of your recovery.
- Give Thought To Your Sleeping Space – Finally, sleep is a very important part of the recovery process, but sleep can also be hard to come by after shoulder surgery. Sleep on your side, laying on the shoulder that was not operated on, but also consider adding a couple pillows in front and behind you so that you don’t roll over in the middle of the night, which could cause discomfort and wake you up. Make the room as dark as possible and remove sources of light or distractions like a phone or a television to make it easier for you to stay asleep once you’re out. Getting extended restorative sleep provides a good environment for healing to run its course.
Knoxville Shoulder Surgery
Recovering from shoulder surgery won’t always be a breeze, but if you keep these tips in mind and trust your case to a talented shoulder surgeon like Dr. Holloway, we’re confident you’ll find recovery isn’t all that difficult. For more information, or for help with a specific shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway’s office today at (865) 410-7887.
