Shoulder surgery is a major step in your road to relief from a shoulder problem, but the work isn’t done once you’re off the operating table. The majority of your healing and rehabilitation will take place at home, so it’s helpful to prepare your house so that it is ready for your return after surgery. By taking some simple steps before surgery, you can make it much easier on yourself as you recover at home after surgery. In today’s blog, we share some tips for preparing your home for your return after shoulder surgery.
It’s important to remember that everyone’s rehabilitation journey will look a little different, so follow the advice of your treating physician. With that said, oftentimes patients find the following tips helpful as they prepare their home for life after their shoulder operation.
Consider Your Clothes
Odds are you’re not going to be able to put a shirt on over your head very easily during the initial stages of recovery, so make sure that you lay out some button up or zip up options. Also consider buying some slip-on or velcro shoes so that you’re not putting on and tying shoes. Make sure that you pull out these clothing options and leave them in an easily accessible place so that you’re not digging through your dresser with one good arm.
Bathroom Accessories
Certain actions like showering or going to the bathroom will not be as easy as they used to be as you recover from shoulder surgery, so it may be helpful to order some accessories that make these tasks a little more manageable. Shower chairs, detachable shower heads and pump soaps can all make it a little easier to handle the bathroom area while you’re recovering.
Get Your Chores Done
You don’t need to deep clean your house before you head in for surgery, but it will be helpful to get some cleaning done so that you’re not navigating a mess while you’re recovering. Pick up tripping hazards, get the laundry done, mow the lawn and do the dishes so that you don’t feel the need to do a bunch of chores soon after your return home. It may not be comfortable on a bad shoulder, but it will likely be easier than waiting until you’ve just completed surgery to finish those household chores.
Prepare Some Healthy Meals
You’re probably not going to want to do a lot of cooking in the first few days after your recovery, so consider making some healthy and easy to reheat meals and leave them in the refrigerator or freezer. That way you’ll have easy access to healthy options instead of relying on fast food or flash frozen meals. You won’t be as mobile as you recover from shoulder surgery, meaning you won’t be burning as many calories, so make sure that the calories you do consume are healthy,
Know The Signs Of An Infection
Your care team will likely go over the signs of an infection, but it may also be helpful to review them ahead of time. Knowing the signs of infection can help you catch a problem in its infancy when it is more responsive to treatment. Signs of an infection include:
- Discolored discharge
- Fever
- Heat
- Pain
- Redness
- Swelling
If you have concerns about your incision site, contact your care team.
Arraign Rides
Finally, many people find it helpful to arraign rides in advance. Rides to and from your surgery are the most obvious, but if you’ll have follow ups or need help getting to the grocery store or dropping your kids off at school, work to arrange these rides as far in advance as possible. Many people will be willing to help if you give them enough of a heads up. Start looking ahead at your schedule and figuring out a ride situation if you’ll be unable to drive for an extended period.
If you do all these things and then follow through with your physical therapy exercises upon your return, we’re confident that you’ll make a strong recovery from shoulder surgery. For more information, or for help with your shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
