THIS IS RELEVANT IF YOU HAVE HAD ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS AND NEED TO
BE IN A SLING FOR 6 WEEKS:
SHOULDER REPLACEMENT FOR FRACTURE OR TUMOUR
ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR
SHOULDER STABILISATION
AC JOINT STABILISATION (WEAVER-DUNN)
FRACTURE FIXATION
FOLLOWING YOUR SHOULDER OPERATION YOU WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW PRECAUTIONS FOR A
FEW WEEKS TO PROTECT YOUR SHOULDER:
1. GETTING WASHED: FOR THE FIRST 3 WEEKS
AFTER YOUR OPERATION, YOU MUST STRIP WASH ONLY, KEEPING YOUR OPERATED
ARM IN YOUR SLING AT ALL TIMES. YOU WILL NEED HELP TO WASH YOUR
UN-OPERATED ARM DURING THISPERIOD.AFTER 3 WEEKS,
YOU MAY STILL REQUIRE SOME ASSISTANCE BUT YOU MAY REMOVE YOUR SLING WHILE
YOU HAVE A WASH
[SEE INSTRUCTIONS FOR REMOVAL OF SLING]. AT
THIS STAGE, YOU WILL FIND IT EASIER TO EITHER SIT ON THE EDGE OF A CHAIR OR
STAND UP, WITH YOUR ARM 'HANGING' BY YOUR SIDE
[SEE GETTING DRESSED BELOW]. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE
TO WASH YOUR OPERATED ARM WITH YOUR UN-OPERATED ARM IN THIS
POSITION. DURING THE NEXT 3 WEEKS YOU WILL NEED ASSISTANCE TO WASH
YOUR UN-OPERATED ARM, AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE YOUR OPERATED
ARM FOR THIS. IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO USE EITHER A CUBICLE SHOWER, OR AN
OVERBATH SHOWER
[YOUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WILL ADVISE YOU ABOUT THIS].
TO DRY YOURSELF, IT MAY BE EASIER TO PUT A TOWELLING BATHROBE ON, WHICH WILL
HELP TO DRY YOUR UN-OPERATED ARM.SEE BELOW FOR CORRECT TECHNIQUE FOR
DRESSING.
2.
GETTING DRESSED:
FOR THE FIRST 3 WEEKS, YOU MUST WEAR THE SLING UNDER YOUR CLOTHES. AFTER 3
WEEKS YOU MAY WEAR THE SLING OVER YOUR CLOTHES. AT THIS STAGE YOU WILL FIND IT
EASIER TO WEAR FRONT OPENING CLOTHES. ALWAYS DRESS YOUR OPERATED ARM FIRST.
SIT ON THE EDGE OF A CHAIR OR STAND WITH YOUR ARM ' HANGING' BY YOUR SIDE.
SLIDE YOUR OPERATED ARM INTO THE GARMENT FIRST USING YOUR
UN-OPERATED ARM. DO NOT ASSIST WITH YOUR OPERATED ARM, JUST LET IT
HANG LOOSE. ONCE THIS ARM IS FULLY IN THE SLEEVE BRING THE GARMENT AROUND YOUR
BACK AND PUT THE OTHER ARM IN. ANY FASTENERS MUST BE FASTENED ONLY WITH YOUR
UN -OPERATED ARM. YOUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO DO
THIS. ONCE YOU HAVE DRESSED YOUR UPPER BODY, PLACE YOUR ARM BACK IN THE SLING
.
6 WEEKS AFTER YOUR OPERATION, YOU CAN RETURN TO DRESSING 'NORMALLY'.
FEEDING: FOR THE
FIRST 6 WEEKS AFTER YOUR OPERATION, YOU MUST FEED YOURSELF WITH YOUR
UN-OPERATED HAND ONLY. AFTER THIS TIME YOU MAY RETURN TO FEEDING YOURSELF
'NORMALLY' USING BOTH HANDS. YOUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WILL ASSESS YOU WITH
THIS.
TRANSFERING : THIS
MEANS GETTING IN AND OUT OF YOUR CHAIR, BED AND BATH AND GETTING ON AND OFF
YOUR TOILET. FOR THE FIRST 6 WEEKS YOU MUST ONLY PUSH UP FROM THE BED,
CHAIR, TOILET AND BATH USING YOUR UN-OPERATED ARM. AFTER 6 WEEKS
YOU MAY RETURN TO USING BOTH ARMS AS PAIN ALLOWS.
SLEEPING: FOR THE
FIRST 6 WEEKS YOUR SLING SHOULD BE KEPT ON WHILE YOU ARE IN BED. YOU
MAY FIND IT MORE COMFORTABLE TO SLEEP ON YOUR BACK INITIALLY, WITH A PILLOW
UNDER YOUR OPERATED ARM FOR SUPPORT.
KITCHEN ACTIVITIES:
THIS INCLUDES MAKING MEALS, SNACKS AND DRINKS FOR YOURSELF. FOR THE FIRST 6 WEEKS YOU MUST ONLY USE YOUR UN-OPERATED ARM FOR KITCHEN ACTIVITIES. AFTER
THIS TIME YOU MAY RETURN TO USING BOTH ARMS. AVOID LIFTING ANYTHING HEAVY FOR
6 MONTHS. AT 6 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY YOU MAY LIFT LIGHTITEMS,
THIS MEANS THINGS THAT YOU CAN LIFT EASILYWITH ONE HAND.
HOUSEWORK: LIGHT
HOUSEWORK MAY RESUME AFTER 6 WEEKS. MORE STENUOS HOUSEWORK SHOULD BE
AVOIDED UNTIL 6 MONTHS AFTER YOUR OPERATION. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT
ABOUT THIS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONSULTANT.
STAIRS: WHEN
CLIMBING/DESCENDING THE STAIRS, HOLD THE BANNISTER WITH YOU
UN-OPERATED ARM. THIS MAY MEAN THAT A SECOND BANNISTER IS REQUIRED. YOUR
OCCUPATIONAL THERIPIST CAN REFER FOR THIS. AFTER 6 WEEKS YOU MAY HOLD THE
BANNISTER WITH EITHER ARM.
NB ALL THE ABOVE ARE GUIDELINES ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR
ADDITIONAL QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONSULTANT.
