THIS IS RELEVANT IF YOU HAVE HAD ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS AND NEED TO
BE IN A SLING FOR 3 TO 6 WEEKS:
SHOULDER REPLACEMENT FOR ARTHRITIS
If you have had a Shoulder Replacement for Fracture or TumourCLICK HERE
FOLLOWING YOUR SHOULDER OPERATION YOU WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW PRECAUTIONS FOR A
FEW WEEKS TO PROTECT YOUR SHOULDER:
GETTING WASHED: FOR
THE FIRST 3 WEEKS, YOU MAY NEED SOME ASSISTANCE TO GET WASHED AND
DRESSED. TO WASH AND DRESS YOUR OPERATED ARM, REMOVE YOUR SLING
AND HAVE YOUR ARM BY YOUR SIDE. YOU WILL FIND IT EASIER TO EITHER SIT ON THE
EDGE OF A CHAIR OR STAND UP, WITH YOUR ARM 'HANGING' BY YOUR SIDE. YOU
SHOULD BE ABLE TO WASH YOUR OPERATED ARM WITH YOUR UN-OPERATED
ARM IN THIS POSITION. FOR THE FIRST 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 AFTER 5 DAYS, YOUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WILL
ASSESS YOU WITH THIS PRIOR TO DISCHARGE.THIS WILL MAKE WASHING EASIER. 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.
GETTING DRESSED: 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.
THREE WEEKS AFTER YOUR OPERATION, YOU CAN
RETURN TODRESSING 'NORMALLY'.
FEEDING: FOR THE
FIRST 3 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 3 WEEKS YOU MUST ONLY PUSH UP FROM THE BED,
CHAIR, TOILET AND BATH USING YOUR UN-OPERATED ARM. AFTER THREE 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 3
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 3 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY YOU MAY LIFT LIGHTITEMS,
THIS MEANS THINGS THAT YOU CAN LIFT EASILYWITH ONE HAND.
HOUSEWORK: LIGHT
HOUSEWORK MAY RESUME AFTER 3 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 THREE 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.
