1. Diet
- Begin with clear liquids and light foods (Jell-O, soups, etc.)
- Progress to your normal diet if you are not nauseated
2. WOUND CARE
- Maintain your operative dressing, loosen bandage if swelling of the elbow, wrist, or hand occurs
- It is normal for the shoulder to bleed and swell following surgery – if blood soaks through the bandage, do not become alarmed – reinforce with additional dressing
- Remove surgical dressing on the 2nd post-operative day – if minimal drainage is present, apply waterproof band-aids over incisions and change daily
- To avoid infection, keep surgical incisions clean and dry – you may shower by placing a large garbage bag over your sling starting the day after surgery
- Once surgical bandages are taken off (2nd day) you may shower, with waterproof Band-Aids in place. Do not scrub the area and pat it dry. NO immersion of operative arm (i.e. bath) Change Band-Aids daily.
3. MEDICATIONS
- Pain medication is injected into the wound and shoulder joint during surgery – this will wear off within 8-12 hours
- Most patients will require some narcotic pain medication for a short period of time
– this can be taken as per directions on the bottle
- Primary Medication = Oxycodone
- Take 1 – 2 tablets every 4 – 6 hours as needed
- Max of 12 pills per day
- Plan on using it for 2 to 5 days, depending on level of pain
- Common side effects of the pain medication are nausea, drowsiness, and constipation – to decrease the side effects, take medication with food.
- If constipation occurs, consider taking an over-the-counter laxative
- If you are having problems with nausea and vomiting, contact the office to possibly have your medication changed
- Do not drive a car or operate machinery while taking the narcotic medication
- Ibuprofen 400-600mg (i.e. Advil) may be taken in between the narcotic pain medication to help smooth out the post-operative ‘peaks and valleys’, reduce overall amount of pain medication required, and increase the time intervals between narcotic pain medication usage.
4. ACTIVITY
- When sleeping or resting, inclined positions (i.e. reclining chair) and a pillow under the forearm for support may provide better comfort
- Do not engage in activities which increase pain/swelling (lifting or any repetitive above shoulder level activities) over the first 7-10 days following surgery
- Avoid long periods of sitting (without arm supported) or long distance traveling for 2 weeks
- NO driving until instructed otherwise by physician
- May return to sedentary work ONLY or school 3-4 days after surgery, if pain is tolerable
5. IMMOBILIZER (if prescribed)
- Your sling should be worn for comfort purposes only – Encourage you to discontinue sling once block has worn off. Discontinue sling by post op day 3.
6. ICE THERAPY
- Begin immediately after surgery
- Use icing machine continuously or ice packs (if machine not prescribed) every 2 hours for 20 minutes daily until your first post-operative visit – remember to keep arm supported while icing
- DonJoy device may be used.
- Use unit as frequently as tolerated x 14 days
- Unit is programmed hour on/hour off continuous of compression and ice alternating
- If braced - Loosen brace to avoid added pressure
7. EXERCISE
- Begin pendulum, elbow, wrist, and hand exercises 24 hours after surgery – complete 3-4 times per day until your first post-operative visit
- If bicep tenodesis was performed, do not do any active elbow flexion. Passive elbow flexion, however, is permitted.
- Formal physical therapy (PT) will begin the day after surgery and should be minimum of 3 days per week. Please ensure physical therapy is scheduled ahead of your surgery date.
8. EMERGENCIES
- Contact Dr. Howard or his staff at if any of the following are
present:
- Painful swelling or numbness
- Unrelenting pain
- Fever (over 101° - it is normal to have a low grade fever for the first day or two following surgery) or chills
- Redness around incisions
- Color change in wrist or hand
- Continuous drainage or bleeding from incision (a small amount of drainage is expected)
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive nausea/vomiting
Other Shoulder Post-Op Instructions
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