Blog Archives

Your ability to start activities will be dependent on pain, range of movement and strength that you have in your shoulder. It is best to start with short sessions involving little effort and then gradually increase the effort or time for the activity.

This will depend on the type of work you do and the extent of the surgery. If you have a job involving arm movements close to your body you may be able to return within 3 weeks. Most people return within 3 months of the operation, but you have a heavy lifting job or one with sustained overhead arm movement you may require 3 to 6 months off. Please discuss this further with the consultant or physiotherapist if you feel unsure.

It is illegal to drive while wearing a sling. You may start to drive once the sling has been discarded, but not until you can safely control the vehicle. This is normally between 8 and 12 weeks after the operation. It is advisable to start with short journeys.

It is important to recognise that improvement is slow and that this is not a quick fix operation. By 3-6 months after the operation, most people have noticed an improvement in their symptoms and are pleased with their progress. Everything continues to improve slowly up to 18 months, although 9-12 months after the operation your shoulder should feel almost back to normal.

For 3 weeks possibly, or 6 weeks depending on your operation:

• Do not use the arm for everyday activities, especially those taking your elbow away from your body because this July damage the repair. Keep it in the sling, except when you are doing your exercises. Continue with this until you are told otherwise by the consultant or physiotherapist.
• Do not let your elbow move or stretch across the front of your body. This can happen at night when you are lying on your un-operated side. So once you stop using the sling, place your arm on pillows in front of you for 6 weeks.
• Do not lie on your operated side. After this time, be guided by pain. Avoid lifting any weight for 8-12 weeks (e.g. a kettle). This is to avoid stressing the repaired muscle. Heavy lifting (e.g. digging the garden, manual work) should be avoided for 4-6 months.
• There are other movements that are restricted for you and you will be told about them if this is the case. Within these general instructions be guided by pain. It is normal for you to feel discomfort, aching and stretching sensations when you start to use your arm. Intense and lasting pain e.g. 30 minutes is an indication to reduce that particular activity or exercise. In addition, avoid sudden, forceful movements involving weight.

This is usually arranged for about 2 weeks after your operation to check your wound. You will see the consultant 4 weeks after surgery. Discuss any queries or worries you may have when you are at the clinic. Further clinic appointments are made after this as necessary.

You will not have any stitches, only small sticking plaster strips over two or three small wounds. Keep the wounds dry until they are healed, which is normally within 5-7 days. You must keep them covered when showering or bathing for the first week.

Yes, to begin with, you will be moving the elbow, wrist and hand joints only using the specific exercises which the physiotherapist will show you. You will continue with these exercises at home for between 3 and 6 weeks depending on your particular operation. Outpatient physiotherapy appointments will be organised to start after this. However, if your shoulder is particularly sore or you are having problems with the exercises, you will be seen earlier. You will need to get into the habit of doing regular daily exercises at home for several months. They will enable you go gain maximum benefit from your operation. Some of the early exercises are shown at the back of this booklet.

You can go home the same day.

Yes, it is extremely important to protect the tendon repair by using a sling day and night following the operation. This also makes your arm more comfortable. You will be shown how to get your arm in and out of the sling by a nurse or physiotherapist. You will wear the sling for up to 6 weeks depending on the size of the repair.