After your procedure, your doctor will give you a sling or shoulder immobilizer to restrict your arm movement. The length of time you wear your sling or immobilizer depends on the extent of your rotator cuff injury and the type of surgery you had. With many rotator cuff surgeries, you wear a sling or immobilizer at all times for weeks.
During this time, you can move your hand, wrist, and fingers, but the full motion of your arm is limited. Physical therapy is an essential part of your recovery process. This program includes specially designed exercises to increase your shoulder strength, flexibility, and range of motion as it heals. You must also be careful not to load the shoulder pushing yourself out of chairs or the bath, for three months after surgery. There may be other movement restrictions that you will be told about if they apply.
No movement except exercises. You will basically be one-handed immediately after your operation for three to five weeks. This will affect your ability to do everyday activities including dressing, bathing, shopping, eating and preparing meals. This starts when you have been given the go ahead by the hospital doctors or physiotherapist to start to regain muscle control and movement. You can now start using your shoulder for daily activities.
To start with, these will be at waist level, but you can gradually return to light tasks with your arm away from your body. After 12 weeks, you will be able to increase your activities, using your arm away from your body for heavier tasks. The exercises now have an emphasis on regaining strength and getting the maximum movement from your shoulder. Generally, don't be frightened to start moving the arm as much as you can; gradually the movements will become less painful.
When you go back to work will depend on what you do. Most people in desk based jobs are able to return in six to eight weeks. Jobs requiring significant manual work or heavy lifting often require at least three to four months off work. You can drive as soon as you feel confident, competent and in complete control of the vehicle.
You should start with short journeys, initially with somebody accompanying you. You should not try to drive until after six weeks, and after the sling is removed entirely. Your physiotherapist will guide you on the best time to start a short journey. Please discuss the activities you want to do with your physiotherapist or consultant. Your level of activity will increase as your rehabilitation progresses. Generally it is six months before you can return to non-contact sports, and 9 months to a year before returning to contact sports.
Swimming is very good for strengthening your shoulder. You can try a gentle, modified stroke at six to eight weeks and aim for free style after 12 weeks. Always be guided by pain with introducing new activities and do not push through sharp pain.
Those of you who have had shoulder surgery know that wearing a sling or immobilizer for several weeks is one of the least favorite parts of the recovery process. Getting the immobilizer on and off can be cumbersome, confusing, and may require some help.
Wearing the sling feels unnatural, hot, and uncomfortable. However, use of a sling or shoulder immobilizer is a necessary evil for a good recovery! Mayo Clinic has published a number of videos to review use of slings and immobilizers. Links to these videos are provided below.
Yes and no. Most slings and immobilizers have in common the use of a strap around the neck to help support the weight of the arm. Many immobilizers also include a strap around the waist to further protect the arm from rotating around the trunk. In our surgical practice, we use one of three shoulder immobilizers: the classic shoulder sling , an immobilizer with a small pillow shoulder abduction sling , and a less common immobilizer with a larger pillow external rotation brace.
The abduction sling combines a classic sling connected through Velcro strips to a small pillow that fits the side of the trunk. The forearm rests over the pillow, keeping the shoulder slightly separated off the body.
The abduction sling also keeps the shoulder in some outward or external rotation, beneficial for some conditions. In addition, the fitting contour of the pillow limits how much the shoulder can rotate around the body. Abduction slings are commonly used for fracture management as well as after rotator cuff repair or shoulder replacement.
Click on the following links to understand how to put on a shoulder abduction sling while seating or standing. The classic sling combines a strap around the neck with a strap around the trunk, supporting the shoulder and keeping the forearm resting on the body. The shoulder rests in an inwards or internal rotation position, which may be particularly beneficial after soft-tissue anterior instability surgery and other procedures.
Click on the following links to understand how to put on a shoulder sling while seating or standing.
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