Shoulder Postop Rehab

Postop Exercises

A successful outcome depends on your commitment to the exercises!

After Arthroscopic Surgery:

  • Postop Instructions: Shoulder Arthroscopy
  • 2-6 weeks after Shoulder Arthroscopy
  • 6+ weeks after Shoulder Arthroscopy

    • After “Open” Acromioplasty or Rotator Cuff Repair

  • Postop Instructions: Rotator Cuff Surgery
  • 2-6 weeks after Rotator Cuff Surgery
  • 6+ Weeks after Rotator Cuff Surgery

    • Info from AAOS

    Postop Pain Control

    To be comfortable after surgery:

    Position:

    • Properly support your arm, let gravity help you.
    • Sleep in a reclining chair, or with a large bolster supporting your whole back. 
    • Keep a small pillow behind your upper arm to raise your elbow forward; rest your forearm on your tummy.
    • Don’t try to lie flat; it’s not dangerous, but it will hurt.  
    • The sling supports the weight of your forearm; let your upper arm hang comfortably. 
    • Wear the sling when up and around, and while sleeping; you can take it off while sitting, resting or showering. 
    • Wear shirts that button up the front. 
    • Gradually increase how much, and for how long, you use your arm…use your symptoms as a guide. 

     Medication:

    • As instructed, usually Ibuprofen and Vicodin.
    • Take your pain medicine regularly for the first 2-3 days, as scheduled, even if you’re fairly comfortable.  You’ll cut down after a few days.
    • Novocaine in the shoulder will keep you comfortable for 8-12 hours postop.
    • Sometimes, a Pain Pump is used to slowly drip novocaine into your shoulder for up to 2 days.    
      • See the Pain Pump brochure for more details.
      • You may have seen news reports (or lawyers’ TV ads) about complications from the Pain Pump.  There was even an article in the New York Times about it.These RARE complications arose when the catheter was placed within the joint after capsular stabilization procedures.  Orthopaedic surgeons across the country are studying this to understand why it happens.  I’ve used the On-Q pump safely since 2000 with no complications because the catheter is placed in the subacromial space (not the joint).  
      • Visit the On-Q company website

     Ice:  

    • LARGE ice pack around your shoulder 20 minutes every 3-4 hours. 
    • Fill 2 gallon-sized zippered plastic bags with ice cubes, or buy several LARGE gel-packs that you can rotate through the freezer.

    Please write down any notes or questions, and bring them to your pre-operative visit for us to talk about.