What to wear after shoulder replacement

Posted by cattanzer @cattanzer, Apr 28, 2021

How does one dress with an immobile arm? Are there special clothes with snaps? Ladies please advise!

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Cattanzer.... so glad your surgery went well. I was concerned about arm movement when the sling was removed so I wore a T-shirt to bed with my arm inside the shirt. That way I knew it wouldn't fly all around. Were you able to have the nerve block and did it help?

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@ltsally

Cattanzer.... so glad your surgery went well. I was concerned about arm movement when the sling was removed so I wore a T-shirt to bed with my arm inside the shirt. That way I knew it wouldn't fly all around. Were you able to have the nerve block and did it help?

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Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

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@cattanzer

Fabulous surgery job!! Have seen surgeon. One week till sleeping with no sling. Three weeks till no bulky sling. Thnx

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@cattanzer I would love to hear updates on how your shoulder progresses. I was told by my orthopedic surgeon that I am a candidate for shoulder replacement whenever I decide the pain is too much. I've had both knees replaced, so not looking for another surgery soon, but the time will probably come in the next year or so. I was horrified to discover that that a person has to keep the arm immobile for so long after surgery. I don't know how I'll get along without using my right hand for everything. I assumed it would be like knee replacement where they want you to use it as much as possible from the get go. Four to six weeks in a sling sounds awful. I would love to hear how to get through it.

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@ltsally

Cattanzer.... so glad your surgery went well. I was concerned about arm movement when the sling was removed so I wore a T-shirt to bed with my arm inside the shirt. That way I knew it wouldn't fly all around. Were you able to have the nerve block and did it help?

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Nerve block worked! Thnx. Tshirt over arm brilliant!

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@ddsack

@cattanzer I would love to hear updates on how your shoulder progresses. I was told by my orthopedic surgeon that I am a candidate for shoulder replacement whenever I decide the pain is too much. I've had both knees replaced, so not looking for another surgery soon, but the time will probably come in the next year or so. I was horrified to discover that that a person has to keep the arm immobile for so long after surgery. I don't know how I'll get along without using my right hand for everything. I assumed it would be like knee replacement where they want you to use it as much as possible from the get go. Four to six weeks in a sling sounds awful. I would love to hear how to get through it.

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What a nuisance. Constantly Lining the sling with 100% cotton bar cloths. Day and night. I took the strap off at night. Needed a lot of help first two weeks. Bathing. Everything. Driving now. Phew!

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@ddsack

@cattanzer I would love to hear updates on how your shoulder progresses. I was told by my orthopedic surgeon that I am a candidate for shoulder replacement whenever I decide the pain is too much. I've had both knees replaced, so not looking for another surgery soon, but the time will probably come in the next year or so. I was horrified to discover that that a person has to keep the arm immobile for so long after surgery. I don't know how I'll get along without using my right hand for everything. I assumed it would be like knee replacement where they want you to use it as much as possible from the get go. Four to six weeks in a sling sounds awful. I would love to hear how to get through it.

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Hi there @cattanzer......although you didn't ask me, I will chime in and say that you get through it one day at a time. Mine surgery was a reverse replacement on my right shoulder. I am right-handed and at the time I owned and ran an art gallery. My family came and stayed, my friends drove me around ...... even my customers pitched in and wrapped their own purchases.

Since I don't remember anymore, I think it just mosied along until it was time for PT and strengthening exercises.

May you be safe, protected and free from inner and outer harm.
Chris

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@artscaping

Hi there @cattanzer......although you didn't ask me, I will chime in and say that you get through it one day at a time. Mine surgery was a reverse replacement on my right shoulder. I am right-handed and at the time I owned and ran an art gallery. My family came and stayed, my friends drove me around ...... even my customers pitched in and wrapped their own purchases.

Since I don't remember anymore, I think it just mosied along until it was time for PT and strengthening exercises.

May you be safe, protected and free from inner and outer harm.
Chris

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Chris, I appreciate info from anyone who has gone through this! How many days/weeks after shoulder replacement surgery do they have you start PT? Before the slings come off?

I am thinking ahead and trying to coordinate a time of year that would be easier for my husband to drive me to PT for 4-6 weeks. I was hoping to put surgery off for another year, but recent painful incidents might make me move it up. I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon in July, have been getting cortisone shots, but they don't help my shoulder as much as they used to. I know I have been stressing the shoulder with all the garden work with rakes and shovels and heavy carrying, so maybe it will settle down once the major work is over.

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@artscaping

Hi there @cattanzer......although you didn't ask me, I will chime in and say that you get through it one day at a time. Mine surgery was a reverse replacement on my right shoulder. I am right-handed and at the time I owned and ran an art gallery. My family came and stayed, my friends drove me around ...... even my customers pitched in and wrapped their own purchases.

Since I don't remember anymore, I think it just mosied along until it was time for PT and strengthening exercises.

May you be safe, protected and free from inner and outer harm.
Chris

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Thank you.

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@ddsack

Chris, I appreciate info from anyone who has gone through this! How many days/weeks after shoulder replacement surgery do they have you start PT? Before the slings come off?

I am thinking ahead and trying to coordinate a time of year that would be easier for my husband to drive me to PT for 4-6 weeks. I was hoping to put surgery off for another year, but recent painful incidents might make me move it up. I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon in July, have been getting cortisone shots, but they don't help my shoulder as much as they used to. I know I have been stressing the shoulder with all the garden work with rakes and shovels and heavy carrying, so maybe it will settle down once the major work is over.

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The shots will delay surgery. For months. After the surgery, You will be driving after three weeks. I got off prescription pain pills after a week or so. First two weeks you will be SO DEPENDENT on another person. Bathing cooking walking dog. Cutting tops off strawberries! I built a pillow cocoon to sleep in so i do not move around. PT starts the same week as surgery btw! No regrets here.

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I had reverse total shoulder and found great zippered tops at rebound wear.com they are not cheap but not only were they great for dr visits but also for physical therapy. I also got Velcro nightgowns and Velcro shirts from Etsy. To this day 2 years post op I still wear the rebound wear active shirts I got they are stylish. Also good idea to get pulleys, weights ( I have 1 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb, 5 lb & 8 lbs and have red, yellow, and blue therabands and use them all to this day as need to keep up exercises for life.

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