Jump to content

Choose locationNot Set
  • Sign in or Register
    • I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
X Close Window

We've expanded your view

You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Sutter Health
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Register
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Ways to Give
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Previous Page
Content

Shoulder Surgery - Discharge

Alternate Names

SLAP repair - discharge; Acromioplasty - discharge; Bankart - discharge; Shoulder repair - discharge; Shoulder arthroscopy - discharge

When You Were in the Hospital

You had shoulder surgery to repair the tissues inside or around your shoulder joint. The surgeon may have used a tiny camera called an arthroscope to see inside your shoulder.

You may have needed open surgery if your surgeon could not repair your shoulder with the arthroscope. If you had open surgery, you have a large cut (incision).

What to Expect at Home

You will need to wear a sling when you leave the hospital. You may also need to wear a shoulder immobilizer. This keeps your shoulder from moving. How long you need to wear the sling or immobilizer depends on the type of surgery you had.

Open Article Detail

Activity

Wear the sling or immobilizer at all times, unless your surgeon says you do not have to.

If you had rotator cuff or other ligament or labral surgery, you need to be careful with your shoulder. Follow instructions on what arm movements are safe.

Consider making some changes around your home so it is easier for you to take care of yourself.

Your surgeon or physical therapist may teach you exercises to do at home. Keep doing the exercises for as long as you are told. This helps strengthen the muscles that support your shoulder and ensures it heals well.

You may not be able to drive for a few weeks. Your doctor or physical therapist will tell you when it is ok.

Ask your doctor about which sports and other activities are ok for you after you recover.

Pain

Your doctor will give you a prescription for pain medicines. Get it filled when you go home so you have it when you need it. Take your pain medicine when you start having pain so pain does not get too bad.

Narcotic pain medicine (codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone) can make you constipated. If you are taking them, drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits and vegetables and other high-fiber foods to help keep your stools loose.

DO NOT drink alcohol or drive if you are taking these pain medicines.

Taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or other anti-inflammatory medicines with your prescription pain medicine may help also. Ask your doctor about using them. Follow instructions exactly on how to take your medicines.

Wound Care

Place ice packs on the dressing (bandage) over your wound (incision) 4 to 6 times a day for about 20 minutes each time. Wrap the ice in a clean towel or cloth. DO NOT place it directly on the dressing. Ice helps keep swelling down.

Your sutures (stitches) will be removed about 1 week after surgery.

Keep your bandage and your wound clean and dry. Ask your doctor if it is ok to change the dressing. Keeping a gauze pad under your arm may help absorb sweat and keep your underarm skin from getting irritated or sore. DO NOT place any lotion or ointment on your incision.

Check with your doctor about when you can start taking showers if you have a sling or shoulder immobilizer. Take sponge baths until you can shower. When you do shower:

  • Place a waterproof bandage or plastic wrap over the wound to keep it dry.
  • When you can shower without covering the wound, do not scrub it. Gently wash your wound.
  • Be careful to keep your arm by your side. To clean under this arm, lean to the side, and let it hang down away from your body. Reach under it with your other arm to clean under it. DO NOT raise it as you clean it.
  • DO NOT soak the wound in a bath tub, hot tub, or swimming pool.

Follow-up

You will probably see the surgeon every 4 to 6 weeks if you had a complicated shoulder repair surgery.

When to Call the Doctor

Call the surgeon or nurse if you have any of the following:

  • Bleeding that soaks through your dressing and does not stop when you place pressure over the area
  • Pain that does not go away when you take your pain medicine
  • Swelling in your arm
  • Numbness or tingling in your fingers or hand
  • Your hand or fingers are darker in color or feel cool to the touch
  • Redness, pain, swelling, or a yellowish discharge from any of the wounds
  • Temperature higher than 101 °F (38.3°C)

Also call the doctor if your hand or fingers are darker in color or feel cool to the touch.

References

Throckmorton TW. Shoulder and elbow arthroplasty. In: Canale ST, Beatty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2012:chap 12.

X

Related Articles

From Sutter Health

    Talking To Your MD

      Self Care

        Other Related Content

          Care Near You

          Find Nearby Doctors

          Not just a doctor, a partner. Find a Sutter Health network doctor today.

          Find Nearby Locations

          Convenient care that’s close to home, from urgent care to imaging.

          Find Nearby Events

          Classes, support groups and more. Because care doesn’t stop at the doctor’s office.

          The Sutter Health Network of Care
          Expertise to fit your needs
          Primary Care

          Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

          Specialty Care

          Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

          Emergency Care

          For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

          Urgent Care

          After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

          Walk-In Care

          Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

          About Sutter

        • About Our Network
        • Annual Report
        • Awards
        • Community Benefit
        • Contact Us
        • News Room
        • Ways to Give
        • Find Care

        • Birth Centers
        • Care Centers
        • Emergency Rooms
        • Hospitals
        • Imaging
        • Labs
        • Surgery Centers
        • Urgent Care
        • Walk-In Care
        • View All >
        • Featured Services

        • Behavioral Health
        • Cancer Services
        • Family Medicine
        • Home Health and Hospice
        • Orthopedics
        • Pediatrics
        • Pregnancy
        • Primary Care
        • Women's Health
        • View All >
        • Patient Resources

        • Accepted Health Plans
        • Classes and Events
        • Estimate Costs
        • Flu Resources
        • Health and Wellness
        • Medical Records
        • Medicare
        • My Health Online
        • Pay a Bill
        • Symptom Checker
        • Our Team

        • For Employees
        • Physician Careers
        • Recruiting Events
        • Sutter Careers
        • Vendors
        • Volunteers
          • ADA Accessibility
          • Contact
          • Privacy Policy
          • Terms of Use

          • LinkedIn Opens new window
          • YouTube Opens new window
          • Facebook Opens new window
          • Twitter Opens new window
          • Glassdoor Opens new window
          • Instagram Opens new window

          Copyright © 2019 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.