This page has developed because some patients wished to help others learn from their previous experiences, when undergoing this type of surgery and wanted to pass on useful suggestions that we, the clinicians, may overlook or take for granted. If you want to add some helpful information please send it to me and I will pass it on.

Blood thinners to be stopped pre-operatively

I was asked to stop all blood thinners 10 days before surgery but was not aware then that also included fish oil!

Yes, Fish oil is a blood thinner and must be stopped before surgery, just as you should stop the following medication so that you do not have excessive bleeding during or after the proposed surgery

• asprin (Action Cold and Flu Tabs, Alka-Seltzer, Aspalgin, Aspro/Aspro Clear,Astrix, Bayer Asprin, Bex Powders/Tabs, Bufferin, Cardiprin, Codiphen, Codis, Codox, Codral Forte, Decrin Powders, Disprin, Ecotrin, Morphalgin, Pecodan, Solcode,Solprin, Sra, Veganin, Vincent Powders/Tabs, Winsprin, Fish oil)
  
• anti-inflammatories (Brufen, Feldene, Indocid, Naprogesic, Naprosyn, Niapren, Neurofen, Orudis, Surgam, Tilcotil, Voltaren)
• anticoagulants (K- thrombin, Warfarin, Phenindione, Plavix)

In Hospital

"a couple of things which would have made the past week easier for me......

Friday (4 days after surgery) was my worst day - 'bowels day'! I think this trauma would have been eased if I had known to take some laxative right from the start."

Wound Dressing after Shoulder Surgery

Doctor arranged for my clear Opsite dressing to be changed after my shower, the day after the shoulder surgery. I obviously didn't take note that I could still shower over the new Hypafix dressing. It is a woven type of dressing so I did not let it get wet but found out later that is was fine to just shower normally and pat the dressing dry afterwards.
I did remember to remove the dressing after 10 days though, looking forward to my first real shower.

Yes, it is fine to just shower normally at home, letting the water to flow over the white woven Hypafix dressing then pat it dry after the shower. Remove it after 10 days as the wound will be fully healed by that time. This lessens the chance of getting an infection from your own skin.
There are no stitches to be removed, they are under the skin and will dissolve naturally.

Wound Dressing after Shoulder Joint Replacement

However, after a shoulder joint replacement, we want you to enter the hydrotherapy pool about day 5, before the wound is healed, so a water impermeable dressing such as Opsite is applied before leaving the operating hospital, and remains on till the first review by Dr. Wicks, 3 weeks after the operation.

At Night

"........sleeping at night. I have finally settled on lying on my back partially propped up with half a dozen pillows, and with my affected arm resting on a couple of pillows. It was a delight finally to have a pain free night."

"I found sleeping at night to be a painful experience, after shoulder surgery. So I looked for ways of taking the pressure off the tender area & this is what I found to be the most helpful. By using an adult bean bag with a U-pillow at the top/rear I was able to position my trunk in a semi-sitting up position, supported at the sides. I could also support my arm & hollow out the section that pressed on the sore area of my shoulder. By using a U-pillow I could support my head & obtain a reasonable amount of sleep.

I hope this information is of help to your patients.

Thanks for a job well done."

Hygene

"Even little things like leaning forward to wash under your arm are useful to know."

Women

" I would like to reassure senior independent women that they can manage to look after themselves without assistance - BUT ensure their clothes are front fastening - especially bras ( some lingerie shops will alter suitable bras to front fastening ).

{ This was an important worry for me & I was pleasantly surprised at how well I could manage! }"

Even after the A-C (acromio-clavcular) joint has been excised, bras can be worn but there will be tenderness over the small superior scar for some months. No harm will be done to the shoulder or scar.
Many women have commented that it is much easier using ones with front clasps.

Scarring

"I found the use of Rose Hip Oil to help quick healing of my shoulder wound with minimal scarring, discolouration or indentation."

Rotator Cuff Repair

One patient suggested on her 3 month review that she found:

• dressing independently was initially difficult and that she needed help from her husband.
• she used front opening shirts & bras (could only do up bras at back after 3 months).
• food preparation was difficult for 2 weeks.

Travelling

"I found that by resting my arm on an inflatable pillow the discomfort felt when travelling in a car or plane was greatly reduced. The arm was not only supported but the blow-up pillow absorbed the vibrations and reduced any jarring, jerking or jolting caused by the vehicles motion - despite all care by the driver. By adjusting the amount of tension in the pillow I could adjust the softness or transmitted sensations."

I appreciate the patients' time and consideration for those following them, by passing on their experiences.

If you want to pass on some comments please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it