NOTE: Please read the routine postoperative instructions as well.
To some extent, how active you can be depends on what we find and do at surgery. Please look to me for instructions. All patients are encouraged to do arm pendulum exercises the first week until I see you back. These are performed by leaning over a counter/table on your opposite elbow. The operative arm is allowed to dangle. Let gravity do all the work and draw circles with you hand.
Remember complete recovery can take some time. I use the analogy of falling down a hill. When your shoulder problems began, you started “tumbling down a hill.” Muscles get weak as you protect the arm. Other muscles are recruited for arm motion and often begin hurting too. Atrophy can occur. Your surgery basically “stops the fall” down the hill.
It is up to you to climb back out by regaining motion, strengthening weak muscles, and allowing the inflammation to settle down.
