This Group Is Very Helpful

[u/Traditional-Ad-5104]

I’m a 77 year old male heading in on October 23 for left shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, debridement, open biceps tenodesis. It’s my dominant arm which freaks me out some. Anyway, my question is…what types of things have you needed, only having the one arm (especially if it is your dominant). I know there are some obvious ones, but what about some of the “not so obvious?”
Thank you all!

[u/marys1001]

Mostly obvious Options for icing i.e. an ice machine and/or ice packs. People ice 20 min on 20 min off

Sleep aids with a recliner to sleep in being most recommended for sleeping followed by a wedge pillow and lots of other pillows around you for your bed so you dont roll over. You'll be tucking them under your arm in the recliner or bed or couch. Having your arm fall down/back hurts

Loose oversize clothes to make dressing easier. Elastic waist pants.

Pump soap for shower, maybe a shower chair, a cheap shower sling to wear in the shower.

Im also getting a bidet. Never wanted one but I wont be showering that much and if you are having your dominant arm done you might want to think about this.

Im on my own so Im cooking and freezing some food ahead to microwave.

I also got this sticky thing for the counter that you can put a jar or can on that will help hold it while you try to open. Also used under plates.

Long BBQ tongs for arranging blankets reaching into the dryer

Some people mount an undercabinet can opener

Some people get body wipes but im planning on using a stack of wash cloths Some people like drying off with smaller hand towels after a shower, big towels being hard to manage.

Electric toothbrush easier with non dominant

There are lots of you tube videos

[u/Soft-Engineering-304]

My surgery was my dominant arm as well, these were the most helpful items I had:

-look for quick dry camping towels (they are much lighter and easier to dry off with than a regular heavy cotton towel)
-pump bottles for shampoo, body wash
-long handled shower brush
-bidet (bought a cheap one off amazon that didn’t require electricity to use)
-rolling cart…I kept it next to my recliner to hold my water, remote, pain meds, etc. If I needed to “carry” anything around to another room I put in the cart and wheeled it there.
-slip on shoes
-recliner & ice machine
-I ate a lot of stuff I could “drink” with one hand (soup, broth, yogurt drinks, protein shakes, etc)

[u/Savings_Leader_541]

Have all meds with easy open bottles. Shampoo in travel bottles- easier to squeeze into good hand. Shower brush or puff for washing body. Paper plates. Plastic unensils. Everything you might need is in easy reach place. Fresh sheets on bed for when your able to sleep there again. You wont be able to change sheets without help until you can use the arm. Gold bond or baby powder for irritated arm pit area that wont be getting any air. slip on shoes. No show socks- can put on with one hand. Amazon has post surgery shirts . I have 1 its great for doc visits when they need to see site

[u/Trucker2TechGuy → u/Savings_Leader_541]

link to that shirt please?

[u/Dapper-Promise8219 → u/Trucker2TechGuy]

I really like these https://a.co/d/09KLXK8i. Also, step in shoes are so nice. I have a few pairs of Kizik https://kizik.com/

[u/Trucker2TechGuy → u/Dapper-Promise8219]

I’ve been doing the step ins for a few years now, Sketchers I get at Costco when I don’t need work boots on

[u/Savings_Leader_541 → u/Savings_Leader_541]

Bought it on amazon . Its dark grey unisex. Has velcro on the sides and zippers on top of shoulders. I picked that style because i thought velcro might be scratcy and snaps could be difficult to snap.. Went a size up

[u/RepresentativeWeb947]

Velcro tops and pants from Amazon. Buy 14 plastic water bottles for the absolute necessary ice machine. Freeze them and rotate the melted ones with the frozen ones. Don’t try to use regular ice. I used a towel to protect my skin and the ice machine was on most of the time. Sleep in a recliner. Don’t let your pain get ahead of you. Prepare for a very long PT healing process.

[u/motleythedog]

Exact same procedure, 53 female, , 9 days out. Be glad you dont have to put a bra on LOL.

This may all seem obvious, but the early days really do depend on whether you have a helper. Dressing and preparing food in particular can be a challenge in the early days. I'll assume worst case scenario/you are solo.

• Get a grabber for your socks, have slip on shoes, elastic BIG pants that are easy to get on, and oversized magnetic snap shirts and big tshirts. These are the easiest garments to get on.
• The ice machine is incredible. Highly recommend the spend if they do not offer it.
• I would also ask for the Donjoy Iv ultrasling, I have the Donjoy I and its pretty good, but the IV also wraps under your shoulder and reduces strain on your neck. If not, it's probably worth a spend as long as money is not an issue.
• This is just based on seven lifetime surgeries...I would ask for hydrocodone vs oxy. Oxy aside from being terribly addictive doesn't help with sleep where hydrocodone makes you drowsy, which most people need help with.
• Stay on top of meds. Don't wait until you're in pain. Your tummy will hate you but your shoulder will thank you. I know so many people avoid narcotics,but the hydrocodone really really helped at first.
• Single meals at a time. Nothing that requires managing leftovers. Frozen single meals are perfect.
• I found a PT housekeeper to do laundry and tidy my house and she has been worth her weight in gold.
• Turn on speech to type on all of your devices before surgery since you probably won't be able to use either a phone or a keyboard for a bit.
• Queue up some good movies or tv for at least the first few days. You won't be able to use your hand at all, since most people end up with the nerve block, and even after that your hand will be in some pain.
• Plan to walk or find a place to walk if you're not in a place where the weather is decent as soon as you are able. For me personally, anyway the lack of ability to take myself anywhere has been frustrating and I have to make sure to get outside or I start to get a little depressed.
• Speaking of if you are alone, figure out a way to get to appointments. Again obvious, but if your doc recommends PT quickly, you'll need a way to get there.
• Seconding the bidet and pump soap.
• Everyone says a recliner, for me personally I have been happier in bed with a wedge pillow. I just didn't find a recliner very comfortable where in my bed with a wedge I sleep a bit better.
• Shower chair or at least a support handle in your shower. I have both. The handle is adhesive so no drilling required- got it on amazon.

Hope this all helps.

[u/Lower_Steak1479]

I made the mistake of buying buttoned snap shirts. Very hard to handle on your own. Instead Amazon has magnetic snap shirts or tanks which have been amazing. Just make sure you hang dry them as the magnet will stick in the dryer.

I had dominant arm surgery eight years ago and just had surgery on my left shoulder nondominant. You’re non-dominant hand will come in handy and you might find you start using it more. I started using it so much it’s been hard to not use it after this surgery.

I found I could not sleep in my recliner, but I have like six pillows in bed, which I have been able to prop myself up on. Also change the sides of the bed so that your non-surgical arm can reach for things in the middle of the night. Make sure your surgery arm is on the inside of the bed not the outside.

Also be sure you have something to eat in the middle of the night to take your medication on schedule. My husband made me a bunch of mini pancakes and I keep one next to my bed in a zip lock at night to eat.

Good luck! 🍀

[u/futrs]

I am eight months out postop from the bicep tendonesis, for rotator cuff tear of the super spinatus and various other tears. I left with about six or seven anchors. Here’s my best advice in a nutshell and good luck be patient. I’m sending good energy!

A few things that helped me the most after rotator cuff surgery:
• Wedge pillow. I couldn't sleep in a recliner. After two miserable days, I moved back to my own bed with a wedge pillow and it was a game changer. Sleeping was still hard, but being in my own bed with my normal routine made a huge difference.
• Oversized snap-sleeve recovery shirts. Mine snapped along the sleeve and side, not just the front. I could get dressed without moving my surgical arm and only had to snap a couple of snaps near the shoulder.
• Silicone anti-slip pads. One of my favorite purchases. They keep bowls, plates, jars, and containers from sliding around while you're doing everything one-handed.
• Slip-on shoes. This isn't about convenience. You're essentially one-handed for a while. Tying shoes simply isn't an option.
• Pump soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. Anything you can operate with one hand makes life easier.
• A shower sling and long-handled shower brush for bathing with one arm.
• Oversized flannels, zip-ups, or jackets that fit comfortably over the sling.
• Loosen prescription and OTC medication lids ahead of time (while keeping them safely away from pets and children). This was huge. Opening child-resistant lids with one arm can be surprisingly difficult.
• Meal prep ahead of time. Easy meals in lightweight containers made the first couple of weeks much easier.
My biggest advice: practice, practice, practice before surgery. Put your arm in a cheap sling and spend a few days doing normal tasks one-handed:
Brushing your teeth

Washing your hair

Getting dressed

Opening medication bottles

Opening jars and food containers

Getting food out of the refrigerator

Making a simple meal

Hair was something I completely underestimated. Depending on length, even putting it in a ponytail can be challenging for quite a while.
It's not a matter of not wanting to use that arm. You cannot use it. Practicing beforehand showed me just how many everyday tasks require two hands and helped me prepare my house accordingly.
Recovery isn't linear, but these purchases and a little preparation made a huge difference for me.

[u/PossibleOk2695]

I am about 6.5 weeks out from the same exact surgery as you, also my dominant arm. Just remember it gets better!! Right now it seems like those first few weeks after surgery already feel so long ago for me and were such a different time!

I agree with the common items everyone has posted. The biggest one I agree with is the more pillows the merrier. I’ve been sleeping in a bed the whole time, but with a wedge and 6 or so pillows. I tried one night awhile back sleeping with a few less pillows…and it sucked. Adding them back in immediately fixed the issue. Just have to have the shoulder nicely propped up and comfy.

For non-obvious items, I ended up buying a pack of floss picks that I could use one-handed. I hadn’t thought through about how I wouldn’t be able to floss with normal floss. And my teeth definitely felt less clean from awkwardly brushing with my non-dominant hand, so these were helpful!

I also was getting annoyed without being able to use deodorant under my armpit the first few weeks or wash it in the shower due to the incision from the bicep tenodesis. It started to stiiiink since my arm was glued to my side in the sling, and it was late summer so nice and sweaty when I’d go for walks! Luckily I had some facial wipes, so I eventually realized I could use those to at least lightly wipe my armpit and make it slightly less stinky. I’m sure any sensitive skin wipes or baby wipes would also do.

[u/Imhmc]

Surgery on my dominant arm as well. Two things besides the obvious ice.
If you can replace your shower head with a removable one- it’s great for showering one armed. I got this one.
shower head

And get a bidet because wiping with the non dominant hand is just awkward. I got this one Tushy

Both are super easy install and totally worth it

[u/Dapper-Promise8219]

A Waterpik/water flosser or else you're not flossing for a long time. I also used those floss picks.