How To Get Dressed After Rotator Cuff Surgery
Updated 21 June 2021
A friend of mine who is having a shoulder replacement in a couple of months asked me what sort of clothes she should wear after the surgery. It kickstarted me into getting around to doing a long overdue post on getting dressed after shoulder surgery
Out of all the joint replacement surgeries I think shoulder surgery is the one that interferes the most with getting dressed and preparing food etc. post surgery (you may have to wear a sling for up to 8 weeks)
If you have a joint replacement or shoulder surgery scheduled, it's time to get your wardrobe organised and embrace two concepts – active wear and a capsule wardrobe
Active wear? – Loose active wear is pretty easy to get on post surgery
Capsule wardrobe? – you'll probably be wearing the same couple of outfits for a while
I don't own much active wear so I had to go out and buy a few items before my surgery
Below are some tips on what to look out for in your post surgery clothing, shoes and accessories
pants & skirts
Look for loose pants or skirts with an elasticised waistband which you can pull up easily
Avoid buttons and zips during the time you're wearing a sling
Target & Kmart have a good selection of pants and sleepwear with elasticised waistbands
tops
Wear loose t-shirts with a wide crew neck or front opening shirts (go up a couple of sizes)
Before you leave the hospital, get advice from an occupational therapist on how to put on a shirt or t-shirt
As mentioned in previous blog posts – always check with your own health professionals for advice on what you can and can't do after surgery and how to get dressed
If you're dressing yourself, the general rule for t-shirts and tops is dress your operated arm first
Click here for a patient guide from St Vincent's SportsMed Clinic which has instructions on how to put on a t-shirt or shirt after shoulder surgery
University Health Network also have a visual guide titled How to get dressed after surgery with a sling
On cooler days wear loose fitting long sleeved front opening track tops or soft fabric cardigan style tops
When wearing long sleeves avoid bulky or scratchy material as it will irritate your skin once you've put your sling on
An easy to slip on loose dress is also an option although lots of fabric can lead to tangles when dressing if you're using one arm
outfit ideas
A couple of casual outfit ideas where skirts can be interchanged with pants or leggings
overcoats
Opt for a lightweight oversize coat
A hood is useful if it starts raining as you may not be able to put up an umbrella with one arm if you're on your own
If you're wearing a coat and it covers your sling, be extra careful when out as people may bump into you as they don't have a visual clue that you are vunerable
Your coat may be too bulky to fit in your sling. In that case wear the sleeve on your 'good' arm and drape the coat over the operated side
If you have trouble getting on a coat, a cape or shawl are other options to keep warm
It doesn't get very cold in Perth or Sydney where I've had surgeries so if you have any suggestions for coping in a very cold climate after shoulder surgery I'd love to hear from you in the comments section
underwear
I didn't bother wearing a bra when I was wearing a sling as the sling covered most of my chest anyway
I covered the other half of my chest with a light scarf if I was wearing a t-shirt or sleeveless top
If you feel you have to wear a bra, go for one that is made from a soft fabric with no fastenings
Rather than trying to get it on over your head, sit down, slip your feet and legs through the bra and pull it up like you would a pair of pants
You can wear a tank top instead of a bra and get it on the same way
As far as underwear goes, avoid skimpy tight briefs as surprisingly they tend to twist and tangle as you pull them up using one arm
I found Soho Modal Full Brief and Soho Modal Bikini unbelievably hassle free to get on and off with one arm (hint: stock up when they're on sale at half price)
Unfortunately the Soho Modal Briefs are no longer available in the same material
Soho have reintroduced the briefs in the same shape however the material seems very threadbare and of inferior quality (I'm hoping they get enough complaints about the new material that they switch back to the old)
I'm still on the lookout for some new underwear that is just as easy to put on with one arm
You can find comfortable fabric bras at Kmart, Target, variety and department stores
footwear, socks & stockings
If it's summer, wear thongs (flip flops) or sandals that have velcro fastenings
In winter, slip on covered shoes are the best option
If your a sneaker lover, you can put elastic laces on your favourite pair
Boots with zips are easier to put on
If you have sore joints in the hands or wrists, there are various zipper aids designed to make pulling up zippers in shoes and clothing easier
Type 'zipper aids' or 'shoe zipper aids' into your favourite search engine to see what is available (an OT can also help)
There are also numerous aids for putting on socks and stockings
Click here to view a wide range of aids and devices available for putting on socks or stockings on the Independent Living Centre Australia Database
I have personally used this type of aid which I found easy to use for putting on socks and stockings after a hip replacement
If you have had a hip replacement recently you must follow precautions when putting on shoes and socks (Check these with your health professional team)
Use a long handled shoe horn to put on closed shoes, sneakers or boots
You can easily find long handled shoe horns at variety stores or online (the one I own is from Ikea)
When I had a shoulder replacement in winter, rather than wearing opaque stockings I found it easier to wear long leggings & socks if I was wearing boots
These are a lot easier to get on rather than trying to manouvre stockings around into the right position with one arm (don't you also find that seam at your toes never sits quite right first try?)
bags
One word – minimise
Carry only the essentials
I found the bag above which is very lightweight and has a flat bottom so it stands upright on it's own the most functional to use when I could only use one arm
I was able to pop it on a counter in a store or supermarket where I could then easily see and pull out whatever I needed
I could also wear it on the crook of my elbow on my 'good' arm and hold onto hand rails when I was going down stairs
accessories
Make sure items such as your wallet and sunglasses case are easy to open and use with one hand
For suggestions on showering and grooming click here to read my blog post Tips not trips – tips for the bathroom after joint replacement
blog and website recommendations
If you have arthritis or another chronic illness that makes dressing difficult, browse through the Personal Care & Dressing category on the ILC (Independent Living Centre) Australia website for aids and devices designed to help you get dressed
Click here for a blog post from Lesley who documents her shoulder surgery on her site My Shoulder Recovery
Emily from Rich with Life also has some suggestions. Click here for her post Shoulder Surgery: What to wear
As always, I would love to hear any suggestions you have in the comments section
How To Get Dressed After Rotator Cuff Surgery
Source: https://msmaryp.wordpress.com/2018/05/29/getting-dressed-after-shoulder-surgery/
Posted by: porterfieldthenthe.blogspot.com
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