My mother just underwent a reverse total shoulder replacement.  To keep the incision from getting wet after surgery, I used "Glad Press N' Seal Wrap."  I simply tore off a good size piece, and this literally stuck easily to the "mesh" shoulder sling she had purchased for showering, and also to her skin around her neck and chest area without lifting or falling off at all.  The water just runs right off of it, and the adhesive is strong enough to hold with ease, but it doesn't stick to your skin at all for easy removal after the shower.  Honestly, Glad should market this product to use specifically for the purpose of keeping wounds dry after surgery.  It worked GREAT!

I've been practicing doing all these things one-handed before surgery.

Hi Lindsey. Here are a couple of little tips for you that weren't in your video. (As I type this with one hand.)  I keep a plastic solo cup in my shower to splash up under my  armpit after I wash it with soap. I have a fixed showerhead. The water does not go up under my armpit without assistance. So a plastic cup works great. I dry it upside down on a towel bar in my shower. I also wear just a rope sling that I made out of nylon rope. It dries much faster than a cotton sling. I cut the rope to length, tied it in a knot. Then I took a lighter to it to melt the knot into a solid ball so it wouldn't come untied in the shower. I have to lean forward and let my left arm passively dangle forward in the rope sling. That's when I wash my armpit and splash it with my plastic cup. My bottle of conditioner does not have a pump top. So I hold it against the wall and squeeze it a little with my surgery arm to get some out. The wall holds it still. I know a pump would be better. But I'm working with what I have on hand.  With the long handle brush, i have a hook that it hangs on. I wet the brush. Then I rub a wet bar of soap on it to transfer the soap while it is still on the hook. I can do that all with one hand. Thanks for your tips. Right back at ya.

The best homemade ice pack is the slushy:
In a freezer ziplock bag:
1 part rubbing alcohol
2 parts water

Thanks for the tips as I’m 3 weeks post surgery tomorrow. One thing is a must is the ice machine! It offered constant cold relief to my shoulder.

I know this video is old, but I'm so glad I found it. I'm going to be having shoulder surgery and was awake from 3 in the morning last night trying to figure out how I was going to be able to bathe after surgery. My brain hates me lol. I figured out the toilet - going to get a left handed battery powered bidet - my left arm is just too "dumb" to clean well. Last piece is my recliner. Dumb me bought a right handed recliner, which is the side requiring surgery.

A little trick to make showering easier? Get some strong cotton sheeting and make a about three simple triangular slings. When going for a shower carefully remove your bulky everyday sling and fit one of the cotton slings. Get someone to help you and support that arm & shoulder at all times. Once the cotton sling is fitted have your shower, dry off and then refit the bulky daily sling. Then just hang out the temporary cotton sling to dry for next time. I've done this a few times and it works well.

You are an angel! Your prep advice in advance of my tenodesis has been invaluable to my long road to recovery. Patients take note that you will not learn these life-saving techniques and tips from your surgeon's office so listen, learn and enjoy an easier path to recovery...

Another one of your great videos. I would like you to mention drying after the shower.

Thank you again  Lindsay, for this other GREAT video in how to be able to take care of myself after a shoulder replacement surgery.
I will be having a "full shoulder replacement" surgery on my shoulder and  the front bone of my forearm removed and  replaced with a metal plate and the ball of my shoulder, will also be replaced with some type of plastic material.
The surgery will be done sometime in March (2024)
God Bless you.
Sincerely,
Talitha (TJ)

hi, just had shoulder replacement.  instead of the towel which gets wet and heavy, i used a 12 inch balloon blown up half way. it stays put and wrks great!

here in the UK after new shoulder replacement we are free of the sling as soon the nerve block has worn off then advises to do gentle table slides. As for showering I was told to keep the area dry till the sutures are out and it has fully healed.. Strange how different countries have different views.

Hello! I only found you today on Instagram, watched all your reels, and I can only say: Thank you! You are a gift! I'm 31 and have CMT, and you showed me already so many tricks I could cry!!! xxx from Luxembourg, Marielle

Would appreciate a video about how to towel dry one-handed when my non-injured arm is arthritic with limited motion.

Wife’s doctor told me she does not need the sling unless it makes her feel better. Instead she hangs her shoulder. Tomorrow we are going to try a shower. My inexperience can make her recovery much harder. So I watch a lot of videos. I will wrap the shoulder/upper arm in saran wrap using waterproof med tape. Every effort will be made to avoid wetting any of the rotator cuff surgical dressing. If we fail it will be huge. If successful I will be a hero. 😅

Lindsey, I’m an “old school” OT having rotator cuff surgery this Thursday.  I broke my elbow back in July so I’ve been playing this one handed game for months. My own adaptive skills come in handy and I have set up some clothing items, toileting, groomiing in ways that will make things easier. I’ve watched several of your videos and they are full of good tips! Your channel is a great idea, good for you. I will say I am very anxious about how I’m  going to avoid moving the shoulder as I dress, do all my ADL’s.  I’m very concerned about damaging the repair unintentionally. Also, the passive exercises the surgeon gave me have me concerned. How do you shrug your shoulders without moving the shoulder?  I’ve also heard lots of tough stories from others that this is such a difficult recovery.
Keep encouraging people with your common sense videos!

I followed your tips-n-tricks and it helped me prepare for post-surgery. Thank you.

ten days in after total shoulder replacement. sadly got extreme burn from surgical adhesives but on the mend. I had a standup desk which lowered to desktop level with rollers. it became my command center for ice machine, meds and body wipes. easy to pull closer or push away. I also installed home depot bidet seat-invaluable. to sleep, i ordered memory foam bed seat with velcro arms-so perfect for sleeping and relaxing.

so detailed. Thank you very much for making those videos. Super helpful.

This is extremely helpful! I just had a rotator cuff repair yesterday and I was worried about how to take a shower afterward. Thank you for the suggestions!