Rotator Cuff Surgery Recovery: My Best Tips! 

“I’m going to choose not to afford that”. 😂 Brilliant. Much more self-empowering than ‘I cant afford that”.

Best tip I ever received: get a bidet attachment for your toilet. You can get a left or right hand control and very easy to install. Amazon and Walmart have them starting at twenty one dollars and up. Best tip ever!

I’m three weeks in and sleeping has been a nightmare.. thank you for the tips!

This has been extremely helpful in preparing for my surgery. Thank you!

Thank you so much!! Your shoulder recovery posts are exactly what I’ve been looking for. After ACL surgery I regretted not doing my homework- so, this time around, I am preparing for rotator cuff surgery in 38 hours😳. Your post surgery “personal care” tips are fabulous and I will engage myself pleasantly in post-op care! Now that I’ve found you, I will take in all that you’ve posted as it relates to shoulder surgery, post-op care, correct use of my arm fir maximizing ROM and finally, strengthening! 🥳

You have no idea how much I appreciate you,i had three different repairs in my shoulder and the pain is almost unbearable, your tips are very helpful thank you immensely, have a blessed day 😊🌹🌹🌹💖

You are such a wonderful patient. I am very proud of you. Sincerely, congratulations

Getting ready for rotator cuff surgery in 3 weeks. I looked at those online shirts yesterday, and thought, there’s gotta be a better way. Thanks for all the tips.

How amazing are you to share all your amazing advice! Thank you so much! I am going to use them.

12 days post op labrum repair. This wedge is just what I need! Sleeping has been a nightmare. Thank you for putting this together. I wish you continued wellness.

Thank you so much for the tshirt idea and that pillow. Very very helpful

Thank you Darica - great tips and advice. I have surgery scheduled in 4 weeks and this is the kind of practical prep video I've been searching for! Hope you are fully recovered now :)

Thank you, the t shirt idea is the best!

Super helpful, I appreciate your effort in giving us this video.

I am having a shoulder replacement in a few weeks. I was already thinking about making bowls of food and freezing them. The showering tips and velcro trick I hadn't yet considered. Thank you.

THANK YOU From My Heart!! 💖💖I'm a month away from ROTATOR CUFF Surgery ...full thickness tearing!! I am seeing about getting Help because Family is far away!! In my 60's and very worried!! YOU just gave me the BEST TIPS!! I've had so much pain etc..and was overwhelmed!! YOUR TIPS WILL CERTAINLY HELP ME!! ✨GOD Bless You and I Pray you're RECOVERED!! 😀🙏💖🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Ugh, struggling through this, one week has passed. Thank you for this!

Love your vibe! I had shoulder surgery a few months ago and still recovering but feeling great. I hope you're all healed up!

OMG Thank you! Almost 3 weeks ago I was in a car accident (7 broken ribs, broken shoulder, broken humerus, broken elbow, broken wrist, and broken thumb) and I live way up by Yosemite National Park. Luckily I live with two friends who help me with the really difficult things, like tying my shoes, and opening anything I can't chew through. I don't have my wedge pillow yet but I will get one in a few days when I go down to see my orthopedist. Sleeping has been one of the hardest things, even with a big pile of pile of various bed pillows. The velcro shirt idea is probably my favorite but the shower wash & pompom made me groan for not having thought of it myself. Thanks again for posting this video.

loving your attitude and advice. thank you

Tshirt idea is GENIUS!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Fantastic help! I'm having Rotator cuff repair on Friday and should have seen this last week. Buying that pillow right now!

Thank you so much. 3 days till shoulder surgery. Helpful!

So helpful, thank you! I am 10 days post-op and life is hard with one hand!

Thank you for the tips, I’ve been stressing over how I would deal with my upcoming rotator cuff surgery. These tips will definitely make things easier. Good luck with the balance of your recovery.

Your video is SO helpful. I haven't had my surgery yet but you answered so many of my questions. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this...it was very type of information I was needing

So helpful. Thank you.

Such great tips!!!

Thanks for this advice! I just ordered a wedge pillow like you described.

GREAT GREATEST VIDEO DARCY THANKS SO MUTCH FOR SHARING YOUR SHOULDER SURGERY TIPS .

Thank you SO much! I’m having surgery Nov 15. I had some of the ideas down but you added some. Thank you.

Great tips

Thank you I would have never thought of the T-shirt idea or the pillow wedge. I bought the shirts today and just ordered the pillow wedge.

Great info thank you so much!

This is my second go around also and your tips are spot on!!!

Thank you for sharing your experience and recommendations. `

Here are my tips, not in any particular order. I had my right shoulder done 4 years ago and my left 2 weeks ago. Please ignore any typos since I am a terrible proof reader. 1. Get a second opinion. My injuries were worse this time and a general orthopod recommended anatomical replacement. I went to a shoulder specialist who noted that my joint was fine but had bone spurs and no space between the joint and the collar bone. I also had a snapping bicep tendon, a large rotator cuff tear and separation of the supraspinatis. I chose surgeon #2 and got the repair rather than the replacement. 2. If there is time, prepare as many meals for the freezer as you can. Store the food in containers that you can move around with your good hand. I made ham bone soup, chicken noodle soup, beef stew, two kinds of fish stew, 7 pounds of meatloaf, tamales, spaghetti, and many other dishes. If you can’t cook ahead, have friends, family or your church or social group bring meals to you. . 3. Buy or rent a recliner with electric controls on the non-operated side. This will support your shoulder as you heal. I didn’t have a recliner with my first shoulder surgery and it has made all the difference this time. 4. Get help with dressing. It us very difficult to dress and put on the sling by yourself, especially at first. 5. Get help with laundry. I don’t know about you but I can’t fold clothes with only one hand. Taking this further, ignore all housework or get someone else to do it as long as you are in a sling. 6. Find someone to help you with sponge bathing and to wash your hair until your wound closes. You can get in the shower if you cover the dressing with Saran Wrap, secured with masking or paper tape. But, I could only clean myself this way from the waist down. You’ll need help washing your back and under the non-operated arm. Keep the dressing totally dry and if it does get wet, change it immediately to avoid infection. 7. Stay ahead of the pain. Take your medication. I am in my third week now and would say that I only have severe soreness, unlike the unbearable pain that I had the first two weeks. Also take a stool softener at maximum dose but don’t expect “results” for a few days. Then have a strong assistant and a plunger handy, if you catch my drift. 8. Get an ice water circulator that runs the water through a pad that covers the entire shoulder and high on your arm. These are available at any medical supply store as well as on Amazon. Worth every Penny that you spend. Instead of putting ice in the reservoir, use frozen bottles of water- these last much longer than ice cubes and provide about 3.5 hours of relief. 9. Start PT as soon as possible and do all the work. 10. Find exercise that you can do without involving your shoulder. I started long walks with my dog at the 3-day mark. 11. Don’t plan to do anything for anybody until you’re out of the sling. Even when you feel better and are off the pain meds, you cannot drive. Good luck to you! Know that the two week mark is a turning point for pain, independence and exercise. You will get through this! My right arm is now perfect and I expect the left will be as well, in about 6 months.

Excellent presentation ! About to head in to surgery in 3 days. So glad I saw your recovery tips. Thank You !

having my surgery Sept.15....thank you for this video....hope you have a complete recovery! the tips on the velcro shirts and the wedge are going to be life savers I'm sure! Thank you!

Thank you so much for all these tips. But I didn't see the link for the wedge pillow. I hope you continue to heal with not too much pain. Thank you again for the tips.

Thank you so much for the excellent advice I wish I would’ve find you earlier.

Very helpful. I'm going to get a wedge pillow for my wife. Tx for your generous spirit.

Having rotator cuff surgery in October and these tips are so helpful! Thank you for sharing

I y trust you are well recovered by now - bless you!

I'VE BEEN DOING P.T. SINCE OCT & NEVER HAD TO HAVE MY SHOULDER BARE THEY CAN MASSAGE OVER YOUR YOUR CLOTHING. Great tips

Thank you soooooo much, I'm about to have surgery. So helpful

Thanks for this video. My husband had the surgery today. My daughter and I had already thought of the idea of the tshirt with velcro. It is wonderful to know that it's a good idea because someone else thought of it and has done it.

Thanks so much Darcia. Your video helped me plan for my upcoming surgery.

Darica, Thank you so much for the heads up.I’m having my second surgery and I pray that it goes as well as my first my first was not that bad, but this is now going to be a full rotator cuff. repair. I’m so glad that you’re feeling well and thank you so much for your time and tips. 👏👏👏👏❤️

Thanks Darcia, I’m one week away from total shoulder replacement surgery, incorporating donor tissue grafts, I face months of immobilisation, these tips will really help me, in preparation I have become totally left handed, having lost all use of my right arm way back in August 2022… I feel like I’m in a good place to deal with my recovery, films like yours are truly helping un fellow sufferers. God bless. @Grandpa-Chris over in London.

Thank you so much for your video with awesome helpful advice. I'm trying to be as prepared as possible for my surgery. Heading into cooler weather soon here in New Zealand so your tips are really useful as my surgery is in the next month ish. Ordering a wedge too! I think I could do with that now as I find it almost impossible to sleep with the pain I have currently. Thank you for sharing. Kia kaha (stay strong) 😊

Wonderful. I am having surgery in 3 weeks. Thank you for putting my mind a little more at ease

Thanks for the tips!

Hearing that you had to get the same shoulder done twice helped my mental attitude. Thanks for the tips.

Thanks for the advice!

Thanks for the great advice!!

Thank you very much for the tips. Very helpful.

Thank you for the precious info. I have surgery next week, your tips helped me get organized.

Thank you: I am having reverse shoulder replacement surgery in a couple months...great info....

Surgery Thursday... thank you so much for the tips!

Your videos were so helpful. I think I followed every tip you shared. I had been assuming rotator cuff shoulder would be the same as shoulder replacement. Wanted to let everyone know that replacement is much, much easier than rotator cuff repair. My rotator cuff was beyond repair so I got ‘reverse shoulder replacement’ (the socket is put into the place where the ball was and the ball into the socket’s old place). Your deltoid muscle takes over the function of the rotator cuff. Your love videos were the most helpful of any on the internet … so, thanks so much!

Thank you for the information . Very good information as I prepare for my upcoming surgery.

Great information ‼️

I’m day 4 post surgery. Thank you so much for these tips…especially regarding showering!!!

Excellent video. Thanks

We appreciate you! The honesty and tips are priceless..ty so much😊😊😊😊

Thanks for the info..I'm going to the doctor on Feb 24 to get ready for my surgery 😱

Thank you! I’m so nervous about my upcoming complete shoulder replacement, I appreciate all these tips.

Very helpful.

Thank you! I'm about to have torn labrum and bicep repair, so these tips are very helpful!

Thank you for making this video great tips I'm having my surgery in 1 week and trying to prepare as much as possible. I will definitely be using alot of your tips. Thanks again.

Thank you!

What awesome tips having rotator sx soon and your videos are so helpful thank you ❤❤

You are the best. Your demeanor is very nice. Your sincerity is very "felt". And your experience is ten fold. Thank you sweetheart 💓 from an old guy. I feel so much better I made the decision to go ahead with the surgery. Thanks

Great video . I'm 1 week post op for slap/ bicep tendonesis. Recliner has been a Godsend. Loofah on a stick, pump soap bottle, ice machine/ packs and meds have made my days easier.

I just had shoulder surgery 3 days ago and I was already watching videos, buying what I needed and so forth. Great information!

Thank you so much for the tips I’m getting surgery next Tuesday and just scheduled today

Great info. I am having surgery in 2 weeks. Thank you!

Thank you mame. Having my left shoulder done in a month. Your tips are so helpful.

Thank you so much for these tips! The t-shirts have been amazing. I did buy inexpensive men's t-shirts (2 sizes up) and a friend sewed the velcro for me. What a fabulous and pain-avoiding idea! Pumps for all items in shower and on my vanity and the have been so helpful.

I’m having surgery at the end of the month. Thank you so much for your tips.

Thanks for the tips. I just found out today that I've got to have rotator cuff surgery. Mine is completely torn & the ligament has retracted quite a bit so I know it's going to be painful and I'm not looking forward to it. I hadn't even thought about the fact that it's in my right shoulder which is my dominant arm/hand so it's going to be tough. My brother told me to start doing things with my left arm/hand so that I'll get used to using it instead of my right arm/hand. I'm worried about sleeping because I'm a side sleeper and I know I won't be able to sleep on my side for a while. I've logged onto Amazon today to look for post-operative shirts and you're right - they're crazy expensive so I'm going to do what you did and buy my own t-shirts to alter. Thanks again. I see that you posted this over a year ago so I hope you've recovered well.

I can’t thank you enough for sharing this video. The bed wedge pillow is such a game changer. After trying different sleeping methods (using several pillows in bed, using recliner, etc) which aggravates the shoulder pain in the morning when I wake up, the wedge pillow has no pain at all! God bless and thanks again!

Love the shirt idea so far !

going through rotator cuff recovery. thanks for these tips. they helped me

Well done...you kept the sling on during your demo..AWESOME

I’m 5 days list op. Getting the T-shirts’ done today. Genius. Thank you so much.

Thank you this really help me

We are in day 4 post surgery. Great tips. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for the tips I am having surgery in the next 2 weeks I am going to do the Tshirts today I never thought of that

Thank you so so much, post-op day 6, and I am struggling. Your suggestions are great, thank you again. Such a blessing

My surgery is next week. Great idea about Velcro the t shirt shoulder! Fortunately it just so happens that I ordered a very similar pillow from Amazon! This was so helpful! There are not very many videos like this so thank you!!!

Thanks so much. Getting this done at some point soon. Ugh.

Wonderful smile and personality!

Thank you for the tips.

Thanks so much! I'm about to have surgery on my dominant shoulder and this will really help!

On my 2nd rotator cuff repair as well (ugh), Some good tips. Thanks for sharing !

Thank you so much! This is exactly the kind of information that I wanted to find. I'm having surgery in a month, and I want to be prepared for these types of things. I hope that I find several more videos like this with everyone's personal struggles with unforeseen issues during recovery.

Great tips THANKS everything will help for my upcoming surgery👍 🙂🌺🌺