Getting surgery can be a major imposition on your life. One of the most important things you can do to make any surgery go better is to properly prepare for it. If you take the necessary measures before the surgery to make sure that you are prepared, the recovery can be much worse than it needs to be. Here are a couple things you should do to prepare for shoulder surgery.

1. Invest In A Recliner For Sleeping

Sleep will play a major role in how well you are able to recover. Your body needs rest, but with your recent surgery, you may find yourself unable to sleep comfortably. Lying down in bed may be very difficult. You may need to lie flat on your back, but you are used to sleeping in a side or stomach position. Both of these positions may be challenging with your shoulder while it is healing.

This is why many people find it helpful to sleep in a recliner. You can comfortably lay yourself back while not putting any pressure on your shoulder. In addition, you can use pillows around your body to protect the shoulder but still move into comfortable positions while you sleep. Preparing for your sleeping and rest should be one of the top priorities on your list for your recovery.

2. Prepare For The Use Of Your Non-Dominant Arm

Depending on which shoulder you will be getting surgery on, there is a good chance that you will no longer have use of your dominant arm and hand. Even the simplest things many become very difficult. For instance, you might not be able to eat easily with a fork, you may not be able to type or write, even washing your hair in the shower may be challenging.

Before the surgery, make every preparation to ease the use of your hand. For instance, don't prepare meals that will require that you cut things, like steak. Choose meals that are easily eaten with one hand and that don't require coordination. You might invest in a program where you can dictate what you want to write into the computer without typing, and so forth. Since the recovery for your shoulder can take weeks, or even longer, to fully take effect, you must prepare for the inevitable frustration of only being able to use one hand and arm at all times.

By preparing yourself for your shoulder surgery, you can speed up your recovery, and you can make your life easier during your healing. For more tips, visit a sports medicine clinic.

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