PATIENT RESOURCES
Preparing for Shoulder Replacement Surgery: A Practical Checklist
Preparing for shoulder replacement involves medical clearance and preoperative testing, arranging help for the first weeks, setting up a one-handed-friendly home, and planning clothing, sleeping, and transportation before surgery day.
Patients who prepare well tend to describe their early recovery as manageable; patients who wing it describe chaos. The difference is a few focused hours in the weeks before surgery. Here is the practical playbook, organized by when to do it.
Three to Six Weeks Out: Medical Groundwork
- Complete preoperative clearance with your primary care doctor and any specialists, cardiology, dental work needing attention, and diabetes management are the common items
- Review all medications and supplements with the surgical team; blood thinners and certain supplements have specific stop instructions
- If you smoke or vape, this is the highest-leverage moment to stop; nicotine impairs healing, and your team can help
- Line up your physical therapy so your first visits are already scheduled
- Ask questions now, about anesthesia, the nerve block, and what your first week looks like, so nothing on surgery day is a surprise
Two Weeks Out: Set Up the House
Think through a day lived mostly one-handed, with your dominant question being “can I reach it without lifting my arm?”
- Move dishes, food, toiletries, and chargers to counter or waist height
- Prepare and freeze meals; stock easy proteins and snacks
- Arrange the recliner or a wedge-pillow setup for sleeping semi-upright
- Clear walking paths and secure loose rugs
- Set up a recovery station: phone charger, water bottle with a straw, medications list, remote, reading, all within reach of your chair
- Practical wardrobe: button-front or zip shirts a size up, slip-on shoes, and for many patients, a few dry runs dressing one-handed are time well spent
The Week Before: Logistics and People
- Confirm your driver for surgery day and your help for at least the first several days; solo-living patients should arrange a longer stretch of support
- Confirm arrival time, fasting instructions, and which medications to take with a sip of water
- Follow any preoperative washing instructions you are given
- Handle life admin now: bills queued, pets covered, work notified with realistic timelines
Surgery Day
Wear the loose button-front shirt, leave jewelry and valuables home, and bring your ID, insurance card, and medication list. Expect the anesthesia team to discuss the nerve block that will keep the shoulder comfortable through the first stretch. Then your only job is showing up; the team takes it from there.
The First Week Home: What Preparation Buys You
With the house staged and help arranged, the first week becomes a rhythm rather than a scramble: medications on schedule, ice, short walks, hand-wrist-elbow movement, pendulum exercises if prescribed, and rest without guilt. Keep the follow-up appointment, watch the incision as instructed, and call the office with concerns rather than wondering, that is what the team is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I sleep after shoulder replacement?
Semi-upright is the norm early on, in a recliner or propped on a wedge with the arm supported. Most patients transition back to bed over the first several weeks.
What should I wear after shoulder surgery?
Loose button-front or zip-front shirts, sized up, are the workhorses. Dressing starts with the surgical arm first, and your therapist will teach the technique.
How long will I need help at home?
Most patients want daily help for at least the first several days to a week, longer if they live alone. Meal prep and transportation are the two biggest needs.
Can I eat before surgery?
You will receive specific fasting instructions, commonly nothing to eat after midnight with clear rules about medications and liquids. Follow the exact instructions from the surgical team.
Preparation turns a daunting surgery into a managed project. When you are ready to talk about whether shoulder replacement is your next step, request a consultation in Renton or Maple Valley.
Take the Next Step
Request an appointment at the Renton or Maple Valley office.