Blog · Steve Hall · 21 July 2025
Aftercare
After shoulder surgery
Rotator cuff repair and decompressions — sling life, sleep, and why we do not stretch what the surgeon asked you to protect.
Symptoms and what they can mean
Sleep is the misery: you cannot lie on it, and the sling becomes a personality. Stiffness in the neck and thoracic spine is almost guaranteed because you are protecting the arm.
What we can do in clinic
I treat the neck and ribcage so you can live in the sling with less secondary headache. I will not stretch a repair ahead of the protocol. Deborah often leads the later strengthening.
Red flags and when to see your GP
Sudden loss of the repair — a pop and a dead arm — needs the surgical team. Wound issues need medical review.
This article is general information for people considering care at Health at Hart in Hartley Wintney. It is not a diagnosis, a prescription, or a promise of outcome. If you have sudden, severe or unexplained symptoms — including chest pain, unexplained weight loss, night pain, bowel or bladder changes, or a new neurological problem — seek urgent medical advice (NHS 111 or 999). UK osteopaths are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council. Counsellors named here are BACP-registered where stated. Always check with your GP or insurer if you are unsure whether a treatment is appropriate for you.
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