Recovering From Your
Rotator Cuff Repair

This guide explains what to expect as you recover from your rotator cuff repair. Please read it completely, and ask your nurse or Dr. Jazayeri to clarify anything before you leave the hospital.

Everyone heals at their own pace. Use this as a general roadmap and follow any specific instructions your care team gives you.

Before your surgery

Fill your prescriptions in advance so your pain medication is ready when you get home.
No solid food after midnight the night before surgery. You may have clear fluids up to 2 hours before surgery: Gatorade (recommended), apple juice, black coffee with no milk, or tea.
Arrange a ride, since you cannot drive after anesthesia and while taking pain medication.

Questions & Care

Call, Monday to Friday, 8 to 5

(310) 746-5918

Text the office

424.347.8564

After hours & emergencies

For a medical emergency, call 911. For an urgent concern after office hours, go to the nearest emergency room.

Office

DOCS Health, 8436 W 3rd St #800, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Call the office if you notice

A fever above 101.5 F
Increasing redness around the incision
Drainage from the incision site
Any adverse effects from your medications

Call us to arrange an evaluation. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Recovery at a Glance

Day 3

Shower and remove dressing

First 2 weeks

Gentle shrugs only, no other shoulder exercises

2 weeks

Physical therapy and suture removal

6 weeks

Sling, usually

4 to 6 weeks

Driving usually safe

5 to 6 weeks

Shoulder swelling settles

Right After Surgery

In the recovery room and heading home

You will go home the same day. After surgery you will spend time in the recovery room and be discharged about 1 to 2 hours after you are comfortable.
You cannot drive yourself. Have someone available to drive you home.
Antibiotics are given during surgery. The risk of infection is low, and no antibiotics are needed at home afterward.

Managing Pain

Staying ahead of discomfort

You may receive a nerve block along with general anesthesia. It helps control pain and typically lasts 12 to 24 hours; your shoulder may stay numb for 10 to 12 hours.
Take your first oral pain medication when you get home, before the block wears off, and again before bed. Starting early keeps you more comfortable and makes pain easier to manage.
Always take your medications as directed.

Swelling and Icing

What is normal, and how to ease it

Swelling and discomfort are normal in the shoulder for 5 to 6 weeks after surgery.
Some skin discoloration is normal around the incision. You may also notice swelling in the chest, arm, and hand for 3 to 4 weeks. Doing your exercises helps this swelling go down.
Ice to control swelling, 20 to 30 minutes at a time every hour or two, using an ice bag or ice machine. Put a thin towel or t-shirt against your skin if you use ice in a plastic bag.
Icing matters most in the first 48 to 72 hours, though many people find it keeps easing pain after that.
Sleep propped up. Lying flat can increase discomfort. Many patients rest more comfortably in a recliner, or propped up in bed, for the first 6 weeks. A pillow behind your elbow can help.

Wound Care and Showering

Keeping the incision clean and dry

Remove the operative dressing on day 3 and cover the wounds with band-aids, changing them daily.
You may shower on day 3. Cover the wound with a band-aid. You may take the sling off to shower, but keep a water resistant pillow under your arm to hold the elbow and shoulder away from your body, the way the sling does. Gently pat the area dry.
Do not soak the shoulder in water.
No swimming in a pool or ocean until your sutures are removed.

Your Medications

Filled before surgery. Always take as directed.

Percocet 10/325 mg Narcotic pain
Take 1 to 2 pills as needed every 6 hours, usually for the first 2 weeks. After that, if pain continues, a non-narcotic option (Tramadol) plus Tylenol and NSAIDs may be used.
Mobic 15 mg NSAID, anti-inflammatory
Take 1 pill every 12 hours for the first 2 weeks.
Colace 100 mg Stool softener
Take 1 tablet 2 to 3 times a day while taking pain medication, which often causes constipation.
Zofran 4 mg Anti-nausea
Take 1 tablet every 6 hours as needed for nausea, which can follow anesthesia.

If you have any adverse effects from your medications, call the office during clinic hours. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Sling and Rehab

Protecting the repair while you heal

Wear your sling at all times except during exercises. The exact duration is set after surgery, usually about 6 weeks.
Move your fingers, hand, wrist, and elbow. Remove the sling 3 to 4 times a day to move them. This helps reduce swelling.
For the first 2 weeks, only gentle shoulder shrugs with the sling on. Do no other shoulder exercises during this time.
Use the MyHealthTrack app to guide your rehab starting the day after surgery.
In-person physical therapy usually starts about 2 weeks after surgery. Combining the app and in-person PT gets the most out of your recovery.
Confirm your physical therapy appointment is scheduled by calling the office at (310) 746-5918.

Follow Up

Your next visit and getting back

Schedule your suture removal for about 14 days after surgery. This 2 week visit is also when Dr. Jazayeri checks how the incision is healing.
Plan a few days off work. Rest is a key part of recovery.
Driving is usually safe 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
Call the office if you develop a fever above 101.5, redness, or drainage from the incision, so we can arrange an evaluation.

Have a speedy recovery.

Dr. Reza Jazayeri, MD and Staff
Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

Medically reviewed by Reza Jazayeri, M.D. on July 24, 2026

Recovering From Your Rotator Cuff Repair