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How can you care for yourself at home?
Activity
- Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover. After any activity, rest and raise your affected arm for a period of time equal to your activity time.
- Be active. It can help prevent problems and help you recover. Walking is a good option for many people.
- Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. This includes housework, especially if you have to use your affected arm. You will probably be able to do your normal activities in 3 to 6 weeks. Avoid repeated motions with your affected arm, such as weed pulling, window cleaning, or vacuuming, for 3 to 4 weeks.
- Avoid lifting anything over 10 to 15 pounds for 4 to 6 weeks. This may include a child, grocery bags, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, or a vacuum cleaner.
- Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
- You will probably be able to go back to work or your normal routine in 3 to 6 weeks. This depends on the type of work you do and any further treatment.
- Your doctor will let you know how soon you can take showers or baths.
Diet
- You can eat your normal diet.
- Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).
- You may notice that your bowels are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.
Medicines
- Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
- If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
- Be safe with medicines.
- Read and follow all instructions on the label. If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- Store your prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.
- If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
- If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
- Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
- Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
Incision care
- You will have a dressing over the cut (incision). A dressing helps the incision heal and protects it. Your doctor will tell you how to take care of this.
- You may wear a special bra (surgi-bra) or binder that holds the dressing in place after the surgery. The doctor will say when this is no longer needed.
Drain care
- You may have one or more drains near your incision. Your doctor will tell you how to take care of them.
Arm exercises
- If you had any lymph nodes removed from under your arm, your doctor will advise you to do arm exercises. Do not do the exercises until your doctor says it is okay.
Ice and elevation
- Do not use ice for swelling or pain.
- Prop up your arm on a pillow when you sit or lie down. Try to keep your arm above the level of your heart. This will help reduce swelling.
When should you call for help?
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
- You have chest pain, are short of breath, or cough up blood.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You are sick to your stomach or cannot drink fluids.
- You cannot pass stools or gas.
- You have pain that does not get better after you take your pain medicine.
- You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open.
- Bright red blood has soaked through the bandage over your incision.
- You have signs of a blood clot in your leg (called a deep vein thrombosis), such as:
- Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin.
- Redness or swelling in your leg.
- You have signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the incision.
- Pus draining from the incision.
- A fever.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You have any problems.
- You have new or worse swelling or pain in your arm.
Current as of: October 25, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
