Recovery guides
The guides your hospital leaflet leaves out
Your surgical team explains the operation. Almost nobody explains how you'll actually sleep, shower, dress or drive in the weeks afterwards. These are the practical answers — written for the UK, checked against NHS and peer-reviewed sources, and reviewed by a clinician.
How we write these
- Clinically reviewed before publishing
- NHS & peer-reviewed sources, cited
- UK rules, UK terms, metric units
- Your surgeon's protocol always comes first
Start hereSleep
How to Sleep After Shoulder Surgery: Positions, Setup and Week by Week
Positions, bed setup and a realistic week-by-week progression — from the first night home to sleeping on your side again.
14 min read · Updated 11 August 2026
Latest guides
NHS waiting list
Waiting for Shoulder Surgery on the NHS: Your Rights, and How to Cope
What the orthopaedic waiting list actually looks like, the right to switch hospital that you have to ask for, and how to cope in the meantime.
12 min read
Night pain
Shoulder Pain at Night: Why It's Worse When You Lie Down (and How to Sleep)
The mechanism behind night pain, the usual culprits, positions that actually work for side sleepers, and the red flags worth acting on.
11 min read
Daily life
One-Armed Living: Showering, Dressing, Cooking and Coping After Shoulder Surgery
Washing, dressing, kitchen tactics and what you're actually allowed to lift — the survival manual for the weeks in a sling.
13 min read
Recovery timeline
Shoulder Replacement Recovery: What to Expect (Anatomic and Reverse)
Hospital stay, sling, rehab phases and restrictions — plus what the National Joint Registry really says about implant longevity.
14 min read
Driving
When Can I Drive After Shoulder Surgery? UK Rules, Insurance and Manual Cars
The legal test is control of the vehicle, not a number of weeks. Here's how that works in practice — plus DVLA, insurance and painkiller rules.
12 min read
Recovery timeline
Rotator Cuff Repair Recovery: A Realistic Week-by-Week Timeline (UK)
Sling, physio, pain, work and driving — phase by phase, plus what UK trial data really shows about healing.
15 min read
Sling
Sleeping in a Sling: How Long, How to Cope, and What Actually Helps
Why the sling stays on at night, how long you'll wear it, and the practical fixes for neck strain, sweating and broken sleep.
10 min read
Sleep
Recliner, Bed or Wedge: Where Should You Actually Sleep After Shoulder Surgery?
Recliner, pillow stack or wedge — an honest comparison, including what hiring a recliner actually costs in the UK.
9 min read
Preparing for surgery
Preparing for Shoulder Surgery: The Complete UK Checklist
Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, wardrobe and paperwork — a week-by-week checklist for the run-up to your operation.
11 min read