How to Carry Things One-Handed After Shoulder or Wrist Surgery

A shoulder operation, a rotator cuff repair or a broken wrist can leave you with one working arm for weeks. NHS guidance after a rotator cuff repair, for example, is that you will be largely one-handed for the first few weeks, and that you should avoid lifting anything with the operated arm, including a kettle, for around eight to 12 weeks. Most people are surprised by how much of daily life quietly relies on two hands.

The good news is that with a bit of planning and a few simple tools, most everyday jobs can be done one-handed. Here are the tips that make the biggest difference.

Set up your home before the operation

If your surgery is planned, spend an hour getting ready. Arrange the things you use every day so they are within easy reach. Keep meals simple: sandwiches, soups, casseroles and ready meals that do not need cutting all help, and a microwave is easier than lifting pans. Expect to need some help with shopping, laundry and housework at first.

Carrying drinks without spilling

This is the job that catches most people out. Holding a mug in your good hand leaves nothing free for doors, light switches or the bannister, and every step sends tea over the rim.

A single-handed serving tray can help. The Topple Tray is held from above in your good hand, so your drinks hang below and stay settled as you walk. It carries up to four glasses, or a cup of tea and a plate of toast, in one trip, without using the operated arm at all.

Keep everyday items from sliding away

With one hand, anything that moves is a nuisance. NHS one-handed living advice suggests steadying things with a non-slip mat, by holding them against your body, or by placing a weight on them. Non-slip suction bowls, plates with raised edges and a one-handed chopping board are all useful.

Our Grip Toggle can help too. Its soft silicone loop slides over cutlery, a toothbrush or a kitchen tool to give your good hand a more secure hold. The hexagonal suction end sticks to flat, smooth surfaces, so you can hold a small item in place, or use it as a little handle to pull open a laptop, a cupboard door or a drawer.

Dressing and washing

• Put your operated arm into a sleeve first and take it out last, using your good arm to help.
• Sit on the edge of a bed or chair to dress.
• Choose loose, front-fastening tops, and avoid straps that sit over the wound.
• Slip-on shoes, Velcro fastenings and elastic laces save a lot of fiddling.
• Use a soap dispenser instead of a bar of soap.

Follow your recovery plan

Every operation is different, so always follow the advice of your surgeon and physiotherapist, especially about wearing your sling, how much you can use your arm and when to start using it again. If you are struggling at home, ask about an occupational therapy assessment. OTs are brilliant at suggesting small changes that make a big difference.

A few weeks of one-handed living can be frustrating, but it does not have to mean giving up your independence. With the right setup, you can still make your own cup of tea and carry it to your chair.

Make one-handed life a little easier. See the Topple Tray one handed tray or the Grip Toggle.

Sources: University Hospital Southampton NHS, rotator cuff repair after care; Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS, advice following rotator cuff repair; Cambridge University Hospitals NHS, one-handed living tips. This article is general information, not medical advice.