← Return to Trust your gut instinct Pillow advice for sleep after shoulder surgery

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@cattanzer

How do you sleep after shoulder surgery? Also is it true you cannot lie flat for six months? This sounds like such agony it hardly seems worth it. My surgery is scheduled for 05/11.

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Replies to "How do you sleep after shoulder surgery? Also is it true you cannot lie flat for..."

I didn't have shoulder surgery but I did have a total knee replacement with a terrible complication. It was incredibly painful to try to sleep on my side or move my knee. The only way that I could sleep was in a recliner. I don't know if this would work for you but I thought I would share that with you.

Have been thinking of your upcoming 5/11 surgery. You will be great. As mentioned I had 2 shoulder surgeries last year. With the first one my arm was in a sling with my arm bent at elbow and pointing directly ahead for 6 weeks, 24 /7. Then with the reverse shoulder replacement a regular sling with a bump holding it about 4 inches from my stomach it felt like nirvana 🙂 . I slept in a recliner with both surgeries, propped up pillows supporting me for about 3 nights.After that I went back to my bed, slept on my back with no problems. You can sleep on your good side, your back, wouldn't suggest your stomach for a while because of the sling. Don't know who told you 6 months with no back sleeping but that certainly wasn't my experience. You may want to double check with your doctor and if that's the answer...get another opinion . Let us all know how it goes on the 11th. Both my surgeries were in the morning and I was home and hungry by late dinner. I could also have stayed in the hospital a night if I'd preferred. Did you talk to your doctor about a Nerve Block Catheter in your neck? Good luck. Sally

Hi @cattanzer, You will notice that I moved your comment along with @katrina123 and @itsally 's comments to a discussion regarding sleeping after shoulder surgery.
I have read that it is recommended to sleep in a recliner for the first couple of weeks. Did your physician suggest that?

What type of shoulder surgery are you having?

Hi - I had rotator cuff and biceps tenodesis surgery on both shoulders last year, 6 months apart. I was in a sling for about 7 weeks on each one. My surgeon told me to sleep wherever I could be comfortable and I personally found it way more comfortable to sleep in my recliner for the entire time I was in the sling. I could support my arm on a pillow and could even sleep on my side in my recliner. It was where I could get the most comfortable and the best sleep possible. I think you will find what works for you and every one of us are different- some can learn how to support your arm in bed and others in a recliner. Just try each and see where you can get most comfortable and the best sleep. Advice I was given by a friend was that if I did find my recliner more comfortable, spread a flat bed sheet on your recliner at night. That made it feel more like sleeping in my bed and was really a smart idea! Good luck!