Any suggestions for a stomach sleeper after reverse shoulder replacem?

I’ve had one Total Reverse Replacement and it took about a year before I could even think of sleeping on the affected side. Stomach sleeping would probably require too much arm extension and I stayed on my back, retraining how I slept, because it just hurt too much for me. This was one of my toughest joint replacements and took the longest to rehab but I heartily recommend PT as long as you need it. It is the only way I managed with my Reverse Total Shoulder, which now 18 months later, is way better than pre surgery. The pre surgery pain is gone and I am glad as that was pretty horrific.

I am having a total reverse replacement on July 23rd. I am quite nervous as my last rotator cuff repair was a failure and I have had severe chronic pain for 4 yrs. I am hopeful this will be successful. I'm a little disheartened to hear that your (@hyde3357) you couldn't sleep on the affected side for so long. I am also a stomach sleeper. I cannot sleep on my back, but I know I have no choice. Once I'm off the pain meds, it will be a lot of sleepless nights. I wish you luck @muddyhester!

I had a failed rotator cuff repair which led to mind numbing pain. The reverse total shoulder brought an end to that kind of pain but delivered a different pain in the healing process.

I think I am absolutely delighted today, 18 months later, but I think if you’ve had a failed rotator it adds to the healing time. Just me and my doctors guess.

Now I can sleep on that side but it was a process learning to sleep on my back as I was always a side sleeper.

I would stick with the PT as it helped beyond words. Take pain meds if you are able and don’t wait until it’s out of control.

If you look at the literature, 1 year of recovery isn’t odd or out of norms. The shoulder moves in so many more directions than a knee replacement and I also chalk it up to that.

Of course everyone is different and you may be great at 4 or 6 months or even sooner but I had planned to allow myself as long as I needed without self criticism since I learned from my TKRs it took about 4 1/2 months then I was home free.

Everyone is different! Stay calm about that and realize bodies heal at different speeds. I am sure if I was 40 years old it might have been faster too. I was 66 years old.

Good luck and stay positive. I’m delighted every day my new shoulder feels great.

Full stomach sleeping may be a challenge to figure out, but if you can at least switch to side sleeping, you can use lots of pillows to cushion and prop your back, stomach and under arm areas to keep yourself from moving around too much while you sleep. Of course, until you heal so you don't feel pain from pressure, you can only sleep on your one "good" side. I'm a side sleeper, and trying to sleep on my back was only adding to sleep deprivation already experienced from surgery. Doctors may recommend sleeping in a recliner to keep you in a proper position. However, I found our recliner too hard and my head too upright for me to get comfortable for all night, plus after spending many daytime hours in it, I needed a change for my sanity. I used a bed wedge to keep my shoulders a little more upright ( normally I prefer only a flatter pillow so that was an adjustment) and then surrounded myself with various sizes of pillows stuck on all sides of me. You will be wearing a sling/immobilizer to bed the first month to six weeks, so your arm won't be flopping around, the problem is finding a way to cushion your surgery side so as not to put pressure or drag on it when you shift sleeping positions.
I am one of the lucky, quick healing reverse TSR patients. I have full vertical reach now, no more constant arthritic pain, and rarely even am aware of my replacement part. Very glad I had it done.

I feel your pain! I’m back in therapy after a reverse shoulder replacement. It’s been 10 months, still pain after nerve block and cortisone injection. I am also trying to sleep in my stomach!! Idk if it’s ever gonna happen!!