Trust your gut instinct Pillow advice for sleep after shoulder surgery

Posted by ssbionicknee @ssbionicknee, Jan 12, 2020

I had shoulder surgery to repair 3 torn tendons and the bicep muscle. I have posted in here several times about the pain that I was still feeling and have gotten some good advice, but the doctor insisted that I was fine. My surgery was in Oct. 2018. In December 2019, I finally got the doctor to send me for an MRI on my shoulder. They found that one of the tendons had torn again. I was told I needed surgery again and that the bicep muscle was fully healed and had nothing to do with the issue. I realized that I had lost all faith in this doctor, so I went to another surgeon, for a second opinion, one that had an excellent reputation and specialized in the issues I was having. He was wonderful. He very carefully went over all my MRI's, worked with the shoulder to see where the pain was. I told him that my bicep mucle was still hurting and he looked at it and pressed on a spot that was extremely painful, He then told me that it was the bicep muscle that was hurting alnog with the re-torn rotator cuff. I just want to encourage some of you who find yourself in a position where the doctor is not listening to you and you know something is not right, it is time to get a second opinion. I am so glad I did!! While this doctor agrees that I need to have it repaired again and soon, he addressed all my issues and concerns that I had. He told me that My bicep muscle needed to be lowered because it had been stretched too far and that is why I had been is so much pain. So, I will be scheduling surgery on Monday. I am not looking forward to it because I know it will be painful and a slow healing process, but I feel that I can trust this doctor and that he will listen to any concerns I have. I do have one questionabout sleeping after the surgery. I know may people recommend sleeping in a recliner, however, I was not comfortable I was wondering if there was a body pillow or something you had used to help you sleep at night. Any tips wold be appreciated And trust your instincts, you know your body better than anyone.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles Support Group.

@irishlady1974

I had my shoulder scoped and the top tendon of my bicep cut (I elected to not have it reattached). Worst pain I ever felt but it was over quickly. I found that just putting a pillow under my arm worked well. Of course, I also had a split top bed so I raised it as needed.

Jump to this post

@irsihlady; I had the exact same type surgery, bicep tendon was too frayed by bone spur to be saved, so it got cut. Not having an adjustable bed, I customized my sleeping position (starting the day of surgery, no recliner, ever) with 5 or 6 different small pillows to build a “nest” around the shoulder. Worked well. Not that it was not supremely painful, much more so than a TKR that I had many years later.

REPLY

I had a rotator cuff and bicep repair in 2016. Went very wrong. The pain was unbearable with few pain meds. Diagnosed with complex regional pain. Could not move my hand and fingers without pain. Six months of extensive pt and occupational therapy. In 2017, another Dr. Ordered MRI. It showed the bicep was still torn 😫 I was put on narcotics, only thing that worked. I Got off them 2018, did my own exercises and rest. I did find the recliner was better than bed for me. Took me three yrs to throw a ball. Now, here I am in constant pain again. Same shoulder, bicep. MRI showing sane thing they write on MRI in 2016 & 2017! I mean verbatim. WTH? It's not like I am playing non stop picked ball.
I don't play.
Appt with a shoulder specialist tomorrow. Not sure what to expect. This time it is sharp pain, weakness, and my neck is stiff and killing me.
Any advice is appreciated 😏🫤

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.