What Pillow Do I Need After a Shoulder Surgery?

You don’t need any special pillows. You can just use your pillows.

I tell people to sleep with just two or three up the back so you’re up at a 20- to 30-degree incline. Then, place one or two underneath your operative arm to help prop up your elbow and take off your sling. That’s very comfortable. When finalizing your home prep and setting up your bedroom for your recovery timeline, knowing how to position your body makes a massive difference. For patients recovering from a same day shoulder surgery, this simple elevation method is exactly how we recommend sleeping, and they find it provides excellent relief.

Many of them love it. You can try a pillow on Amazon called the Shoulder Pillow. Some of our patients have loved it. But I think you can do the same thing on your own. So try that. And then also, if you want to look at this Amazon pillow, it’s not very expensive. Just type in Sleep pillow on Amazon.

We have links to it on our website, and one of our sleep videos tells you how to order it. But that’s only if you’re going to get a specific shoulder pillow. There’s one on Amazon that’s pretty cheap, but I think you can do it easily with what you have, too. As a dedicated Shoulder Surgeon in Dallas, my goal is to keep your recovery straightforward, comfortable, and free of unnecessary medical gadgets.

Discover how shoulder replacement can improve your quality of life. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kevin Kruse at (469) 717-6183.