Tips For Sleeping After Shoulder Surgery

Healing from shoulder surgery is a painful and tiresome journey. You must provide the perfect conditions for healing wounds and ensure nothing disrupts the process. This is particularly hard when you have to lie down for much-needed sleep. Sleep is crucial to any healing process. The body is at rest at this time, giving it the time and peace to heal itself. Ensuring you get comfortable when sleeping can help you recover from surgery faster. You must find the best solutions to ensure the shoulder is secure and not under stress. So, let’s look at some tips for sleeping after shoulder surgery.

1. Sleep on an Incline. Sleeping on your back is not the best idea after shoulder surgery. One does not need to consider sleeping upright, instead, sleep on an incline for around 4 to six weeks after the surgery. You can acquire a 45-degree wedge pillow from your nearest medical store for better postural support in bed. For greater comfort, you can also use a recliner for the first few weeks.
2. Sleep with your sling. While many standard protocols emphasize wearing your sling or rotator cuff brace for sleeping during the day and night to keep your arms in position, our modern approach to same day shoulder surgery focuses on early mobility and patient comfort. If keeping the sling on helps you feel secure and protects the shoulder from sudden movements while asleep, feel free to wear it—but with our techniques, it is ultimately your choice based on your comfort level.
3. Use a pillow prop. Oxygen is crucial for collagen growth and infection management when the body is healing. As such, you should ensure enough oxygen reaches the shoulder after surgery. Using a pillow prop between the shoulder provides more support, which in turn promotes the circulation of blood to the healing shoulder. Wedge pillows may be an option too.
4. Ice the Shoulder. Pain can make you restless and uncomfortable to allow you to sleep peacefully. Icing the shoulder allows you to numb the pain and relieve inflammation, letting you rest and fall asleep faster. The best way to ice is by wrapping the ice in clothing or a towel to avoid direct contact with the skin. The last thing you want is irritation or frostbite alongside a healing shoulder.
5. Schedule Medicine Intake. Long, uninterrupted sleep after shoulder surgery is essential for healing. Taking your medication immediately before you sleep allows you to space out the dosages wider, allowing you to sleep for long without waking up for the next dosage. Additionally, taking your pain medication a few minutes before bed will enable you to numb the pain and let you rest peacefully.

Giving your body proper rest after shoulder surgery helps you heal faster. You must ensure the arms and shoulders have enough support at all times. You need the best conditions at night to prevent discomfort and abrupt movements that can cause more harm. The tips above can help you achieve better sleep after surgery. However, if two weeks pass without the tips working, reach out to your health professional. They’ll inspect your shoulder and provide adjustments to help you sleep better. If you are looking for arthroscopic shoulder surgery in Texas, choosing an experienced Shoulder Surgeon in Dallas is the perfect choice. Dr. Kevin Kruse is board-certified and fellowship-trained and will expertly handle your issue to get you back on a smooth recovery timeline.

If your symptoms are ongoing or getting worse, it can help to learn more about shoulder arthroscopy and when specialist evaluation may be appropriate. Depending on the diagnosis, patients may also compare this with total shoulder replacement to better understand their options.