When Can I Sleep on My Side After Reverse Shoulder Replacement?

When can I sleep on my side after the reverse shoulder replacement? This is a very specific and great question because people ask this a lot. The answer is, immediately, if you want.

In general, what I have seen is it takes about six weeks or so for most people to feel comfortable laying on that operative side. But, I tell patients the second you’re ready to do that, go ahead and lay on that side. You’re not going to damage what I did. You’re not going to mess up the surgery. It’s just a matter of comfort.

We’re doing this surgery so that you can sleep comfortably through the night. In the beginning, as your body heals and adapts to the implant and all those things, it’s going to get better and change quickly, but it still does take time for things to reset.

You just have to figure out what’s comfortable for you, but you can sleep in any position you want at any time. Generally, it takes about six weeks or so for people to feel comfortable sleeping on that operative side if that’s how they’re comfortable sleeping normally.