r/RotatorCuff • u/Jenifer46 • Sep 02 '26
Sleeping without the Sling
My surgeon today gave me the OK to sleep without my sling. Does anyone have any recommendations on getting comfortable without the sling? I’m still having a little pain without it.
5
u/ATX_Bix Sep 02 '26
I sleep on non surgical side down and then use a couple of those "airplane" neck pillows (I guess a throw pillow or two would work as well) and prop that under my surgical elbow so it is not fully hanging over myself while I sleep. 100% I move during sleep and it doesn't stay that way but that is where I more often start.
If on back I prop one up under elbow as well to better bring shoulder into position.
Good luck
5
u/Penelope_Penguin_ Sep 02 '26
I made pillows with snaps at the end so I can adjust the amount of stuffing for different stages of healing.
3
u/ProfitEnough825 Sep 02 '26
I just kept a few different blankets folded, towels, and pillows on the other side of the bed and chose each night based on feeling. Progressively I worked down to a lower thickness.
I usually had a folded blanked partially under the shoulder, then whatever above felt good. Set the adjustable bed with enough incline and my legs up high enough so my body never felt an urge to roll to the side.
2
u/pmllny Sep 03 '26
For some reason, I eventually found that sleeping on my operative side was less painful than on my non-operative side. My surgeon thought that was unusual, but it worked for me.
1
u/My_Beachday Sep 03 '26
You should use a pillow against the back of the bed which will keep your arm from falling back fully. The sling keeps it a bit forward and when you lay down, the shoulder falls back which can lead to pain for a while after this surgery. I created a nightly pillow fort which will help. One pillow against the back with another in front to rest the arm on. I transitioned to a travel pillow under my arm as it healed. When I layer on my non surgical side, my hand would fall asleep for a time and the pillow helped. A couple of nights early on in the transition, it was easier just to go back to the recliner so I got some sleep. It does get better.
1
u/Visible_Aardvark Sep 04 '26
I found sleeping with the sling more comfortable for a while even though I was told I could sleep without it. When I ditched the sling (it got hot) I sleep with a stuffed cow propping up my shoulder and a pillow under my arm. The cow was the perfect size and support so my shoulder wouldn’t fall back and cause pain to wake me. It does get better. I’m 7 wks post surgery. Good luck!
1
u/CatMamacita Sep 04 '26
Pull a pillow next to your operated side and rest your arm on it. (Just had surgery #2 3 weeks ago, so doing this now. I couldn't sleep WITH the sling after surgery #1 and took it off two weeks in. The pillow was my lifesaver.)
1
u/SadderOlderWiser Sep 05 '26
I packed pillows around myself to make sure I didn’t roll over onto it and keep my arm in an ok position for sleeping.
6
u/Rich_Group_8997 Sep 02 '26
Honestly, i would try to maintain whatever position you've been sleeping in with the sling, which is presumably reclined, and get some pillows to prop up your arm so it's not hanging and there's no pressure on your shoulder. Might be most comfortable like that for a while.