Help needed for sleeping upright (shoulder fracture) - what pillows, wedges etc have worked for you?

[Milliways]

I have a dislocated and fractured shoulder and humerus that is just in a collar and cuff ( now 1 week after accident) until i get an orthopaedic review next week.

Advice is to sleep upright as cannot lie on it, and to not put any cushions under the elbow as arm needs to hand straight from shoulder. I have tried many combinations of pillows and a pillow with little ‘arms’ that we have for reading in bed, but I just keep sliding/ slumping down and me elbow ends up touching the mattress and causing pain.

Currently researching a range of bed wedges and v pillows. Does anyone have any recommendations? Or advice on sleeping with an injured shoulder or after surgery?

Thank you

Can you sleep in a chair or on the sofa? Something that is supporting you in a sitting position might be a good start. Then build cushions/pillows around to make it more comfortable.

First of all you have my 100% sympathies…idid exactly the same to my shoulder and humerus in 2019 .I just used a V pillow and strong pain relief to help me sleep.
I had a full supportive sling but every injury is managed differently.
You will get better and hopefully you will be amazed at how much use you eventually get back 💐

You have my sympathy. I totally smashed my ball & cuff in an accident & had both replaced.

I tried everything I could find. The only thing that worked for me was 'sleeping' sitting up on the sofa with my legs/feet on a cushion on a solid little table with castors (because I needed to be able to move it with my feet to make room to stand up, (so the footstool was no good).

I sleep on my stomach and it was awful trying to sleep sitting up like that, but it was a million times more comfortable than trying to sleep in bed!

Best Wishes, it feels like forever, but it's not 🌷

Thanks everyone.
I too am usually a stomach sleeper, so this is more awkward, as well as being my right arm so feel so helpless!
I can get comfy on the sofa in the day but it doesn’t have a high back. We have some camping recliner chairs that also lie back so may well try one of those, otherwise we have some ikea chairs.
SadadassoSad, pleased a v pillow worked for you as thought one of those with a wedge maybe worth a try and useful going forward as I do get Gerd occasionally, or just nice to have for anyone in bed a while.

been hinted that I may need a replacement, or at least some sort of surgery, so playing my violin may be a while off yet! How much movement did you get back?