Quick answer Sleep semi-upright - in a recliner, or propped up on a wedge or backrest in bed - not flat on your back. Lying completely flat lets the shoulder roll back and pulls on the repair, which is why it hurts. Keep your sling on exactly as your surgeon directs, and rest the forearm […]

Quick answer Sleep on your back in a "beach chair" position - upper body raised about 45°, knees bent and supported on a pillow. This keeps tension off your abdominal incision and the tightened muscles underneath. Don't lie flat, on your stomach, or on your side for the first few weeks; most people ease out

Quick answer Wear a neutral wrist splint at night that holds your wrist straight, not bent. Most people curl their wrists in their sleep, which squeezes the nerve running through the carpal tunnel - that's why the numbness and tingling wake you up. Keep the wrist straight, don't tuck it under your pillow or your

Quick answer Sleep on your back with your head raised above your heart - propped on a wedge or a couple of firm pillows - for the first 2-3 nights. This keeps swelling and throbbing down and limits oozing. Protect the blood clot: no straws, smoking, or vigorous rinsing. Wisdom teeth removal often lands on

Quick answer In the first days after a c-section, sleep on your back with your upper body slightly raised and a pillow under your knees, or on your side with a pillow supporting your belly. To get up, log-roll: turn onto your side first, then push up with your arms and let your legs drop

Quick answer Sleep on your back with a pillow between your knees for the first several weeks after hip replacement. This keeps your legs slightly apart and stops you crossing them in your sleep. Don't cross your legs or ankles, don't bend the hip past 90°, and don't twist the operated leg inward - these

Quick answer Sleep on your back with your whole operated leg raised and kept straight - a pillow or wedge under the calf and ankle, never under the knee itself. A pillow under the knee bends the joint and can stop it from fully straightening later. Elevation plus ice is what actually brings the swelling