Night Time Sling Etc.

Hi Folks, I received a sling to put on at bedtime after my surgery after receiving a PM on December 28th. I, however, neglected to ask how long I should wear it. I am still using it and it does (most of the time) keep my arm from going where it is not supposed to be. Should I keep using it until a month passes? It has been a little over two weeks now and I still have some discomfort which has not decreased for a few days. I know it takes time but some days I just do not have any energy or motivation to do much.

Thanks to those who replied to my question about working around marine radios and radar. If anyone else has had experience in this area, please respond. This is a great site that has answered many of my questions. Timberhitch

10 Comments

long enough now

by Tracey_E - 2010-01-15 01:01:30

You don't want to wear the sling all the time or for the full month because your shoulder will freeze up. You need to watch it for 6 weeks, be sure not to lift and not to raise your left arm (assuming it's on your left side) higher than shoulder level, but some arm movement is good. Some like to sleep in the sling to make sure they don't throw the arm around in sleep but I've always preferred hugging a small pillow with my left arm. I've had 3 replacements now so I've tried it all :o)

Two weeks isn't long, give it a few more before you expect your energy to be back. Sleep when you need to and give your body a chance to finish healing.

sling

by thomast - 2010-01-15 01:01:32

What I would do at night , was to pin the sling to the front of my pajames to make sure I did not put my arm over my head while sleeping.

Thomas

6 weeks

by Angelie - 2010-01-15 03:01:25

The doctors told me not to raise my arm above my head for 6 weeks, so that's how long I wear my sling at night when I sleep. During the day you're conscious of moving your arm around, but at night, particularly since I like sleeping with my arms above my head- I chose to wear my sling during sleep only.
I did similar to Thomas, except I mad a small hole in the corner of the sling where your elbow rests. Through that hole, I threaded a string and tied that string around my waist.
A sling help immobilize an elbow, but it does nothing for your shoulder joint. I could be in a sling and still raise my arm above my head with it being bent 90 degrees. The string threaded through the sling, and tied around my waist made for certain that my arm was stuck to my side.....

Best of luck to you,
Angelie

Sling

by mikesmom93 - 2010-01-15 03:01:31

I wore mine to bed for 2 weeks, then decided not to. My EP told me I didn't have to wear it at all, but I did because I was afraid I would move it over my head in my sleep.

I moved my arm normally during the day, just didn't raise the elbow higher than shoulder level.

Melissa

day time

by Tracey_E - 2010-01-15 03:01:32

If you're doing something during the day that you might get tempted, then by all means wear it! Just don't wear it all day, every day. At this point you're unlikely to do any damage if you forget and just raise your arm once. Don't go crazy and swing a golf club or anything, but day to day stuff should be safe.

My doctor is pretty liberal. When I got my first one, he didn't even have me wear the sling home from the hospital. After 24 hrs I didn't have any restrictions except use common sense and stop if it hurts. I'm getting a new lead with a different doctor in the next week or two, will be interesting to see if he sends me home with a longer list of do-not's, lol. I'm going to ask for the sling this time. I do a lot of work with kids and I usually clown around with them and pass out a lot of hugs. I want to wear it around them the first few weeks just to make sure no one bumps me, I figure the sling will be a reminder to them more than me.

Timber......

by Angelie - 2010-01-15 03:01:41

Do whatever you feel you need to do to mind your arm restrictions. I wore my sling at night too, but then after my lead got dislodged and I had to go back and have them reattach it, when I returned to work 3 days later- I wore my sling at work too for the first couple of weeks. I DID NOT want to go through that madness again. I didn't care what people thought.

Just do what makes you feel best, but remember what Tracey said- it is important to move your arm around a little otherwise it will freeze up and become very painful to move again....

Hi TraceyE

by timberhitch - 2010-01-15 03:01:57

I only wear it at night although sometimes I wish I had it on during the day because there are times when I make unconscious moves that just come naturally. I suppose that happens to everyone.

One Day

by Bionic Man - 2010-01-15 04:01:35

My Dr had me wear mine until I left the hospital. It was only for 24 hrs. They wanted me to use my arm right away. They just didn't want me to do anything ridiculous. I had limitations for 6 weeks.
Bob

So true, Tracey

by Angelie - 2010-01-15 04:01:37

I wore it at work the first two weeks after my lead dislodgement for two reasons:
1) to remind me not to lift my raise my arm or lift, push, pull anything over 5 lbs.

2) to remind my co-workers that I'm not just being lazy if I don't reach down and pick up that box.....

LOL- I still have people come up to me and enquire "How's your shoulder?" Eventually I told them I had a hurt shoulder because when I was honest and told them I was minding pacemaker restrictions- they flipped out that I had one and it quickly became a longer story than I had planned to tell people. LOL.
Me and this other gal in her twenties are the only young ones in our entire town with pacers. The majority of people I come into contact with don't even know- which is why I never wore the sling before, but after that lead dislodgement, I didn't care.....

six weeks unless dr tells different.

by tcrabtree85 - 2010-01-15 05:01:06

I had a dislodgement also and recommend the full six weeks with the sling at night time. Yes you don't need it all the time but a sling like Angelie says is to remind you not to use your arm too much. Move your arm around still and if you have trouble at remembering not to lift or keep it down then wear it but move your shoulder around so it does not lock.
I wore mine all the time also but moved shoulder as often and I didn't keep it on tight just loose as more of a reminder to not lift.

Good luck on your healing.

Tammy

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