Sleeping position and sternum

[almost_hectic]

Okay so I'm right now at 3 months post surgery and healing well. Still get some soreness in my chest, but mostly it's pretty good. Still have tightness in my shoulders and lots of stuck movements when doing simple exercises like shoulder shrugs. Which I hope will go away pretty soon. (Hope)

Sleeping has always been a challenge for me. I'm fairly restless and toss and turn a lot normally. Since surgery I've been sleeping flat on my back since day 1. However lately I've been catching myself waking up sleeping on my side, not always to the same side either. Now it doesn't feel painful, but it does ache a little in my chest. My question is if this is bad at 3 months? Not sure how much I can control it if I do it naturally in my sleep, but do I risk any adverse effects to my sternum. How long before the sternum is 100% healed?

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Almost - I've not heard of anyone damaging their sternum in their sleep, I mean you probably wouldn't have rolled onto your side if it were a problem. I can't remember anyone here being told not to sleep on their side, and most of us couldn't at first and then it becomes easier to do so with time. I'm not sure how long the sternum takes to heal but I gather it is very secure anyway because I fell onto my sternum one week post op (whch was extremely painful) but no one bothered to check my sternum. I was told that the holding wires make it very, very secure !

 

[MethodAir]

Okay so I'm right now at 3 months post surgery and healing well. Still get some soreness in my chest, but mostly it's pretty good. Still have tightness in my shoulders and lots of stuck movements when doing simple exercises like shoulder shrugs. Which I hope will go away pretty soon. (Hope)

Sleeping has always been a challenge for me. I'm fairly restless and toss and turn a lot normally. Since surgery I've been sleeping flat on my back since day 1. However lately I've been catching myself waking up sleeping on my side, not always to the same side either. Now it doesn't feel painful, but it does ache a little in my chest. My question is if this is bad at 3 months? Not sure how much I can control it if I do it naturally in my sleep, but do I risk any adverse effects to my sternum. How long before the sternum is 100% healed?

If in doubt, just try to stay off the side if you can. If you can't...probably not a big deal but your surgeon will know best. I remember having to wait a while before sleeping on my side was a total non issue.

 

[W. Carter]

My chest and shoulders was sore for about 8 months. I slept on my side as soon as I got home from the hospital. It did hurt but I can't sleep well on my back. The soreness will go away it just takes more time than we want to give it.

 

[almost_hectic]

Well, lately I question everythinng as it relates to my health. I probably need to just chill out a bit I guess. If I remember they said the bone needed like 6-8 weeks to heal or whatever. Im beyond that by now. Im just cant help but think, they left those wires in there for a reason! And thats what gets me nervous about any pain in the chest, and thinking maybe the wires arent holding! LOL Knowing it and thinking it are two different things. But as always I have the experience of you guys here to rely to set me straight.