Wearing and Sleeping in an Arm Sling Info
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Patients › Recovery
How to sleep in an arm sling, get the sling position right, and look after it after shoulder, elbow or wrist surgery, including whether to keep the sling on overnight.
A sling protects your shoulder, elbow, or wrist after surgery by stopping the arm from moving while the repair heals. How long you wear it depends on the operation; your surgeon will tell you specifically.
How to wear it
The sling should support your forearm with your elbow bent at about 90 degrees. The strap goes around your neck and across the back. The hand should sit slightly higher than the elbow, never hanging below it. If your fingers look swollen or feel pins-and-needles, the sling is probably too tight or your arm is hanging too low; re-position and tell your physiotherapist.
Most slings are designed to keep the arm close to the body. Some are abduction slings (with a small pillow or wedge) that hold the arm slightly away from the body; these are heavier but ease the load on a repaired rotator cuff.
Sleeping in a sling
For the first week or two, keep the sling on overnight unless your surgeon has told you otherwise; it stops you unconsciously rolling onto the repair or twisting the arm into a bad position while you are asleep. A fresh cotton T-shirt under the strap stops it rubbing your neck.
Most people are far more comfortable propped semi-upright (in a recliner, or on a few pillows or a back wedge) than lying flat, and it is best to avoid lying on the operated side early on. Take your pain relief a little before bed so it has taken effect by the time you settle.
When can it come off?
You can usually take the sling off briefly to wash, dress, and do gentle exercises your physiotherapist has prescribed. Your hand and elbow should be moved out of the sling several times a day to stop them stiffening up, even when the shoulder is being protected.
Hygiene
The sling itself can be hand-washed in warm soapy water; let it air-dry. A fresh cotton T-shirt under the sling is more comfortable than skin-to-strap contact. Keep the wound dry until your surgeon says otherwise.
When to call us
- The hand becomes cold, blue, or numb that doesn't go away when the sling is loosened
- Severe pain that pain relief doesn't touch
- Fever or wound problems
