Four months ago I had a total reverse shoulder replacement (will do the next shoulder in 4 months) and find it too painful to sleep on either side. Most likely the pressure ulcer is still a stage 1 but I need to address it now so that it won't worsen. If it should worsen then I have to postpone the next surgery! My husband is the only one to help me but he has Alzheimer's and going downhill fast. With the 1st bed sore I saw a wound care specialist (no longer there of course) and she used honey patches on the sore that had reached a stage 3. Within a week it was gone! Any suggestions as to how best I can keep the pressure off this area and still sleep? Thanks in advance! :)
My understanding is that you should be using an air mattress that has articulating chambers, this adjusts your position and stops pressure points.
I would also be active during the day and not sitting a lot if that is what I need to do to sleep.
Best of luck.
A referral to a wound care nurse or specialist will help.
Also ask about getting an alternating pressure mattress. This could be one as simple as it having air that moves through or as elaborate as one that will actually inflate and deflate.
You could also talk to the PT that is working with you for the shoulder. (I hope you are seeing a PT)
The risk is if you have a Pressure sore you may not be a good candidate for the surgery that you have planned in the next 4 months so this has to be addressed ASAP. And you will probably need the air mattress for several months after.
She used a cream called Butt Cream on any kind of redness before the sore came
My BIL died at home, bed-bound after he fell and broke a leg, and they hired a hospital bed with an inflate-deflate mattress which worked very well as a preventative.
You can also use the foam rubber mattress topper for your chair. Cut it as wide as chair - and leave it long enough to go from head to foot. Cut the hole where sore is. You might even want to double the foam rubber pad to give extra padding between you and the chair.
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