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Best Pillow for Sleeping Upright After Surgery: A Complete Recovery Guide
Recovering from surgery comes with its own set of challenges like pain, discomfort, and restless nights. With days, weeks, and sometimes even months spent dealing with sensitivities and discomfort, it can quickly become unbearable. A key to effective recovery is sufficient rest, which allows your body to heal. However, having restful sleep can be nearly impossible.
From pain management to finding a comfortable way to get the rest you need, there is one thing every post-op patient needs: the best pillow for sleeping upright after surgery. With the right pillow for surgery recovery, you can keep pressure off incisions and tender areas, make sure you’re positioned properly to help prevent post-surgery complications and get better sleep.
Read our guide on post-surgery pillows to learn more about the benefits, find the right support system for you, and improve your road to recovery. Interested in a single aspect of after-surgery pillows? Use the links below to find the information you’re looking for.
- What Is a Post-Surgery Pillow?
- How to Use a Post-Surgery Pillow
- Do Wedge Pillows Work for Post-Surgery Recovery?
- Where to Buy a Post-Surgery Pillow
- Enjoy a More Comfortable Recovery with an After-Surgery Pillow
What Is a Post-Surgery Pillow?
Post-surgery pillows are designed to support recovery by providing targeted comfort and stability. There are various types of after-surgery pillows; the type you would want to use would partially depend on the procedure you underwent and what part of the body is most affected. For example, the best pillow after shoulder surgery often includes features like arm support to reduce strain.
Surgery recovery pillows may be large or small, depending on your preferences and their designed usage. These pillows cater to different needs: some are ideal for bed rest, while others apply gentle pressure to surgical sites or offer portable support for activities like driving during later recovery stages.
Why Should You Use Post-Surgery Pillows for Recovery?
Wondering why you should use a special after-surgery pillow instead of your regular pillow? Put simply, they’re ideal for minimizing discomfort during the recovery period, and who doesn’t want that?
Recovery pillows for sleeping are designed to make lying down for long periods more comfortable while providing gentle structure and support to your head, neck, and back. Post-surgery recovery pillows are meant to help with the unpleasant side effects of bed rest, including
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Pressure relief on incisions (abdomen, chest, limbs)
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Correct posture to ease neck, back, hip, and knee strain
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Elevation to enhance circulation and reduce swelling
- Support while coughing or moving, minimizing pain and protecting wounds
In some cases, depending on the type of pillow you’re using and if it’s being used to prop up your limbs, it can also help increase blood flow and promote faster healing.
The hip abduction pillow market revenue is estimated to reach USD 250 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2026 to 2033.
Moreover, the global medical pillows market size is projected to reach USD 5.9 billion by 2032.
When Do You Need a Post-Surgery Pillow?
Recovery pillows are often recommended for patients who have undergone a surgical procedure, especially those who require longer bed rest. Some of the most common procedures for which after-surgery pillows are used include
- Shoulder replacement surgery
- Rotator cuff repair
- Spinal surgery
- Hysterectomy
- Breast augmentation
- Mastectomy
- Appendix removal
- Abdominal surgery
- C-section
- Organ transplant
- Heart surgery
- Chest surgery
However, regardless of what type of surgery you’ve had, a post-surgery pillow may be a good investment, especially if you need to be on bed rest for more than a day or two.
How to Use a Post-Surgery Pillow
Extended bed rest can cause discomfort beyond surgical pain, straining your back, neck, or joints. Proper use of a recovery pillow is key to maximizing benefits:
- Position it to provide proper support:
Typically, recovery pillows are designed to be used a specific way in order to provide the right amount of support. If there are instructions for how to position the pillow, using it as advertised will likely provide the greatest benefit.
For example, after abdominal surgery, place a recovery pillow to support incisions during coughing or movement. For shoulder surgery, the best pillow after shoulder surgery may include an arm slot to reduce pressure.
Proper positioning can also help you achieve a more comfortable inclined position for sleeping while preventing you from putting pressure on certain parts of your body.
- Follow Medical Guidance:
Depending on the reason you’re using a recovery pillow for surgery, you may need to use your pillow a specific way or for a certain period of time. It’s important to heed these instructions in order to help lower your risk of complications and improve your recovery experience.
For example, side-sleeping pillows can maintain proper alignment during recovery from spinal or shoulder procedures.
In many cases, you will need to sleep on your side for several days or weeks while recovering. A post-surgery pillow can help you remain on your side by creating the most comfortable conditions and supporting your back at the same time.
- Keep them clean:
After surgery, you may be much more susceptible to infection, so it is especially important to keep everything around you as clean as possible. Depending on the type of procedure you’ve undergone and whether your pillow is in close contact with the operation site, you may need to throw it in the wash fairly frequently.
Our MedCline Shoulder Relief System and Reflux Relief System are both easy to clean. With a removable cover, you can wash your recovery pillow as frequently as you need to. It’s worth mentioning that these covers are also made of a breathable fabric, which helps prevent you from becoming too hot throughout the night.
Do Wedge Pillows Work for Post-Surgery Recovery?
Yes, wedge pillows are one style of pillow you can use for post-surgery recovery. They support an inclined position to reduce pressure on your back, shoulders, or incisions, making them the best pillow for sleeping upright after surgery.
Or, they can be placed under your knees and legs to help elevate them and help reduce your risk of blood clots and cramping.
MedCline has two options for wedge pillows for surgery recovery:
If you’ve undergone shoulder surgery such as a rotator cuff repair or shoulder arthritis surgery, a shoulder recovery pillow can help make your time on bed rest much more comfortable. Our Shoulder Relief System is designed specially with an innovative armhole to alleviate discomfort by supporting your body weight while allowing your shoulder to rest naturally.
Moreover, the patented arm-pocket design relieves shoulder pain and numbness, praised recently by influencer @MommaCusses, who described it as “like sleeping in a hug” and noted it stopped her arm from going numb at night.
Many people suffer from acid reflux when lying down and trying to sleep. Since you’ll likely be in bed more when recovering from surgery, this may become a problem for you. If it does, you can use our acid reflux pillow to find relief.
If you don’t want to be at an incline but are looking for some extra body support while recovering from surgery, our therapeutic body pillow can be purchased on its own. Body pillows can help improve circulation, alleviate pressure on knees and hips, and align your spine.
Benefits of Wedge Pillows for Surgery Recovery
Wedge pillows are ideal for allowing you to sit up in bed while eating or watching television. This is because they are able to support your upper body for long periods of time when you want to relax in an upright position or sleep at an incline. When placed under the knees, a wedge pillow can also be used to alleviate pressure and allow for proper drainage.
Do you know that the medical wedge pillow market size is projected to reach USD 348.67 million by 2032?
MedCline isn’t your average wedge pillow; we have taken the time to perfect our design to help our customers achieve the best night’s sleep, whether they’re in the initial stages of surgery recovery or looking for a long-term, comfortable sleeping solution. Some of the advantages of using the MedCline system include:
- Medical-grade materials
- High-density, adjustable shredded memory foam fill in the attached body pillow (contours to your body much better than a single foam layer)
- Seamless inner curvature to prevent neck irritation
- Removable covers for convenient washing
- 6” to 8” wedge height for a comfortable, gradual incline (depending on your height and system chosen)
- Symmetrical design that can be used by right- or left-side sleepers
- Available through VA medical benefits
- FSA cards can be used to purchase the system
To learn more about our pillows and the benefits of using our systems, read our MedCline FAQs.
Where to Buy a Post-Surgery Pillow
There are many places you can buy an after-surgery pillow from. However, the majority of them are found online due to their specialized nature. If you’re purchasing a post-surgery recovery body pillow, you will want to have it delivered due to its large size.
MedCline offers fast shipping and flexible payment options, including FSA eligibility, for a seamless purchasing experience.
Enjoy a More Comfortable Recovery with an After-Surgery Pillow
Whether preparing for your own recovery or supporting a loved one, a post-surgery pillow is a valuable investment. The best pillow for sleeping upright after surgery or the best pillow after shoulder surgery, like MedCline’s Shoulder Relief System, not only aids recovery but also enhances long-term sleep quality.
Add a recovery pillow to your post-surgery plan and experience a more comfortable, restful healing journey.
