So glad I found this video! Was discharged with a sternal fracture with zero instructions on how to handle it! First two nights were awful!

Thank you. I have a fractured sternum from a car accident and it was extremely helpful

I should have gotten the wedge. I slept upright for the first month after my bypass cab surgery. I highly recommend this position. Sleeping for 2-4 hours at a time was a small miracle. All this isn't discussed post surgery and needs to be. So please follow her rules as they are very helpful.

Appreciate this video. I went through all comments to see if some of my questions were already asked and saw some were. So the “acute” stage is 10-14 days. I am in the position of caring for my special needs (profoundly autistic) adult son who somehow cracked his sternum when his outdoor bench swing broke on him. I don’t know the severity of the fracture or even the exact location, just that it showed up on one of the X-rays they took. A 5 day scrip of some pain med and sent on our way. We believe he also has a higher pain tolerance than a lot of people do too. It’s been extremely difficult to determine what to do and when but we’ve been doing our best and are allowing him to lead-with caution. It’s been 16 days and he’s indicated he wants to sleep in his bed instead of the recliner. He seems to sleep okay BUT-he asked for Motrin the next day. He hadn’t had pain meds in a week or so. It’s so hard to tell what to do and when, and not know what he can and can’t do and when so as not to further add to the damage already sustained. Your video is the closest I have found to answers I need as no one I’ve asked has ever had this type of injury so I’ve no idea how he feels, only one physical sign he may be feeling pain while getting up and down (tight lips hah, which I hadn’t seen for a few days so I granted his wish to sleep in bed), but honestly there is such a lack of guidance for caregivers like myself in these situations. There’s so many of us and we’re all flying blind out here. What sort of specialist should we be following up with? Or should we? After what period of time should we be concerned he still seems to be having issues or even if he doesn’t show that he’s still in pain should we get another set of X-rays to verify it’s healed, will that show up on X-ray and how would it look? I have so many questions but those are just a few. If he asks for Motrin again I’m going to assume there’s a connection between sleeping in bed and increased pain (he’s a side sleeper most times) and try to convince him to sleep in the recliner again for a while. He’s 29 and 160 lbs, if he truly doesn’t want to do something…well, he just won’t. But I’m going to try and hope for the best! 🤞

OMG! Thank you thank you thank you. When I left the hospital they didn’t tell me about the chest pillow and coughing and sneezing has been a nightmare. Thanks again so much.

Oh my goodness, thank you so much. The is exactly what I needed. Recovery day 3. 🙏🏼

My physical therapy not mentioning all these information to me . What a waste of time from them and money. Up to now I’m still hurting even though it’s been 2 months from the day I got car accident. Thank u for sharing information. I learn something .

I have watched a lot of videos on how to sleep after an operation I had last week and this is probably one of the most helpful I have found yet. You explained it in very simplistic terms that made it so easy for someone who needs that like myself to understand and make sure that we protect ourselves and Not hurt ourselves after an operation. Thank you!

Comminuted fracture of sternum. Airbag / seatbelt blunt trauma. This information is what I figured out. Wish I knew from day one. You’re right on target ma’am.

You are so Correct. Suffered a sternum break 4 weeks ago, falling against a sharp counter edge. Thank you for your advice. My pain is horrific, especially laying back.

I’ve noticed sleeping on my right side makes the pain go away completely! Sitting up is extremely painful, and so is standing :(

Thank you for this video. I have a sternal fracture from a car accident and this is going to help me a lot.

The recliner is my bff

Great video. I just want to add that a breast feeding pillow is also a great option in this case. I’m recovering from open heart surgery and using that particular pillow. So just in case if someone can’t find the exact thing shown in this video, do check for this pillow as well and wish you fast recovery.

My sternum may have been bruised rather than broken, but getting in and out of bed was extremely painful before I started following the instructions in this video. This method of getting in and out of bed made all the difference.

Power recliner is the best option. I am 5 weeks in on recovery from heart surgery. I am far more comfortable in my recliner than I was in the hospital bed. Standing only involves your thighs. Other issue is I can quickly adjust chair if I have a sneezing or coughing event.

"THANK YOU" very much for posting this video !!!! I am 3 days out of the hospital where I had a Bypass surgery, and it has been extremely rough to get ANY measurable period of sleep ... (I am a side sleeper. so THAT is out of the picture for a month or more ).... I just bought a large Wedge foam that should do the trick nicely !! Again "Thank you" kindly !!

Man this helped me. Slipped on a battery and landed squarely on the arm of a chair directly on my sternu. so far my doctor has done nada. she said she did not see a break, but the radiologist was going to look at it and the were supposed to call me back yesterday about what hey found. so far, not all. This video is more help than i have gotten from my ow doctor.

Just going through this today after a fall. I borrowed a wedge but I'm a side sleeper so even tho it's more painful I've been moving the wedge and using one pillow on my side in bed. Worried about the painful breathing and hoping it's not too bad I can't cough it's so painful I can barely clear my throat. Lord have mercy if I have to sneeze LoL. Thanks for the tips

I have a very active boy and he recently rammed his chest onto concrete wall while playing with his friends. This was very helpful. Thank you.

This is just the sort of infomation I needed, to the point and very helpful. I was given a rolled towel held with surgical tape,to hold to my chest from day 1 after huge sternotomy thyroid surgery(I've been using towel like a support since surgery). First night home last night after after 9 nights in hospital, it was daunting to say the least. I'm going to try with pillows supporting under arms tonight, It looks like it will add more stability and comfort too. It really is surprising that so little infomation is given about more comfortable sleeping positions after a sternotomy. Thanks for this video!

This is helpful after open heart surgery

Thank u ..I recently fractured my sternum while snowboarding... This was extremely helpful! I've been using a bunch of pillows to stay elevated.. Didn't know about this product! ❤️

I fractured my sternum May 18..everything the person in the video said was right on..in the beginning coughing was horrible..I could barely make little coughing sounds..thank goodness never had to sneeze!! Was told to keep my arms close to my sides like in a tube..since my fracture was to the left of the middle of my sternum I was told not to use my left arm..it has been several weeks..sternum is doing much better but l still have some pain with certain movements..

My car accident was 2 weeks ago. I've been sleeping on my back, propped up. I'm now only getting about 4 hours of sleep at night. I rest and fall asleep in the daytime for several hours. Then, the pattern repeats. At least the pain is way less now unless I cough or sneeze. I have to take regular pain meds every 4-5 hours to feel minimal pain. Still can't twist, but I can carry a few things. Doors are sometimes a painful surprise. Pull! Now, I'm searching for a new car...

Greetings from Europe Lindsey. Where can we order the exact Wedge you are demonstrating with? We find it ideal for my mother-in-law who just last night broke her sternum. She, unfortunately, has been suffering from osteoporosis. "Thanks for all in advance".

I was the same sent home with no general information. I soon figured out that lying down wasn't an option. I didn't have a wedge but I did have stored away a large pillow that looked like the top of an armchair. Even had the two armrests. I just put a pillow in for the hollow of my back and it worked a treat. Those armrests kept my arms where they were supposed to be. I had a 'huggy', a rolled-up 3 I carried everywhere. I'm at the stage now just my hand works. I'm at 10 weeks now and starting back at work in dribs and drabs. Still on painkillers, just the SR, but hope to decrease these shortly and then cut them out completely. It's been a slow and steady recovery.

You'll have phlegm problems most likely and you'll have to cough it out. It's best to squeese tighly on a folded T shirt onto your chest and lean over the back of a sofa to so that your head is upside down on the front side of the sofa. Squeez the folded shirt to your chest hard and lightly cough down (because the top of your head should be pointed down) that phlegm with small coughs or as hard as your pain will allow. As you get better and can lay on you side you might not have to hunch over a sofa to get the phlegm out.

Thank you very much this video I found in valuable I appreciate it

I have a fractured sternum from multiple myeloma. This looks like a good idea. I wish I saw this sooner. I’ve had the fracture for a while. I was sleeping on my side and it wasn’t comfortable at all. Sleeping on my back was ok. But I didn’t have pillows on my side

Thank you so much for a great guide to recovering from this long hard journey😂

After watching your video , I bought that wedge for my husband ( after he had his open heart surgery ) . He dosn’t like it ! So hard to rest on that !

I had my xiphoid process removed and this was the only way I could get comfortable.

Thank you so much for these videos!! They are so helpful!! A series on stroke care (transfers, bed mobility, subluxed shoulder etc) would be really helpful! As well as balance training treatment ideas!

I am dealing with 3 fractured ribs on my right side & also bulging disc's at 3 different levels with one pushing on the spinal canal causing severe pain in my right arm & tingling & numbness in my fingers on my right hand!

I somehow fractured my xiphoid last night while sleeping I woke up for a second and just shrugged it off as sharp chest pain and I took painkillers in the morning cos I woke up with a headache now trying to get to sleep it's just awful very uncomfortable and feels quite painful will go to the doctor tomorrow thankyou for the video I will use my recliner

Thank you for the information, have been rolling to the side and pushing myself up w/ my hands/arms to not rely on my sternum/torso for support in getting in/out of bed. Am a week into recovery, been doing the hot/cold packs. Fractured my sternum 2mm posterior "overdoing it" on a piece of exercise equipment, subsequently learning I had Osteoporosis, which I"d not been aware of prior. Dr saying we caught it early and now treating. Never having broken anything though it's been a daunting and scary process. Thx for the info again and normalizing my pain experience.

You mentioned that croisnging legs is OK however if the vein was hrvested from the leg i dont think this will be comfortable. Good video, should be shown at hospitals.

thanks, this really helped its almost 3 weeks

Thankyou ! It’s my fourth day, after a car accident and the sternal advice is great . I also have a broken clavicle. So is there a good combination I can use because if one isn’t hurting the other is.

I had a huge impact on my chest just this afternoon after i was sent flying on a rock because of the play ground slide , i don't feel pain anywhere my ribs but my sternum hurts and i had a rough and difficult breathing as well as a slight cold sensation on my chest. I hope i heal well because it hurts when moving- even my arm pain dont match the painful pressure when i breath 😢

I have a broken sternum and find sleeping face down the best. Reason being, when I breathe, my back goes up, as the chest cannot move out. Not a much anyway. That said I am 8 weeks in and still feel like someone is standing one foot on my chest

thanks i used pillows and elevated myself last night got a nice sleep night before i went to bed took me some 30 mins to get up due to the pain so reclined chair or wedge like you said works well thanks had injury's in the past but not to the lvl you get with sternum fracture

Great info. Thanks

Thx didn't break my sternum but I did bruise it in a fight this helps

Thanks.

Thankyou..Its helped so much..❤❤❤

Thank you sooo much ❤❤❤❤

Also, may I ask how long until I’m fully recovered? I feel like It’s never going to get better. But I am able to sneeze and cough without feeling like I got a shotgun blast to my chest. It was so painful. I hope nobody goes through this , it was such a lesson , and I hope people will learn from this. I wish I never bought this case of cola that day. But it’s too late to do over. Thanks again. Ps. I didn’t go to doctor, since my breathing was okay. Just pain beyond belief , but ibuprofen was a lifesaver. I just don’t like that it’s hard in the liver. I never took painkillers in my life. Even for root canal., I took aspirin. 🖐

I’ve been having pain in my sternum for over a month since I was taking out a case of Coca-Cola from my back seat of car holding it up against car while reaching for my keys in back seat with left hand , the case of cola came crashing down into my chest making a stone pendant jab my sternum (it felt like it went in between my rib bone , I thought my heart stopped) so I’ve been in discomfort for month 1/2 , it hurts mostly after getting up in morning. Could this be fluid buildup in chest (pleural effusion) ? I’ll try sleeping elevated . Thank you so much for video . Very much appreciated ❤🖐🎼

I wish I had seen this video sooner. I'm on the 9th day of recovery from a sternum break after a car accident, and sleeping has been a nightmare so far."

Fabulous video! Going to be a big help. Where can I find that pillow? Most that I have tried are too steep. As a sleep apnea side sleeper (now using Inspire Implant), the right pillow(s) are critical for me.

Just had a dirtbike crash, road rash all up my arms and legs, didn’t feel the fracture until about 10 minutes after it happened

Nobody told me this stuff! I came home a few days ago and have been so incredibly uncomfortable and hating to go to bed.

This works quite well.. but it feels painful when lying on the pillow.. also i feel much better when i just remain sitted while i support my chest against my curled up knees. And yes but why i feel much better lying when facing the pillow with my arms supporting the the bed. And yes it feels much better when i breath.

This my first time doing seach this kind of problem I just figured it out, i thought I'm the only one, i have this when i was in elementary 6th grade someone who's run into me and then he bumped me so hard after that i feel pain to my center of chest but i just ignored it. because i thought it was normal having this but no, and now it's still there for many years and i feel bad for this I'm 22 years old i don't know what to do because it's really annoying everytime you move you feel the pain, i want to go try lift to gym but i can't go becuse of this everytime you move you can feel it.😢

I have a lump on mine now should I go to the doctors and sleeping on my side is starting to hurt now

What if u have no wedge or anything similar 😭

I’m so pissed I can’t tell if it’s broken or not I was helping some little kids with the basics of wrestling for my step dad(because he’s a coach) and this 250 pound kid jumped on my back and pulled my arms back and shoved my chest into the ground and then I heard a crack in my sternum area and have had pain while breathing since. I can’t tell if it’s bruised , broken or what. But Im trying to get in shape for football and if I can’t do stuff with pulling and pushing this thill be terrible for the combined I have coming up.

Thank you, this was very helpful

I’d like to know if after one year post-surgery is it possible to perform chin-ups from a chin-up bar, or will this place too much pressure on a sternum?

Would a bruised sternum show up on xray

Hey there, great video, thanks. Do you have any recommendation on mattress hardness?

How long does it take for the acute pain to subside following an ATV accident? Thank you btw!! Great intel!

Thank you! I am OT, Greetings from Turkey!

your so pretty

Were can i get that tool?and what is it called

Sneezing sucks! I used to love a good sneeze…

A got a knee kick right on my sternum by mistake recently. It is not extremely painful, I only hurt during some particular movements. I only have one question. It becomes extremely painful when I sneeze, do you suggest anything for that? I also feel something like a small crack when I take deep breaths.

Dang, there goes chest day for 2 months