What You Put in Your Body Affects Your Health Greatly

Sleep is important to everyone, but even more so for amputees. How well you rest at night can have a bearing on how you feel when you wear the prosthetic the next day. Poor sleeping habits can lead to swelling and stiffness that will make it difficult to fit your prosthetic. Here are some tips to ensure you get the best sleep possible.  

1. Buy a new bed. If you are new to wearing a prosthetic, you might find that your current mattress does not offer the same comfort as it once did. The changes to your body could mean that you need a firmer or softer mattress to feel comfortable. 

2. Shower at night. Before it is time to go to bed, take a shower. Showering helps to relax you and it also helps to prevent swelling in the morning. Gravity and the warm water can sometimes work together to cause swelling. Showering at night gives any swelling a chance to subside. 

3. Remove your breast forms. If you wear breast forms, sleeping with them on can be uncomfortable if you sleep on your side or stomach. You could also potentially damage them if they are made of silicone. The breast forms can rupture if too much pressure is applied to them. If you have foam breast forms, you can switch to them at night instead of the silicone forms.  

4. Stretch before sleeping. Stretching might seem counterproductive since you are going to sleep, but it can actually help with flexibility issues, which can affect your sleep. Talk to your doctor about stretching exercises that you can do on a daily basis. 

5. Use pillows as props. While sleeping, it is important that your legs are aligned. Alignment helps to prevent swelling and adds to your comfort. If your amputation is above the knee, skip out on the pillows. They can cause problems with straightening your hip in the morning. 

6. Put on the prosthetic right away. After waking up, take the time to put on your prosthetic before you get out of the bed. Once you get out of the bed, swelling can sometimes occur, which can make wearing the prosthetic challenging.  

It could take some trial and error to learn what works best for you at night. If you have trouble finding a remedy that works, talk to your doctor. He or she can make recommendations for getting sleep and even determine if there is another underlying reason you are having trouble sleeping.

For prosthetics, contact a company such as Human Technology.