Or the opposite could happen: he may walk reasonably well but still dislike prolonged pressure against the shoulder.
Different functions can recover on different timelines.
One Night, Murphy Starts on the Healthy Side
Nothing unusual about that anymore.
He sleeps.
His head is flat against the mattress.
His legs loosen.
Then Murphy slowly rolls toward his chest.
For a moment, he is lying almost symmetrically.
Both shoulders are closer to the bedding.
He stays there.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Then he shifts back.
No panic.
No startled jump.
Just a choice.
The Position That Once Woke Him Is Becoming Possible
That may be one of the quietest milestones in Murphy's recovery.
Not a run.
Not a jump.
Not a dramatic first walk.
Simply allowing part of his injured side to touch something soft without his entire body reacting.
For a dog who once could not remain asleep because gravity kept pulling him toward that shoulder, ordinary contact is meaningful.
But Difficult Nights Can Still Happen
After more activity or a medical procedure, Murphy may become protective again.
He sits.
Leans.
Avoids the shoulder.
His eyes close while he is upright.
The old posture returns.
Pain and inflammation can fluctuate.
One uncomfortable evening does not automatically erase previous improvement.
The larger pattern matters.
Eventually, Murphy May Choose the Injured Side Himself
There may come a night when he circles on the bed.
Lowers his chest.
Turns.
And settles with the once-swollen shoulder underneath him.
No one places him there.
No one holds him down.
Murphy chooses it because the position no longer feels impossible.
That ordinary sleeping posture could say more about his comfort than any attempt to make him demonstrate it.
For Now, He Still Protects It
The medical kennel is quiet.
Murphy is sitting on the padded surface.
His body leans toward his healthier side.
The injured shoulder remains lifted away from pressure.
His eyes begin closing.
His head drops.
He sways.
For several seconds, Murphy sleeps sitting up.
Then his weight shifts in the wrong direction.
His body starts falling toward the swollen shoulder.
His eyes snap open.
One paw braces against the mattress.
Murphy catches himself just before the painful side lands.
Slowly, he pushes upright again.
He looks exhausted.
Within minutes, his eyelids begin closing once more.
Murphy finally has a soft place where he can sleep without needing to protect himself from the world around him—but until that injured shoulder can touch the mattress without waking him, even exhaustion is not enough to convince his body that it is safe to let one side completely rest.