Learning About a Carter Arm Block or Pillow

A Carter arm block is a block of foam with cutouts for resting the arm in an elevated position. Your doctor may advise using it after a surgery, fracture, or injury to your arm, wrist, or hand. It can also be used after surgery to remove a breast (mastectomy). You can use it with either arm. It comes in both adult and child sizes.

It may also be called a Carter pillow, a Carter arm pillow, or an arm elevator.

After a surgery or injury to your arm, wrist, or hand—or after a mastectomy—your arm should be placed away from your body and elevated above heart level. This helps keep swelling down, reduces pain, and helps healing. A Carter arm block helps support your arm in the right position.

Your doctor may advise you to keep your hand and arm raised above heart level at all times for 3 to 5 days after your surgery. Your hand should be down only for short periods.

When sitting or lying down, place the block on a solid surface next to your affected arm. Put your elbow on the curved cradle at the bottom of the block. Let your arm rest upright in the vertical groove inside the block. Put your hand through the opening at the top of the block and rest it there.