Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I had my THR. I am seriously struggling with not sleeping and wondered when I can lay on my non-operated side with an orthopaedic pillow between my knees?
Yes you can lie on your non-operated side, but you will find for safety (dislocation) you wil need a really firm cushion, between you knees, I found the best to be, two lounge cushions in a pillow cases, doubled up covers, the long end of the pillow case gave me a ear to hang onto when I needed to adjust. I found myself lying on my side the first night in the hospital, nurses shocked and said you got there, you get yourself back, with diffuculty and a great deal of gentle, slowly slowly.
Everyone is different listen to your Dr. I was not allowed to lay on ether side for 2 months. Dr said back only . I too had trouble with sleeping but it does improve I slept in a recliner a lot
I have struggled with this. If I sleep on my back I wake up in the night and find myself on unoperated side with my operated leg right across !!!! worst possible position, so quite early on I lay on unoperated side with very firm pillow between my legs. In the night I often find I've rolled onto my back. Unfortunately I sometimes then find I roll onto side again and pillow doesn't follow. I tried sleeping sitting up a bit but hopeless. 3 weeks post op and sleeping is my only real problem. Pain, walking etc pretty good now. Oh for a good night's sleep in the future it will be bliss.
Hi Kathy, physio told me at4 weeks to lay on my side, I couldn't too painful in hip area, told me to use a pillow between legs too. Saw surgeon at 6.5 weeks he was not pleased with physio. Then Said I could lay on my side. I have back problems so it was agony for me. I used a rolled up towel in the curve of my back to ease pain. I would follow what your surgeon told you. They know best.
It's awful isn't it. Not sleeping affects everything in your day to day life.
I am going to try sleeping on my side tonight with the orthopaedic pillow between my knees. I have to try something.
Xx
My back goes into spasm when I wake up from sleeping on my back all night. I take a couple of ibuprofen to help the pain.
My surgeon didn't mention about not sleeping on my side. The physio suggested I don't, but from what I've read on here and other places, different physios say different things.
Xx
Kathy
I hate sleeping on my back too. It's been 5 months so far (4 after my stage one and 1 after my new hip) Last night I lay awake for a while at 3.00 wondering if I should try rolling onto my side. But having been through two lots of surgery I decided looking after my new hip was more important than getting back to sleep. I'm hoping that restriction will be lifted when I go back for my 6 week review.
Mike
I just got the go ahead to sleep on my side after 6 weeks. I was told by the doc not to use a pillow between my legs. I find I start on my back and end up rolling now onto my unoperated side. To be honest I'm most comfortable when I sleep with my back propped up on a few pillows.
Everyone seems to be told something different! I was originally told to sleep on my back for six weeks but at the 2 week check the surgeon said that owing to my lower back problems / pain I could sleep on my non operated side with a pillow between my legs if I was extremely careful. This made a big difference to me and I have been extremely cautous with many pillows to try to stay in a safe position.. At 11 weeks I still find it painful to remain in one sleeping position for more than a few minutes but generally I am more rested and sleeping much better now that there is more flexibility.
Hi Kathy, I was told not to lie on the unoperated side for 12 weeks as there is an increased chance of dislocation. I also struggled with sleep as I can not sleep on my back for longer than an hour. I used a medical grade fleece under my operated hip to cushion the scar , an ortho block between my knees, and strong painkillers!
Hope you find a way to get some sleep soon.
Joanne xxx
Hi Kathy. I struggled with sleeping on my back too although I found it easier if I put a cushion underneath both knees downwards. The elevation seemed to help reduce swelling and put less stress on my back. I'm now 8 weeks post operation and have been lying on my non operated side starting with a pillow between my legs from 4 weeks. I had the anterior approach which has less restrictions though.
Just consider that you are laying on your back for a good reason, to help your bones knit into the new components in the right alignment, and laying on your back is the easiest way to make sure you are straight.
I had to lay on my back for 6 weeks, then I had a couple of weeks trying to get on my side before I had to have revision due to surgical and hospital errors, and then another period of 6 weeks on my back .
Ouch! It's not getting any easier lying on my back either. I spoke to my physio today who said that my surgeon is flexible about me lying on my side, but I can only lay on my operated side, but I'm not sure that is going to be very comfortable.
I found after the initial THR, I could sleep on the operated side OK, but after the revision 10 weeks later, I could not sleep on the operated side at all, and only a few minutes on the other side .
Now I cannot sleep on my side for very long, so I have become a 'back sleeper'.
Hi Kathy, I hated lying on my back, but I did it until my 6 week check. It was what the hospital recommended, and although it's hard to sleep and uncomfortable, 6 weeks is not so long. Good luck!
Hi Judith, I'm really struggling with sleeping on my back. I can't get comfortable and last night ended up getting just 3 hours sleep. I can't imagine another 4 weeks of this. 😔
it's not funny but if we don't laugh we'll cry !!!! I decided to be good last night and created a propped up armchair made of pillows in bed so I'd stay on my back. Woke in the night and was in my usual (recovery ) position lying on my unoperated side with operated leg crossed right over and foot turned inwards. I give up.....short of being tied to the bed I don't know what else to do. Roll on 6 weeks post op then I can roll all I like 😆
You're lucky! I wish I could sleep that soundly! Xx
Sandra
I'm lucky/cursed to stay in whatever position I adopt in bed.
So staying on my back is not a problem but even lying on my side I wake up after a while as my body needs me to move it to a different position.
Years ago I used to let the cat sleep on our bed, and he would sleep between my legs. So I had to wake up and move the cat in order to roll over.
The days I am happy to wake up in the morning. So sleeping 2 or 3 hours at a stretch does not worry me.
Mike