Hi everyone, just found this group and been reading quite a lot. I'm worried about the 90 level thing...1. Can I sit on my recliner (it's a lift kind). 2. Can I sleep on my other side, I don't like back sleeping. I'm sure I will have other questions, but right now these two come to mind. Thanks for any advice I can get.
Hi Alice and welcome to this group. Isn't it great? I've learned so much and have had great support.
Are you having a posterior approach surgery? That is what I had. Then you have to follow the 90 degree thing. I sit in a recliner and it has been great. The back of the chair is always reclined a bit so it is easy to keep the 90 degree. I never liked back sleeping either but now I am totally used to it. I put pillows under, between and around me and sleep quite soundly all night. Quite surprised and pleased. I'm not sure about the side sleeping.......involved pillows between your knees. I think the surgical leg is the lower leg...the one you sleep on. Actually, wait until someone else writes in for sure or ask your surgeon! Good luck with your surgery on Monday! Mine was on June 17 so I'll be about a month before you. Surgery was the greatest thing ever. It's just wonderful to not have that arthritic pain any more. Have patience and let us know how it all goes!
Hugs,
Leslie
Hi Alice,
First of ll good luck on your upcoming surgery! You will be about 3 weeks ahead of me, Monday I go to joint camp and will ask about the lift chair, you can ask in the hospital as well, the nurses and PT you will see will have answers as well. No sleeping on any sides for at least 6 weeks so start practicing on your back now! This is a wonderful forum for questions and I am sure Rocketman will post his informative links for you. Stay in otuch and good luck!!! Let me know if you hear first about the lift chair.
Thanks, Leslie...It's great having all the suport to help with questions. I will be in hospital from Tuesday until Friday so I will be MIA...Lol, but as soon as I am able I will post an update. I'm not sure which procedure I'm getting. I will check and see.
Hugs,
Alice
The approach is what makes a difference. If you have posterior approach, you'll probably have the 90 deg restrictions for about 6 weeks (your surgeon will tell you). Also you probably won't be able to comfortably get on your side to sleep for a good 4 weeks or more.
With a lateral approach, you won't have the 90 deg restriction (there are different ones but they aren't as severe or restrictive) and depending on the person, you can go on your side after a couple of days (I think I slept on my non-operated side the 2nd night after the surgery and the operated side 4-5 days after surgery).
Hi Annette,
Thanks, and good luck on your upcoming surgery too. I will find out about the lift chair, as I already have one. I had THREE knee replacements, actually two and one revision after Dr. tore a ligament and made me wear a leg brace for 6 weeks and then I couldn't bend my leg, it stuck straight out. Dr. said if I had no more pain then it was a "sucess'...I found another Dr. to correct this by removing scar tissue and replacing the top piece to a smaller one. This right leg is still not as good as the left one, but I can walk ok. Now I have this hip thing going on...
The nurse mentioned the 90 degree restriction when I was at the post-op appointment yesterday. So I guess I'm getting the "Posterior Approach" Well sleeping on my back, is going to be a challenge...I guess I will use pillows to keep me from rolling over at night...
Hi Alice and welcome to our group.
The forum members are incredibly generous with advice and a willing ear for moments when life on the THR journey gets a bit rough.
If you have been reading a lot, you will have learned that this is an incredible procedure and can change your life dramatically for the better.
In my own case, bye-bye to the bone on bone pain immediately! Yes, the post-surgery pain is tough in the first two weeks and activity restrictions are difficult.
But ... the actual surgical procedure also cuts through some soft tissues and certainly stretches and strains many others. As these muscles, tendons and other tissues have been holding your 'old' hip in place and are needed to hold your new one in place, it really makes sense to take care of them. This is the purpose of the BLT restrictions (no Bending, Leaning or Twisting) and respecting the 90 degree rule (do not reduce the angle between your legs and body to less than 90 degrees). This rule is meant to ensure that your muscles and other soft tissues are not strained after the trauma of the surgery - so that they can heal, adhere to the new hip and start working in concert again.
The reason surgeons don't like us to use recliners is that they are often very deep and often not at the optimal height, often with a bucket-like seat and these tend to make us break the rules when getting out of them. So go through it with your PT to ensure that this chair will work for you or you will end up undermining the good work of your surgeon and have problems for a longer time recovering even risking a complete recovery. If you have seen the first page of discussions of this forum, there is a note from the moderator with links to useful resources - one of our superb members created a layman's guide to hip replacement (a fabulous resource you should read) and it includes plans for constructing a base for recliners to raise them to the recommended height).
Sleeping on your back ... the toughest thing for most of us, but seriously important to allow you body to stay in a healing position and ... reducing the chances of your hip dislocating (remember that the natural protectors, the muscles are not yet able to protect the hip fully).
If you are strong enough, there are several videos of a THR surgery online - it will give you a better understanding on what I am saying here. I could not bring myself to watch it, but I understand from those who have that they never challenged the restrictions after seeing it.
Most of us get through the sleeping on our back stage with many pillows (an oversized memory foam pillow became a good friend in this stage), with a set of earphones to listen to music and a smart phone to go online to this forum and to play games when we couldnt sleep. Gel cold packs also help with swelling and discomfort.
This is probably more info than you expected! But I hope it helps.
It is hard to live within the restrictions, but I suspect it would be much harder to live with the consequences of not working within them and creating permanent damage.
Good luck with your surgery, and come back anytime .. for advice, or just a good old vent if things are tough.
L
Hi Linda,
Linda,
Thanks for all the good information. But I have an electric lift recliner, so I was wondering about it.
I laughed about the BLT cause I thought BLT was only for Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato....(just kidding) I have to laugh now, cause I'm going to need it...
I will be back with questions and I know I have a good support group with all of my new friends..
Thanks
I know! - but the BLT helped me keep the rule in mind!
Have a great surgery - don't worry about it as it you will likely be unconscious for it and wake up in an anaesthetic blur.
Try to just go with the flow. You sound as if you are a woman used to caring for others, but after your knee surgeries, you must have learned the need for patience in recovery. I think most of us chafe with the need for patience and wanting to be independent again ... but this is not a quick fix ... the surgery is undoing many months of damage to the hip but also the muscles.
Take care,
L
Hi Alice and good luck with your surgery! I had the posterior approach in June of 2015 and have to follow the 90 degree rule, too. After more than a year, I have to spread my legs wide to bend from a standing position downward. That's what my surgeon told me to do. For example, when I'm loading the dishwasher or bending to a lower kitchen cupboard. I guess I'll never squat again, but that's okay because I can walk without pain. I still use reachers when I drop objects on the floor or need to reach very low spaces. I have reachers in almost every room of my home. I'm used to them now, and they are my friends.
As for your lift chair, just position it slightly forward, stick out your operative leg, and use your arms to rise. I had one in my home for my now deceased husband.
I'm a side sleeper, too, but I learned very quickly to sleep on my back for months. While on my back, I always put a pillow between my legs as the hospital did. Don't take naps during the day so that you will sleep during the night in a position that you don't like.
The most important aspect of your surgery is your rehab! Do the exercise regime that the PTs teach you religiously at least twice daily. Also walk as many laps on your walker as you can daily, and build the laps constantly. You want to make your new hip and leg strong! I was on a walker for three weeks. I did the exercise regime twice daily and built myself up to 60 laps per day around the dining table. Then I went to a cane and walked 1 to 3 miles per day. I live in West Virginia where the weather is iffy. So I use our local mall early in the morning for a quiet, safe, and temperature-controlled walk. Even after more than a year, I'm still doing it, and meet old friends as well as make new friends.
Hi Laura, I understand about squatting, I have done that in over 15 years cause I had both knees replaced. I use a reacher now, and plan on picking up a couple more.
That's a good idea about don't take naps during the day. Hope I can do that. I also like the idea about walking laps with the walker.
I will go to therapy also. So I know about rehab, did alot of that with knee replacments.
Thanks for all your ideas.
Thing is, Alice, you will sleep. Whether on your back or side is irrelevant. You will have pain and discomfort and will find a position with less discomfort and you will sleep then. I didn't like back sleeping either, but I did it when I was tired enough. Don't worry too much about rules; do what feels okay for you.
Thanks, I've got so much good information. I know this is a slow process, I just will be glad when the surgery is over on Tuesday. I know the pain will soon be gone for good.
recliner - depends if you break the 90 degree rule - I modified mine by constructing a 6 inch base for it. It was wonderful to sit in.
see my website to see my recliner raiser. The raiser needs to be strong, you don't want it breaking with you on it.
the address is in my personal info here ...
https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025
and on the moderator's "useful resources" page at
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Best wishes
Graham - 🚀💃
Hi Alice, I am from New Zealand had THR on my R hip, posterior approach now 13 days post op. I have been sleeping on my un-operated side since being in hospital. Pillow in between legs and pillows propped under your R side. To be honest at first it's more comfortable on your back at first, but nice to try your side for a change as those hospital beds have all those waterproof plastic this and that which aids in you sweating. I'm definitely not a back sleeper so struggled a bit. Each day it becomes more comfortable sleeping on your side as the healing takes place. I did get a couple of sleeping pills from my GP as I was up at night getting broken sleep during the day becoming rather drained and grumpy. Had half a pill 2 nights ago and slept for hour's yesterday I felt great, got my missed sleep, back body felt good and people visiting said I looked heaps better. Honestly getting a good sleep does absolute wonders to you and your recovery. All the very best for your op.
Thanks Rocketman, but I can't seem to find your picture with the 6 inch base for it. After I click on the first link, then where do I find it?
Super useful post Laura!
Hi Raylene, I'm going to ask about pillows between my legs. But what keeps you in that position when you are sleeping? Cause normally I start out in that position then change it during the sleep process, and I would hate to mess up.
Hi Alice,
warm welcome to this wonderful forum -
Wow, great comments and feedback - You seem to be experienced in having limitations in movements 
and well prepared as well -
There is contradiction in the sleeping position post-op THR _ I too was alloed to sleep on unoperated side while in hospital ... Was shown how to put pillow between my knees, turn on side etc --- It is having this choice I think, helped me not to make a big deal out of it ---
As for napping during the day ????? well, I am a napper = Body went through major surgery and healing takes place when body is in rest and relaxed ..
One of my motto's is: When you feel overwhelemd (and you will), take a nap -
but this is my personal opinion 
Good luck and please come back here to let us know how you are getting on okay?
big warm hug
renee