My right hip was replaced 3 weeks ago, I have had 1 physio appt, walking on one crutch, and a few steps without, but i just cant sleep, was told only to sleep on my back, i put a pillow between my legs, im comfortable, but lay for hours without sleep and its getting worse, is this normal?
I think so. I managed 3 hours last night. It is usually because people are uncomfortable but as you say you are comfortable I wonder if the pain killers might be the problem. I am 10 days now and sleep on my good side with a pillow between legs for an hour or so until I have to move. If you do try this make sure you operated leg does not drop down in front of your good leg. My physio said this was fine
Take care
Kate x ( very tired)
Hi Kate, I think some of it is because, im sitting around a lot, (no choice as you will know) and when going to bed on my back its the same sort of pressure on my body, i just feel i really want to turn over but was told not to, I will ask the physio, another cause i assume is that we dont do enough compared to normal, I walk about a third of a mile outside each day, easier in the mornings, as it all tightens up during the day, are you walking much?
Let me now your progress!
Best wishes
Chris (also very tired)
use some extra pillows under your back to sleep more upright and try a duvet under you to help position you comfortably it is normal
Hi chris
Not walking much at all as leg is swollen and painful. Physio said keep it moving but elevate when possible. I potter around the house but 10 days is quite early still.
I make sure I get up every hour but the nurse is coming today and once the dressing is off I think I will feel better.
Try to have a siesta and take care
Kate x
absolutely normal I was waking after a brief sleep with the most horrific headache also lack of sleep being one of the reasons i contacted my pharmacist who recommended night time sleep aid. Diphenhydramine hydrochloride I only take one. Two are recommended but they do help I can get about six hours sometimes a wake in between but go for a wee and get off after about ten to fifteen minutes hope this helps
Hi Chris
I am two weeks in and hating sleeping on my back unfortunately I tried to carry on as normal got into day 4 and my hip dislocated so terrified to try and move during the night never realised how long the night actually is I also wondered if sometimes when you walk during the day do you ever feel sore in the groin area
Wishing you a speedy recovery
Jackie
No sleep for Tony, leg swollen , no comfort in chair during day either. In fact it fact like a crisis point this morning, the good news is that I persuaded him to get up and dressed( with help) and we took a very short walk outside in the sunshine. Things seem better now. Chris
I can recommend a V pillow, it's lovely, it props you up and your head doesn't flop down to one side as it would with a normal pillow as its so high.
I'm 8 days post op and have got used to sleeping on back with help of V pillow.
Sleep well
Veronica
Dear chrisp,
I know ... it is exhausting for sure and frustrating at times - it is our head that keeps us awake (I think)- our body is healing and that takes a lot of effort and energy - there is restlessness as wel - at least, my legs are restless -
what to do
I have tried a couple of things - I try to no get too obsessed with it ... if I fall asleep and stay asleep for, let;s say 3hours uninterupted, it is fine - longe? even better - Now, in the early recovery days, I had to use the bathroom at least 4-5 times a night - then it gets less, but still 3 times- I am usually a bit anxious whether I make it on time or not - the getting out of bed, hobbling to the bathroom, sitting down, the whole thing and then getting back in to bed - well, by then I am wide awake - try to get comfy again and miserably failing -
so I gave up - and by being more relaxed about it, I do sleep a bit better -
but I live alone and am retired ..
it will get better , I promise !
big warm hug
renee
Hi..Yes par for the recovery course! I have recently been told I can now sleep on my side but on the operated side not good side......That was 2 weeks ago....I found myself back on my back because the pain from the wound hurt so much..but now better and still sleep for more than 3 hours is difficult. I am sure readnig posts that this happens to all of us...I am now amost 10 weeks and waiitng for the magic 12 weeks!
]]Good Luck. Ali 2
Thanks for all your replies and info, the pharmacist has given me some Diphenhydramine hydrochloride so will try it tonight, and not helpful i know, but knowing its not just me helps!, had quite a long walk this afternoon .
I will report back in the morning!
Chris
hi chris p,
Yes, of course it is. Almost everyone on this discussion will say the same.
Some more so than others.
I wonder if part of the problem is lack of activity during the day. What I mean is, because we are fairly immobile we are not using as much energy or having as much exercise as we normally would, and therefore we are not properly tired.
OK we feel weak but that is not quite the same thing.
I will let you into my secret, I am off pain killers now except for at night. Then I use an over the counter one called Panadol Night Pain (in a purple pack) which I buy over the counter at the pharmacy. This has an extra ingredient as well as paracetamol and it helps you get to sleep.
It is worth a try and can't do any harm as long as you keep to the instructions on the packet.
Three weeks is early days so be patient with yourself. The more uptight you get the less likely you are to sleep.
Hugs
shirley
The extra ingredient is diphenhydramine as mentioned in another post
With my first surgery I followed all the rules. But this time sleeping on my unoperated side from day one. Makes a big difference.
Now that's a thought, break the rules, why not!
hi veronica -
it is really not breaking the rules - there are so many different approaches to so many things post-op THR surgeries, including sleeping on back -
It is and probably will be the preferred method , especially in the beginning - hip muscles are stretched, less chance to dislocate or damage the fragile strands of healing around the hardware etc ...at least, this is how it was explained to me - while in the hospital I was shown hw to sleep on my unoperated side with a pillow - how to turn and make sure that my leg would not flop over the other leg -
With first THR I was scared of dislocation when I sneezed -
Like Isabelle, I had a 2nd THR surgery and feel more comfortable and confident - that is all -
I think,for me, having a choice is important - funny thing is that I find myself sleeping on my back more comfortable -
warm hug
renee
Thanks to June for the Diphenhydramine hydrochloride tip, saw the pharmacist yesterday and he gave me some, took 2 at 11pm went to bed, woke at 3.30 am then back to sleep until 7.30 am, felt A LOT better today and no side effects or drowsiness,
so consider it well worth a try if you can tollerate it. its only a short term fix i know, but a nights sleep was so nice!
will be having another dose tonight, sleep tight everyone
Chris
I get this problem too - my solution is to take myself off to the spare room, where the bed has a very firm mattress and it's much cooler both of which seem to help me.
My other problem was needing to pee every hour - got this back to every 2 hours or so now - is this normal? Is it the meds? I am only on blood thinners now.
Hi Renee,
i tried last night to sleep on my unoperated side just to see what it would feel like, it felt wrong, can't really explain, so turned back to sleeping on my back and felt ok! I suppose our bodies tell us what's right and wrong.
veronica