Pain when sleeping on my side

Bones, joints and muscles
1

hi, I am almost 7 weeks post op after THR and am struggling to sleep at all on my side. :anguished_face: I tried sleeping on my wound side first, as suggested by my physio, but that just felt uncomfy. Now, even with a pillow between my legs I am finding when I lay on my non-operated side that I get a ā€œpullingā€ pain down the back of my thigh?? So much so itā€™s making sleep really difficult as I tend to migrate onto my sideā€¦and after 6 weeks of back sleeping its really frustrating. Anyone experienced the same problem or got any suggestions?
Thanks

2

Ambien worked for me - 5mg. Generic name zolpidem.

3

it takes time for the surgical area to heal and tissue ligaments to tighten as they heal as well as the bone to grow . all those things take a few months to adjust and hold the new hip components in place. even the brain is adjusting to the new components. sleeping on our sides is tricky and uncomfortable in my case it took a few months even up to a year. have had both hips replaced and one revision. each recovery was different. time patience exercise all helps . your only 7 weeks post surgery. yikes my goodness any pressure was painful for several months. everyone has different healing times. hang in there it will get easier.

4

I am almost 5 weeks post opp and am getting some serious pain down groin to knee and it has put me back as was walking well but since this started have a job to stand on it i can lay on my operated side sleep no problem just once swing my legs to side of bed to get up then the pain kicks in this virus is not helping as was walking around the block every day now you got to stay home it not helping my hip

5

thanks for this. I think because everything else recovery wise is going so well, which Iā€™m really grateful for, I maybe expect it all to fall back in place! Iā€™m a young-ish THR at 50 and perhaps a bit too impatient! maybe I need to keep reminding myself of all the pain I was in before to realise that back sleeping is not the worst thing at all!!

6

Hi Rosie,
I was just the same as you. Started off on my non operated side with the pillow between my legs, but often ended up on my back. It was several months before I could sleep on my operated side. (I suppose because my scar is right on the side of my thigh.)
Just take it gradually, it will all improve, and one day youā€™ll realise that youā€™re sleeping normallyā€¦
I wish you all the best, Judith

7

Thanks Judith. The start of my scar is right on my thigh too, and it is quite thick where it joins my old childhood CDH scar. Thatā€™s probably not helping! Patience is a virtue!! Best regards.

8

Hi Rosie,

As I was given 12 weeks precautions, I was still trying to sleep on my back as told, yes, nightmare but, in the big scheme of things 10 -12 weeks really does pass quickly. I attempted my operated side at around 8 weeks, it was fine but slept on un operated side from around that time. Donā€™t try to rush any part of recovery, slow but sure.

9

I must be lucky as i am 5 weeks from my hip no pain when walking can walk up stairs normal but not to many times just now and again sleep on eather side no pain

10

Hi Alan,

I also had a good op, I have never had any pain since op, did not need painkillers but, they were kind of forced on you in hospital. I had a shower day after op in hospital. I chose to follow precautions though as I preferred to let the inside heal and not rush it. Maybe I was too cautious but, I never had the problems others seem to have.

11

I had my opp 5weeks ago and can walk up the stairs still opp leg first coming down and have been having showers

12

I had my opp 5weeks ago and can walk up the stairs still opp leg first coming down and have been having showers

13

I had my opp 5weeks ago and can walk up the stairs still opp leg first coming down and have been having showers