I bit the bullet and tried side sleeping last night after I had tried it for about 10mins the day before. I slept on the op side, so I didn't break midline, with a pillow between knees. I did two short stint's last night, was a bit uncomfortable laying on that side, but seemed to pass then came back on at which point I turned onto my back again.
The bonus, I only had one spasm during the night, but when I got up, I found it painful to walk, pain in thigh/groin, had to use my stick in the house, Is this what normally happens when you start lying on your side? It's still a little tender 4 hours later, but not as bad.
I'm 9 weeks post op gone Wednesday. Just going to rest up today.
Lynn,
Yes, it was like that for me. Started out with just a few seconds, but I can now go for hours on each side. One side is usually easier to sleep on than the other - which one you ask .... well that depends, after my first operation I could sleep on the operated (left) side best, after the second operation (on the same leg) I could sleep on the non-operated (right) side best.
I didn't get any associated walking/groin pains though ..... I may have just been lucky for a change. My scar is still a tiny bit tender at the bottom this time around, and I was 15 weeks post-revision on Thursday.
Best wishes
Graham - 🚀💃
I'm almost five months post-op now. Have been sleeping on the non-op side since day one, but still find I need at least a sliver of something between my knees at night. I am not sure any more if it's physical or psychological...
I have woken a couple of times on my op side, but avoid it when aware.
In the early weeks, I changed from side to back multiple times each night. When on my back, I always kept my op-side knee bent and pressed against a pillow. There was so such thing as comfortable. There was tolerable and non-tolerable. It really does improve.
Hi Graham,
Double pulled about, I'm not surprised, how are you coping with work? Do you do anything to your scar, I find mine has numb parts and tender when laid on it, but I don't do anything with mine, unless it's itchy, then I moisturise it.
I don't know how long I laid but it wasn't long, I was dozing but not sound asleep. Not easy to get onto the side at first either. I haven't tried the other side yet.
Thankfully it does not feel too bad apart from a bit of pulling the top of the thigh, now and again.
Do you walk allright now, no limping?, I'm 9 weeks, but still limp at the moment.
Right must get ready.
Lynn xx
Hi Lynn,
a truning point (!) I may say --- I also was allowed to sleep on non-operated side from day 2 post-op - Operated side took a bit longer - first the staples and then, for me, the tenderness of scar - After 2nd THR same story but took longer to feel confident to lie on the old operated side, being the nin-operated one at that time -
anyway, I was advised to lie on back, stretched out, for 15-30 minutes a day, to make sure muscles were lenghtened - if this make sense ...
When I lie on my side I am curled up, so to speak - if you do this too,maybe that is why you feel this tightness ???
good lord, the things we have to go through and learn again huh?
big warm hug
renee
Sometimes it could well be psychological there is that very slight niggle in the back of the brain, that if you do something a bit wrong you dislocate. But then again, we all know how our bodies feel.
I just kept my legs flat, mainly because my hospital bed had accidently been raised at the legs and the nurse said it was a no no.
I have got used to sleeping on my back, but I do like side sleeping, just my body does not like it, so when it thinks it needs to wake up it does a spasm. I figure if I move about a bit more, then they may lessen, which it did last night.
I have been sticking religiously to the precauctions until now,, I'm not far off seeing the consultant so I thought I would give it a go.
Concentrating on work and the commute in/out of London) is very tiring.
I massage my scar morning and evening with Bio Oil. I am sure the NHS website said to use that, but cannot find the reference to it now. I know they advise against using aqueous cream other than as a wash which is rinsed off the skin.
I have a bit of a limp still, but it's pain free, and that's the most important thing to me.
That was quick renee, only two days before sleeping on side. We do go through some stuff, don't we, good job for this site 
I was told back sleeping, which I'm used to, no one ever mentioned sleeping on the side, but I'm on precautions still until my 11th week. Guess I'm getting impatient lol.
I did used to lie on my back for an hour every afternoon, think that was mainly for swelling though.
I did have my legs bent while I was on my side but not much, I used to sleep in recovery position, was so comfortable and my knee was right up. Used to get wrong for kneeing my husband lol
Aww, sorry to hear, hopefully things will get better.
Do you think it has made any difference massaging it? I have e45 that I occaisonally use. Aqueous cream is very greasy, I used to have to use it on my children when they had their excema, that's going back a canny while lol.
I just don't want to limp at all, I think that's why my hips wore out quicker. Consultant said I wouldn't, but who knows
We had the aqueous cream fot the same reason, also a while back.
My limp comes on when I am exhausted, like when I step off the train - I have a 90+ minute commute, 7.5 hour day, and another 90+ minute commute back. So 10 to 12 hours in all depending on trains and luck.
On Thursday morning, trains were cancelled, had to get a lift to another station, then pick up a later, much more crowded and slower train in to London. Tube was more crowded because it was later. Then on the way home, lots of cancelled trains due to an 'emergency incident' (i.e. someone got hit by a train) close to a station I pass through. 
A long(er) and very unpleasant day in all.
Graham - 🚀💃
I'm having my THR on Monday (2 days from now). My surgeon told me that I will be able to sleep on my operated side following surgery if I can do so. However, the pre-surgery training class said only sleeping on back. So, I'm a bit confused. I am DEFINITELY a side sleeper so I'm hoping this will work out somehow.
Hi, Patiotoole,
Welcome to the forum, a new hippie to be You will find this an excellent site, loads of help here from people who have been through, it and going through it.
Are you having a posterior cut? I was told to keep on my back to keep the hip flat, but there is so much conflicting advice, even in the Uk between surgeons.
I was a jiffle bum, before the op, right side, left side, usually in the recovery position, front, back but with knees up, never very long.
You do actually get used to it, but sleep will be difficult to start with, there are not many of us who get good nights at the beginning. But it is so worth it, to get rid of pain and increased mobility.
Just be kind to yourself, it's major surgery and takes time to heal, it's an emotional journey to.
All the best
Lynn xx
Well it's like this .... being on your back is the preferred option because your pelvis and thus your hip joint lay in a better position for initial healing.
You can sleep on your side, but you will need a pillow between your legs to make sure your operated leg does not cross the centre line of your body (this is to prevent a very painful dislocation).
Which side you are able to sleep on will depend on which is less painful ... first time around this merry game, I was able to sleep onthe operated side, andnot on the un-operated side. When I had my revision just 10 weeks later, it was exactly the opposite.
Either way, I would recommend laying on your back for the first two weeks. I know it's uncomfortable, horrible, terrible, because I had to do it twice over, but it could save you from putting your new hip under extra sideways strain just as it's healing. If you can stand the six weeks, so much the better.
Oddly, I was always a side sleeper and night-time roller, and I hated the restriction, which kept me awake at night, but now after doing it all twice I actually prefer to sleep on my back.
Best wishes
Graham - 🚀💃
I wouldn't like your commute, that's for certain, even at the best of times, but to also have the delays, ooh that's got to be hard. No wonder you get tired.
I only live 21/2 mile from work, which I can walk if needed. Well maybe not at the moment. Due back, it has the 18th May on my note, so I assumed back on the 19th, work said 17th, the gov site, the dates from and to are inclusive, the next day would be the day you go back.
I'm actually out to eat right now with several of my daughters and grandkids. Last fling 
My surgeon said he does not do anterior or posterior but rather enters through the side so as to avoid nerve damage and future dislocation. I don't know anyone else who has had this so hopefully it works well!
Yep - the last date on your 'doctors sick note' is the last day he considers you unfit for work, so you start the following day.
Thank you, I will point that out to them, I know it's only a day but all the same.
Enjoy, your meal with your family. Is it lateral? There will be people on here who have had it done. I'm sure if you put up a new post someone will answer if you haven't already.
I think I may of sussed it, I tried again last night while watching tv, didn't hurt as much when I laid on the op side but I found I was tensing up, which I hadn't noticed before, so I think it may of been that which had caused the pain.