Hi everyone,
Was wondering if anyone else was having problems sleeping? I had my THR on 3rd february and am still not sleeping well. At most I get 2 hours and that is rare!! If anyone has any suggestions for helping with this problem I'd be very grateful!!!
Have you tried slleping in a sitting up position?
I push pillows up so my back is supported from my lower back upwards. This position also helps me not to roll over.
That and a couple of co-codimol when I need to sleep deeper help. Good luck Karen.
Michael x
I had my thr on 9th Feb and for the first week I slept better than I have for months,but the last few nights started waking I think it's because I want to turn over on my side.i keep my kindle by my bed and read for a few minutes until I drift off again. cant wait to be able to sleep on my side as I sleep a lot better. I also make sure I take my painkillers at night and think this helps too.hope you have a better nights sleep. I have also been going for a lie down and watched TV in the afternoon and having a little snooze x
Hi Karen
Are you able to go on your side? I was told it was fine to go on your non operated side with a pillow between your legs and I have been doing that since about day 5 post op. I had mine done on 2nd Feb. Maybe give this a try. I can't imagine how horrible it would be to go with such poor sleep for that long Were you a poor sleeper before the op? You could also try a mattress topper for comfort and I have also heard of people using a slumber pillow which are expensive but are supposed to be very good. I wish you luck.
Alison xx
I havent had my op yet but have severe 8nsomnia. Iv been prescribed sleeping tablets and havent had issues with sleep since x
H
Hi Michael,
I alternate between lying almost flat to sitting up but it doesn't make much difference! Doctor prescribed dihydrocodeine to take at night but again it's not making any difference! maybe I'll just need to suffer for 6 weeks until I can start lying on my side again - oh heaven!!!
Oh Lord, you poor thing. On the plus side, you are all but 3 weeks in :-)
Hi Karen yes I have trouble sleeping. I find it hard on my back, we have raised the top of the bed like a hospital one and with lots of pillows this helps. I must admit I asked my doctor for sleeping tablets which have helped a bit. Sue x
Hi Alison,
I was told I had to sleep on my back for 6 weeks and this is what is causing the problem - pain in lower back and general stiffness! The mattress topper is a good idea - I'll have a look online for a nice, soft, thick one!! Might also look at slumber pillow - to hang with the expense if it meant I got a good sleep!!! Never really had trouble sleeping - occasionally when work has been very stressful I have found it difficult to get to sleep but once asleep it would be undisturbed.
Hi Sue,
How long ago did you have your op? I'm a bit wary of taking sleeping tablets but never say never!!!
Ho Karen,
hubby went straight out for a memory foam topper and memory foam pillow the day before I left hospital. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to sleep well without it.
i also use a hypnosis CD to help me fall asleep and again if I wake up in the night.
someone on another post suggested a muscle relaxant/ general relaxant such as Valium for a few nights to retrain the body.
Good luck my dear x
I had a lot of lower back pain in the first month. I used an analgesic gel on it. It worked very quickly and, while the pain didn't completely go away, it definitely helped lessen it.
I was tossing and turning between my side and back every couple of hours during that time, too. I found that having a lot of cushions and placing them in strategic spots helped, too.
Hi LDW,
Alison also suggested a mattress topper - I've got another window open at the moment looking for something suitable.
Thanks for your help - it's not until you're not sleeping that you realise how much you need it!!
Also, when I slept on my back, I always had my knee bent on my op leg. Rested it on cushions both underneath the knee and at the side of it.
Hi Karen,
bought mine from dunelm.
belle's suggestions re pillows under bent operated leg do work well for me too.
x
Hi I think it's a very common symptom of the op. I thought it was just me before I found this site a few weeks after my op and found lots of people complaining of the same thing. Lots of cushions to support yourself in bed - also make sure you take an afternoon nap daily to stop getting overtired at night. I tried lavender oil regularly sniffed during the night plus taking the painkillers. In the end I took Nytol a few times. Tried not to get stressed about it too. It does settle down especially when you can lay on both sides xx
I couldn't sleep on my back and just lay on my non operated side with pillows between my legs after 5 days , I then bought a slumber pillow . And now 4 weeks on am just using pillows again and can sleep for short periods on operated side . Physiotherapist said fine to sleep on side with pillows to stop operated leg crossing over . Hope you sleep well soon xx
My op was just over 3 weeks ago after 12 days of not sleeping I saw my doc who suggested the pills. Sue x
Dear Karen,
Horrible isn't it? It par for the recovery..you need to nap whenever possible....Also we seem to want to wee more often in those early days which disturbs your nights too.. The joy when you manage to sleep..it will happen. Do you normally sleep well? Would your Doc prescribe short term use of sleeping pills?
keep going it is worth it in the end.
Alice