Sleeping confusion

Bones, joints and muscles
1

i had a TLHR on the 22nd JAN.
i am doing quite well but cannot sleep at night mainly due to being so uncomfortable.
my guide says i can sleep on my operated side but i am a bit scared.
any advice please

2

Hi Doodle Great to hear you are doing well. Like you I am doing well but I have also had trouble sleeping. Some discomfort coupled with I do not normally sleep on my back means I wake constantly in discomfort and slight pain. I was also told I could sleep on my side provided I keep a pillow between my knees but I was too worried it wouldnt stay there so I didnt try. Three weeks post op and I have now started to sleep on one side (non op side) and it does help though I still need a couple of paracetamol at some stage during the night. I find I get something like acute sciatica in my op leg which is getting better but still there at the moment. My physio at two weeks post op said I could sleep either side with a pillow between my knees but said most people find the op side uncomfortable as you are laying on the wound.

Good luck, dont be a hero and take pain killers when you need them as sleep is important, it will get better.

3

thanks JOHN
im expecting too much in just 5 days !!!
dont think
i took
enough meds during the day today so very sore tonight

4

It is best if you can sleep on your back for the first 6 weeks - after that I was told that I could try sleeping on whichever side felt comfortable.
Use as many pillows as you need to get comfortable. I used to use my ipod to listen to soothing music to help me get off to sleep, and catnap as and when I could.
The first 6 weeks are the worst part of the recovery.

5

I didn’t sleep on operated side for first few days. You should sleep on operated side only if you are comfortable and your doctor gave you green signal.

6

i had both hips done at the same time in july last year so really struggled sleeping I started to sleep on my side a month or so ago but its uncomfortable if i dont get it quite right I used to try to imagine i was sunbathing and had cat naps whenever i could
make the most of being off work for 6 weeks you dont have to get up for anything and no alarm! x keep taking all your tablets all the time with the thought to be how wonderful i feel nowi still took paracetamol up to about a month ago just first thing and last thing religiously do your excercises x

7

thankyou

8

i cant imagine how you coped having both done together.
you are very brave
i am struggling and moaning over just one !

9

When I was in hospital they rolled me on my operated side first night although I found a bed full of 6 the only way I could sleep pillows zig zag on my back way was comfy but an extra one across for my head

10

I stayed on my back for 6 weeks because I was told to, and I didn’t sleep at all well. I hated the nights, but it will get better!
I do think it’s worth taking your meds regularly during the day. Keep ahead of the pain and then it makes exercising and moving around much more comfortable.
All the best, Judith

11

at least all over at once x

12

i slept on my operated side all the time. as long as you dont twist you will be ok

13

I had my second hip replaced 5 months ago and slept on my back for 6 weeks.
As everyone else has said follow all instructions. I only started to feel comfortable recently on my operated side.
Once you get passed the first 6 weeks it really is amazing.
Good luck

14

Hi Doodle,

Everyone has trouble sleeping, I found putting pillows down either side and one between the legs help, hubby moved into the spare room, I was getting 2/3 hours before waking for a bit, then off again. I was given 12 weeks precautions and did not attempt to try the non operated side until week 7/8, I would never try sleeping on either side this soon as I think dislocation is not worth a few weeks of discomfort. We have all been through this stage and looking back it went quite quickly although I know, it does not seem like it at the time.

15

Maybe try sleeping on your tummy. I found it uncomfortable sleeping on my back all the while. Was happy when I could sleep on my side with a pillow between my knees, but rolled on to my tummy to give my back and side a rest, and managed to sleep better from then on.

16

5 weeks post op for me and sleep is my only issue…never get more than 90 minutes…it is now 2:40am and still haven’t managed sny sleep…i see my surgeon on monday so hope he says i can lie on my side then…its so draining not sleeping huh??