Hi fellow hippies
Today is my 8 week annivesary post left posterior THR. All going well and I'm now able to walk around the house mostly with only occasional use of a walking stick or crutch. Still using a single crutch on trips outside. Can now climb stairs normally - not the earlier one step shuffle. Exercising religiously and walking outside whenever the weather allows. Also passed a "milestone" this morning when I managed to put on my left sock unaided.
My only concern is that I also tried to turn onto my operated side early this morning before getting up and almost immediately had to turn onto my back as I experienced quite a lot of discomfort around the area of my scar. This eventually subsided. When I got up I checked the scar and there is no sign of any red areas or other untoward evidence that a problem exists. Since the operation the scar has behaved impeccably and healed well.
I'm just wondering what others have found as far as being able to sleep on their operated side. I'm wondering if there is still some underlying nerve/tissue damage that is causing the discomfort and that this will improve with time.
FYI my hospital discharge notes describe my prosthesis as a "Plastic cup/ Excia uncemented ceramic bearing.
I presume the uncemented means that the stem of the prosthesis is not cemented into the femur but is designed to allow bone growth around it over time to fix it in place. Just wondering if that process could also be a source of the discomfort.
Any comments/thought appreciated.
Dear Arlwood
I suspect that your discomfort as due to something that you did in the night and that all you need to do is rest for a day to let your body recover. If you are in pain then it would be sensible to take a pain killer to allow your body can rest.
Yes you are correct as regards to your prosthesis and I see no reason why at eight weeks it would suddenly give you issues so just have a relaxing day.
Cheers, Richard
It takes some months I remember I could not rest on my operated side for about 3- 4 months, so early days yet, things inside are still healing up so that's where the pain came from I suspect.
I remember Dr told me 12 months for healing, and then even after that for about 2 years but you are just not aware of that, I scoffed at him at the time, but with double hip replacement he was not far from being correct.
It differs from person to person, and recovery to recovery.
I was able to sleep on my operated side after my initial THR, but not on the unoperated side.
I then had revision on the same hip 10 weeks later.
I was then unable to sleep on my operated side, but was able to sleep on the unoperated side.
It was nearly 2 years before I have been able to sleep on the operated side.
I can now sleep on either side.
Graham
Correct, it is different for everyone. I could sleep on non operated side at 4 weeks but developed an infection that created more pain overall. That was 2 weeks ago and last night tried my operated side. No severe pain but pressure that woke me up so I switched sides.
Hi
I have this issue after 5 weeks but wasn't a hip replacement but a femur break but still have the 12inc scare.
What I found is wear 2 items to bed 1 pair of baggy shorts then PJ bottoms, this cuts down the friction if you turn are restless in bed. I've gone from 1 hours kips to sleeping good 5 hrs solid
Cheers
I’m 12 weeks post right hip surgery. Started sleeping on operated side around 8 weeks. Very tender at first. Started just slowly then more. Getting better but now have severe thigh pain when standing. I’m wondering if I should have waited to sleep on it??!? So I guess I’d advise to wait. That way if something happens you won’t be wondering.
I am almost 7 wks post op and I can't yet sleep on my operated side either due to pain at the incision site. Until a week ago I couldn't sleep on the un operated side. Weird pressure and fear of rolling my leg over to far. I have always been a side sleeper until my THR and look forward to side sleeping again in time.