Sleeping on operation side

Bones, joints and muscles
1

hi
i am 2 weeks post op, is too early to try lying on my operated side?
Conflicting information on the web and hospital info booklet
hate sleeping on my back

TIA

2

I couldn’t sleep on OP side for 4 months you are meant to wait six wks so it settles in x

3

I had posterior hip replacement and was told to stay on my back for 6 weeks. The risk is putting your hip joint out… would not be a pleasant experience. As soon as my 6 weeks were up I started sleeping on my side. It was heaven. Like you I can’t stand sleeping on my back. I coped by changing positions up an down with pillows, putting knees up etc. It is all worth it in the end. Good luck with your recovery.

4

I agree, I’m a side sleeper as well but the benefits of being safe and dealing correctly outweighed sleeping on my side. Hang in there 6 weeks will creep pass you and it will be well worth the wait.

5

6

I found sleeping on my back just about impossible in those early weeks. It was a bit easier when I put a pillow under my knees but I did not start sleeping on my side for 6 weeks under hospital instructions. Even when I first tried side sleeping , it was too uncomfortable after a few minutes. Somehow you just have to get through those early weeks even with very little sleep but it is only temporary - it does get better.

7

If you had the anterior approach you can start sleeping on your side as soon as it feels comfortable for you. I don’t recall sleeping on my back at all except the one night in the hospital.

8

Hi. It seems everyone who has had an actual hip replacement are blessed. I had the neck of my femur pinned and is has been just over 4 mths and I cant sleep on my right side. I try it for around 5 mins but then i feel the head of the screws digging in. Not to worry,I manage to sleep on the other side and on my belly.Im just happy to get to sleep.

9

Hi if you sleep on your back too soon the hip will slip out ,it needs time to settle down, i wouldn’t advise it, i had a double hip replacement in april , i waited 6 weeks at least before i slept on my side, but it was worth the wait

10

It took me a few weeks to sleep on my side as it was quite painful but i think so long as you are passed the first couple of weeks and put pillow between legs its ok good luck

11

hi. my hospital advice booklet says you cant lie on your un operated side for 10 weeks but you can lie on your OP side as soon as its comfy- posterior approach. I did try it at 6 weeks but it was too sore so moved back onto my back. I’m 9 weeks post OP and still on my back.
to make it better on your back try sleeping with 3xtra pillows so you’re not completely flat. I’ve got abt 6 . at some point in the night I slither down a bit tho.
I also still find not covering my foot on OP side helps a lot and certainly in the early days post OP it helped a lot.
as someone else has said bending your knee below 90 degrees helps a bit too but I’ve never slept like it.
you’ll find as the weeks go on things get a lot easier- for me it was week 6 things just seemed to improve rapidly
best wishes

12

Hi, I was told not before 6 weeks & only with pillow between legs, hated sleeping on back too but to be honest I would have found it to uncomfortable at 2 weeks anyway?

13

HI!
OOH I wouldn’t try lying on your operated side just yet. Besides I think it would be too painful for you anyway.
I waited the six weeks as instructed by my surgeon and felt OK in the end.
I agree, lying on your back is a problem if you’re not used to it. However, by now I quite e joy lying that way with my arms above my head, I guess it’s personal preference.
Good luck!
Pat

14

Yup, hated sleeping on my back… Used to fall asleep ok, and then wake up thinking it was probably nearly morning, and it was only midnight! I used to prowl around the house on my crutches trying to loosen up.
I had posterior, was told to sleep on my back for 6 weeks which I did. Then I slept on non operated side with a small cushion between my knees, but I often ended up on my back. It was months before I could sleep on my operated side, probably because I was sleeping directly on my scar.
Hang on in there, it will gradually improve for you. I wish you all the best.

15

Again, this sleeping on your back issue is not an issue with the anterior approach! My surgeon told me “no restrictions” following surgery! If I felt comfortable sleeping on my side I could sleep on my side. If I was comfortable bending over I could bend over. More and more people in the US are choosing the anterior approach expressly because it makes the first six weeks so much easier.

16

I have seen a lot of people on here have had anterior approach… I wonder why it is not the way it is always done… seems so much easier regarding recovery time and pain issues?

17

So did you have the anterior approach for your surgery? Just curious as there is a difference in the way you recover

18

HI
Thank you for all your replies, i had a regular THR in the UK
Had an outpatient appointment this morning and have been told its ok to sleep on my operated side with a pillow between legs.
i shall try tonight and see how it goes, will let everyone know .
Annie

19

Carol, it requires specialized training and a special operating table. After six weeks, studies have shown that recovery is quite similar. But six weeks is a long time to have to sleep on your back if that is not your preferred position and a long time to worry about not bending over for fear of dislocation!

20

anniepeach has NOT stated which procedure or what country she is in. UK surgeon’s seem to prefer posterior US anterior, there are downsides to both but reading this site for nearly a year, it appears that more US posters have nerve and sciatic problems than UK posters. It may help if anniepeach stated where she is and which procedure.