Has anyone slept on the side using a slumber support pillow.
I am 2 weeks post op and can't get any sleep on laying on my back.
Hi John, I did after 3 weeks. The physio gave me an exercise to do on my side so I thought, well if I can do that I can sleep on my side. I have a very long pillow that I rest my leg on.
Jennifer, uk
I tried a slumber pillow but to no avail, you are going to have to just try get comfy I just put two pillows at a v angle it was more comfortable and easier on my back x
Have tried but my good hip is very sore now . It was ok before the op ? I have an adjustable bed which has been a great help but it takes me ages to drop off at night .
Yes I did but used an ordinary pillow. I don't normally sleep on my operated side anyway, so I managed to get comfortable on my other side and had a good night's sleep.
Hi John,
all the advice and booklets etc stress sleeping on your back, which was worrying me because I have spinal stenosis, which makes sleeping on my back agony. I was told I had no choice unless I wanted a dislocation! Luckily, I saw this lovely young physio just before I left and he told me it was fine to sleep on my good side with a pillow between the knees, which is what I do anyway. As long as you don,t let your bad leg cross right over, you will be fine. This works very well for me from day one. I hope it helps you to rest properly.
Hi Sue
I have spinal stenosis as well and kypho scoliosis and found it very difficult to sleep on my back....impossible......eventully after about 3 weeks {2nd THR} he said sleep on your side but it must be your operated side. Ohhhh that was sore but it was because ...like you say...to make sure it didnt cross over my body when I was sleeping
The first THR...I stuck it out for the 6weeks
It is awful isnt it
Love
Eileen UK
Dear Eileen, yes, it is awful. You need to sleep and rest, but it's impossible.
it must have been horrible sleeping on your wound. With a large pillow or cushion between your legs, it's not easy for your operated leg to cross over.
i think sometimes they scare people too much. If you are sensible and go carefully, it's not likely the joint will dislocate.
6 weeks! I really admire you! You should be proud of yourself for that!
love
Sue
Hi Sue
I gave up trying to sleep on te operated side lol
I tried it every night and then ended up piling pillows around me and trying to get comfortable.....never mind...its over now.
Still on crutches {14 months on } but a lot more comfortable
Love
Eileen UK
I,m sorry you are still on crutches after so long. Do you still have much pain?
i am very lucky, it's 14 days post op today and I am just using my flowery walking stick! For a nurse, I can be quite daft sometimes and I ought to slow down a bit. I,m virtually pain free and enjoying it. I have been in severe pain for over a year, so this is a doddle!
love
Suexxx
Hi John I sleep on my good side with a pillow in between my legs, and it seems to be ok, also if I am on my back I put a pillow under my knees which also helps.
Hope you get a good night. My first reasonable night was last night, managed to stay in bed until 8 o clock.
Hi Sue
It was a fracture after my 2nd THR {four weeks in} doing an NHS exercise and I fractured my greater trochanter bone??? never heard of it before.
The long and the short of it is 2 pieces of bone that should knit together but one piece moved away and apparently it will never get close enough to knit with the other bit.
I have pain in my pelvis bone??? the bone that prodtrudes at the side....slightly under your waist just above you hip......feel and see if you can feel that bone.
I couldnt sleep on it....agony ....and thats the side i sleep on. Even if I managed to get to sleep on the other side I always rolled over and then woke up with pain and that would happen about 6 times a night......got a cortisone injection that seemed to work but about four months later its starting to wear off and get a bit sore again so I'll get in touch with the consultant again.
I'm pleased you are doing so well. I have a couple of flowery walking stick....their are lovely. I cant use a stick now...I need more support.
I'm an ex nurse.....not general......learning difficulties I trained in for 3 years.
We can be daft lol I have pink and black crutches now and a pair of lilac and black ones. I thought if I have to use these permantly I dont want dull grey NHS ones
In December I wrapped fairy lights around the pinks ones with a battery just under the grip. Talk about being daft
It was lovely.....we haave a large shopping centre and I would go in there, people would be stressed and worried thinking about presents then they would see me coming with these lights......they all laughed and said something like.....Oh those are festive aren't they, They look great etc
It was great to see them smiling.
I took them off at the end of December and all the shops I went into said "where are your lights? why did you take them off lol"
So Daft as a brush I am...i think the older I get the dafter I get LOL
Love
Eileen UK
I,m glad I,m not the only one! You should put your lights back on, people will smile even more now! It was tough you having a fracture like that from doing an exercise. I think exercise is very overrated! That proves it!
love. Suexxxxx
Hi Sue
It was annoying that it was an NHS exercise that did it......admittedly because I had a {then undiagnosed} osteoporosisis. It was one where you put your hands on the table and abduct your leg slightly to strengthen the musche HA!!!!!
Anyway I still do exercise......but its walking {albeit with crutches}, Yoga, but she is a good teacher and adapts some of the exercises for me. Occasional {when I can get there } seated zumba LOL Thats our arthritis care branch that runs that. and just generally keep moving
Love
Eileen UK
Hi John... I also have spinal stenosis and find it very painful to sleep on my back. While I was asleep (2 days after surgery) I turned onto my operated side and must have slept really well so I asked physio next day and she gave me an extra pillow for support and allowed me to sleep on my incision. I fortunately was really comfortable as I didn't have any pain after surgery except incision pain which was nothing compared to the hip pain. I still sleep on it now 22 months later but my incision is still tender in parts. Ask physio if you feel you would benefit from lying on your side they are normally fine as long as you are comfortable. Good luck John 
Forgot to mention...don't forget the pillows between your legs!
When I tried to turn on my op side all h broker loose after for wks. But was able to on non opp side with a pillow between knees all the way to feet. Be careful u could dislocate.
Thanks Shirley, wish you well
They tell us to sleep on our backs for a reaso it is better for healing process .
The reason to lay on your back is to oven dislocation if you were to turn over too soon.