Good morning!
Thursday will be 6 weeks since my left THR. Had post op last Friday and he said I'm doing well, scar looks good and walking without a cane except when I do stairs. He ordered 3 more weeks of outpatient therapy (have not had PT for 2 weeks)
Each night I try to sleep on my side, either one, as the worst part of the whole thing for me has been sleeping sitting up as I cannot lay flat on my back. Last night I managed 25 minutes without pain...usually I can only go 15-20. I had little to no pain all the way through so this is driving me crazy
Any suggestions would be helpful...how long was it before others can sleep on your side comfortably??? Thanks.
Dear Pam
I would Google good sleeping positions. I'm trying to improve how I lie in bed to help to deal with a low back pain issue. Early days so far!
Cheers Richard
Hi I'm 8 weeks THR I've been lucky....never thought I could sleep on my back but I did....I was told try and sleep on the other side but put a pillow between your legs....I actually sleep on my front and find this very comfortable...I'm just finding walking my muscles are very sore....everything seems to hurt!!!
With you on that one !!! Lower back pain.....I'm trying to strengthen my core muscles hoping that will help...
Pam i still have trouble sleeping on my left side and its been 8 months since THR. I believe it just takes time. Everyone heals and recovers at different rates. Please be patient and kind to yourself. It will get better. Blessings! Teresa
Thanks all, I'm trying to be patient but.....
I don't know if I'm unusual but since my THR in January 2017 I actually prefer sleeping on my back!!! Obviously I had to do it after my op, but I've not slept on my side since and I find it comfortable. To start with I used to sleep with a pillow under my operated leg but I found it kept falling out of the bed (the pillow that is, not my leg!!) I suppose you have to do what's comfortable for you.
Dear Linda
I hate to tell you but it seems that lying on your front is the worst sleeping position!
Sleep well, Richard
Pam,
Have you tried sleeping on opposite side with body pillow in between knees? That helped greatly for me as it took pressure off hip joint. Good luck to you!!
Sleep on non-operated side with a thick pillow between your legs with knees bent
Hi Pam, with my left hip resection, it was about 4 months. The scar tissue inside was brutal but with massaging and sleeping with a pillow in between my legs I managed to get one hour at the most. With my right hip it took about 6 weeks and again I had to use a pillow. My doc told me it takes about 6 months to a year for the inner healing. It has been over a year with my left hip and some days it feels so tight that I have to massage the thigh muscles with rub 535 after having a hot shower so I can fall asleep. This tends to happen when I over do it. Good luck.
Tried both sides will big pillow...still pain.
Hi, Pam, I'm a year post op and still cannot lie on the operated side. I have managed to learn to sleep on my back but it was admittedly difficult. I move around a lot at night, and used to switch from one side to the other all night. Now I move from my back to my side and back again, sometimes with a very brief "stopover" on the operated side, as it is okay for at least a few minutes. I too recommend a pillow between your knees when on you side, but it needs to be a small thinnish one, not a big one. I got one on Amazon specifically designed for between your knees when side sleeping. It is kind of an "H" shape, with curved sides. It is more comfortable and also stays in place much better than a regular pillow. Just search for knee pillow for side sleeping. It was about $20 US, but worth every penny. I also used it on the couch when resting during the day. The only downside is that my little dog thinks it should be his toy!
I can appreciate your dilemma. I have the same problem. I read somewhere 5 weeks but everyone is different. When I read that and subsequently tried, Istarted having new pains, very sharp that kept me from sleeping. I weaned off the sedative hypnotics and after a few more nights missing sleep, I took 1/2 a pill last night and slept on my back like a dead guy. Best sleep I had in weeks.
Dear KarmMama
I think I read yesterday that the pillow needs to run all the way down between your legs otherwise it effects your hips.
Cheers Richard
Hi, I've never been told what side to sleep on, not been told can't sleep on my back. But I never had a THR. I broke my feamur below the ball join, they was ale to screw and plate, so no replacement, but guessing pretty much else was the same.
In the hospital was on my back with feet elevated, thought this was down to swelling, but nothing on discharge.
I'm lost on what suppose to do, be coming up to 5 weeks this Friday.
Was not given any exercises to do, only found on the internet, then millions of questions on what can do and what can't do.
I too have not yet been given exercises or PT but are expecting them next week with my surgeon follow up. Fortunately, my wife searched the net and helped with the progress
Hi Ken, I also have a low back issue as well. Since I have stopped sleeping in bed and now in a zero gravity chair sleep is enjoyable again. Not as much pain and more rested. Even feels good on the 10 year old hip. It's not for everyone but it been life changing. Plus no more snoring which makes the wife happy. Good luck, Rich
Dear rich
I'm glad that you have found a solution that works for you but don't you miss the night time cuddles<BG>
Cheers, Richard
After my left THR, I was easily able to lay on the left side after about 6 weeks but couldn't sleep on my right side.
Following revision on that left hip 4 weeks later, I couldn't sleep on the left side at all, but I could sleep on the right side. 
It was almost 2 years before I have been able to get to sleep on my operated (left) side. 
Lesson : It varies, every operation and recovery is very different.
Graham