Sleeping on the operated side

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi guys

How long did you take before you were able to sleep on your operated side?

2

Hi Caron

It was 5 or 6 weeks before I was comfortable lying on my operated side  - and that was with a thick and soft layer between me and the mattress and with a pillow between my legs.

sjhips

3

Hi sjhips,

How is your swelling on the operated side? My 4-1/2 inch incision is more to the outside of the thigh (anterior approach) and my swelling is enormous. I must have 4 inches of added cicumference there. I am 2 weeks out and it is my only swelling. But I cannot wear pants b/c of it. 

4

I am a little over 3 months now but have been sleeping on it since my staples were out so about 2/3 weeks after surgery

5

Hi there. I'm 8 weeks post op and I had an anterior approach and I can just about sleep on my operated side. I can still feel it fr sure and I can't lie there all night, but enough that I can at least change sleep positions. 

I haev to to say though, one thing I have learned hands down a s that everyone is different and everyone recovers at different paces! 

How long since your op? X

6

  Hi Caron, It was about 5 or 6 weeks for me too.  It's so nice to be able to turn over.  Did put a pillow between my knees at first.

7

Hi Carol, for me was about 2 weeks though I did gingerly test it most days. I've got a 5 inch memory foam topper which I think helps too. I can't lie that way for long but it does make a difference being able to get off my back for a bit. To be honest though I've made a super fast recovery so I'm always testing a bit more. I had posterior approach and my scar is about 5 inches kind of on my side but has healed up now and I'm slavering cocoa butter on twice daily. I think it is really a case of slowly testing things bit by bit. We are all very different!!

8

Hi Caron

managed to sleep on operaqted side at 3 weeks but started off at 20 mins and gradually increased. mine was posterior approach.

9

Thanks for your message, I'm just about 6 and a half weeks post op. I've still got quite a lot of swelling on the operated side, but feel that I want to try it... I'll pillow up, and between my knees as I do on the unoperated side!

Thank you

10

Thanks! I'm just over 6 weeks now, so I'll give it a go!

11

Wow, that's incredible!!! Go you!

12

Thanks Carol, I'm 6.5 weeks (nearly) so I'm going to try it! Thanks

13

Wow Kirsty, you are doing so phenomenonally well!!! I'm using a lot of Bio oil, and the scar is looking really good and surprisingly thin. Also about 4 to 5 inches.

Thank you for your message!

14

Hi Shelley

I didn't have any swelling at all - in fact the physio six weeks in announced my scar was "beautiful" (!!!) But I think everyone's body reacts to the surgery in different ways, so hang in there and hopefully your incision will settle down in time.

15

Wow, Susan. I couldn't have even thought if it until now... I'm 6.5 weeks post op. I'm going to give it a try tonight. Thanks for your message!!!!

16

Hi Caron

I didnt do it until I had the all clear from the hospital. Everyone gets different advice so if I would you speak to your professional s to be sure when you can

Julie

17

Thanks sjhips! What approach did you have? I had anterior, although my scar is closer to the side of my thigh than the middle or the front. I'm wondering if I really had a mini posterior. Perhaps a lateral?l

18

It was about 6 months before I could sleep all night on my operated side.

19

Hi.  I still can't sleep on my operated side it is still sore but not on the wound it's more below it that is painful after 12 weeks. I had my op due to a fall so I don't know if it is still badly bruised after the trauma.

Has anybody else had the total hip replacement due to a fall?

20

Hi Caron,

I'm 9 months post op and can only now sleep on the surgical side.  My specialist told me to allow 12-18 months for a complete recovery.