I read, on many postings, that you can't sleep on your back post op. A trick I found, and still often use although I'm 1 1/2 years post op, is to lay a pillow across the bed under both knees when on your back. I still can't lie on my side due to the continuing pain I am in and find this pillow trick works well. I hope it might help some of you fellow hippies.
Jay that's what I did too. My side was painful for years later. It turned out that I had bursitis on THR side. A sac filled with fluid. It was removed at the time of surgery but they come back.
From om a fellow hippie!
Hi Hope, they said I had bursitis and gave me depomedrone injections for it. However the pain is still there and my scar and surrounding area is still constantly burning, stinging and extremely painful. I didn't realise bursitis can come back, no doctor, and I've seen several, has suggested that this might still be the problem. I have a Dr's appointment today and will ask about it. Thanks
Hi
My reply to back sleeping {I've had 2 THR's and still in pin with one of them} is that I have scoliosis....so I cant lie completely back.....OK loads of pillows behind my had. I've tried various numbers of them LOL and the other think is if I lie on my back my throat {after about 5 mins} starts to close up a bit.
and I start to choke a bit???? I would love to lie on my back for even part of the night but dont seem to be able to so any more suggestions will be welcome....
Love
Eileen
Hi Eileen,
Can u keep ur head up above UR waist. That way the stomach acid will not irritate the esophagus or choke. I sleep on a wedge available on line. I also use a neck pillow .I have arthritis for my neck I cannot hold my neck in the position on my back. I have a really heavy head in that position.
The neck pillow holds my neck with no efforts from me. It's similar to the airline neck pillows.
Also have scoleosis degenerative arthritis and 2 discs fused. I have a buddy pillow a long pillow under my bum to my feet to keep pressure of my back. It's a puzzle figuring it out at times finding that magic position just getting comfortable.
I guess whatever works.. It's a challenge to figure out what works..
Hi Hope
You have hit the nail on the head...it is a challenge When I had both THR's I had more pillows than enough and they were never in the same position each night LOL
I can try the head above my waist......honest answer to your question...I dont know yet!! LOL
What is the wedge? Where does that go?
I have very slight OA in neck. I've never tried a neck pillow....I've got a wedge thingey LOL that goes between my knees when on my side.
I know what a buddy pillow is but you actually lie on it? I thought they were at you side {side sleeping} with possibly your knee over it someway
Sorry none of that makes much sense.....its still early and I dod not sleep well....hope you can figure out what I mean
Love
Eileen
I'm 4 yrs post op anterior in Oct.....I meditate and visualize a lot in my life and this includes concentrating sleeping on my back. I do a lot of my stretches before I go to sleep, in bed, and start out on my back and often stay on my back for some hours....then I go to sides but end up on my back a lot. I have shoulder issues too, so it's a double whammy. But one can work with the "mind" to learn to stay on the back as much as possible.
My friend who had the posterior and does a lot of mind work too, stays on her back all night, she has shoulder messes too.
I too have trochantor bursitis issues on surgery side.
Hi Joy
I listen to relaxation tapes before going to sleep and do some stretches as well but have to start off on my side because like i said in an earlier post I end up chiking if I sleep on my back. I do believe the mind can work wonders.
What is trochantor bursitis? I have fractured my greater trochantor {4 weeks after my 2nd THR}
Love
Eileen
Well, I deal with a bursitis at the greater trochantor, when I do a deep massage on that area it kinda gives some relief....a lot is stagnent blood not moving as it needs to.
If you sleep on your back you end up chiking, what is that.
I have a nasty lower back including spondylothesis, so I've forever doing lower back work which includes bringing lower back flush with my bed.
Good thing I'm retired and don't have to be anywhere for anyone.
I sleep good but worked long and hard to come up with my sleep combo and it's not sleep drugs....
Hi Joy
There doesnt seem to be much I can to for this fracture.....Nothing the hospital can do...it will heal itself but will take a long time is what i was told. I'm still on crutches 6 months later.
I dont know what it is about sleeping on my back!!! A long time ago if I tried to sleep on it {nothing to do with THR} eventually my mouth would open and my throat would go dry and then that would wake me.
Now even doing relaxation...if I'm on the bed, after a few mins {even with my mouth closed/open....doesnt matter I get a slight choking feeling....only way I can describe it.....I dont cough or anything....I wish I understood and the GP isnt interested
Love
Eileen