Can't sleep

Hi Angie 

This was my main worry after having a new hip of ( 13 weeks today) 

I tried for months before my op to sleep on my back just could not sleep for longer than a few minutes before having to roll over on my stomach/sides 

Amazingly I have been sleeping so well. I sit propped up with a pillow behind me and a v pillow ( pulled down slightly ) and a new good memory foam pillow besides me each side, to ensure I don't roll over in my sleep . I still put a small pillow low down between my lower legs as I found I had a tendency to cross my a legs over , I feel so comfortable sleeping like this I may never sleep any other way . 

( scared to try side or stomach now incase I do some damage , bit of a coward ) 

i find if the room is really cool too it's easier to sleep ( like 15 degrees ) 

i know a lot of people do have trouble on their backs. , hope this is of some help to you.

Hope you get comfortable soon .

with best wishes

Suzie 

Hi Angie, It is a well known problem in the early days. All you can do is make yourself as comfortable as possible and then get a nap in during the day to catch up a bit.

I'm an old hippie now (13 months and 5 months) and understand what you are going through, but I promise you, it will be worth it in the end.

I too found it difficult to sleep on my back. Pillow between the knees helped. I found a comfortable position lying on the other hip. A bit like recovery position, with operated leg bent and a pillow between knees and lower leg so I couldn't flip over. Hope this helps.

Dear Angie, most of us had problem with sleeping. I wake up

every couple hours and it was so hard slept for me on back.

I was so tired. I still find hard to have a good night sleep, still

wake up least 3 times during the night. Rest and sleep during the days as well. When you feel to sleep than sleep. It will get better with time .i was alowed sleep on non operated side after two weeks and after 6 weeks both side with pilows between the legs. After 9 weeks without pilows. Now i dont mind sleping on the back i get use too.Angie rest when you tired ,sleep even during the day. Sleeping is part of recovery. If you in pan take the tablets .

I drink glass of hot milk every evening it help little bit.

You have a big operation and not sleeping go with it. Read the

book,watch the movie, Soon will get better with sleeping you will see. Take care big hug Madla💗

PS i was same Angie no motivation , wash out but still try to moving and try do excersice . I feel with you.?

I am on day 7 and have only had broken nights sleep as I find sleeping on my back so hard! I have propped up pillows and I am finding it a bit easier to sleep propped up! Take your pain meds if it helps you sleep as a good sleep is so important!

Try taking a nap during the day and do talk to your doc and see what they say!

Keep going as it will get better! This forum is so helpful and there is a video on you tube for hypnosis to try and help you sleep! Going to try it tonite to see will it help!

Sending you hugs and hope sleep comes to you

hi angie, 

unfortunately this is one of the most common problems post-op THR surgery ...

Many factors can affect the quality of sleep after this major surgery including discomfort due to pain or restricted leg movements -

sleep is important to the recovery process - too soon we want to get rid of the pain medication however it should be fully followed to ensure an adequate recovery.

Pain medication work on different levels, you see ... 

and when you take them as prescribed , you'll be ahead of the pain, so to speak -

This is how it was explained to me ...

Also stopping or taking less might have some withdrawel effects ...  

take care, darling ... and let us know how you are getting on okay ...

for now, just go with it ...accept that it is sucky and that is okay 

big warm hug

renee

Pain meds do have a sedative effect as wel ..it will relax you ... don't worry about getting addicted ...

maybe you can call your doctor and ask ....

Im due to have my op on Monday. At Physios meeting last week I was told that all restrictions have now been lifted and that I can lie on back and sides after op whichever is comfortable. Apparently this has been since 1st November 2016. I dont know if this is the same all over the uk or just in certain areas.

If you aren't sleeping you are bound to feel washed out!

?I had this problem before the OP as I couldn't sleep on my side due to osteonecrosis pain, and couldn't sleep on my back full stop. I tried the normal pillow advice and that worked fine for a time but wasn't good enough, so after a lot of searbing I found one manufactured specifically for us hippies. Works fine, and I adore it. Definitely my best ever buy. I can't post a link here but I will message it to you.