Sleeping after hip replacement

Ever since my replacement, I personally cant sleep on my back without a pillow or two under my knees. It makes a world of difference.

Hi Rachel, I also have great difficulty sleeping on my back. My hip replacement was 2wks ago and i can't wait to sleep on my side as normal.

Like you, I find myself dozing during the day due to lack of nighttime sleep! My ankles are swollen from all the "in house" walking I've done, so was wondering what exercises you're doing that perhaps would help.

Sleeping on your back seems to be a universal problem. I'm 10weeks post op but I think nick's advice is sound, using a couple of pillows under your knees, I still use pillows even sleeping on my side.

My ankles were swollen for about 4 weeks, but try to elevate your legs when sitting for spells. It should resolve itself.

I think that lack of sleep is probably the worst problem to cope with after thr. My back was so painful from being on my back. I put a pillow between my knees, then turned on to my good side. That way your bad leg doesn't cross midline. I could only tolerate it for a few minutes to start with, but now at 4 weeks, I an get 3 lots of 2 hours, and I feel human again! I still have a nap now and again. It's major surgery, you will be tired. I find I slept the same amount of time whether I had a nap or not. So I wouldn't worry about taking naps. You need the rest.

Marg I'm dismayed, but alas not surprised you have no exercises. If you Google exercises after hip replacement, a lot of hospitals have pdfs of their regimes. Or utube has videos. Do you have a contact number for the ward? You could ring and ask to speak to the physio. To be honest the ankle exercises, up and down and round in circles do nothing for my swelling, it's only since I have been able to walk further it's improved.

Sorry marg didn't realise you had no exercises at all. Hope you find them okay. But longer walks and time should resolve it.

Lack of sleep after THR is a common problem by all accounts. The pelvis goes through some real punishment during the operation so backache is almost inevitable. After my simultaneous bi-lateral THR in 2011 my back was a disaster area for a while.

My advice would be to embrace the naps during the day as this greatly helps the healing process. My physiotherapist at the hospital advised me to go to bed EVERY afternoon. It wasn't easy but it certainly worked.

Exercises are many and varied but the ones I found most helpful were those I could do whilst supine. Pressing my calves into the bed and wiggling my feet. Clenching my backside muscles also helped enormously as it builds muscle strength which gives the body assistance in securing the new implants. The added advantage is that these simple low-stress exercises is that they help to keep the blood flow in the lower legs energised guarding against embolisms.

John, UK

Apologies for poor proof-reading...last sentence should have read :-

The added advantage is that these low-stress exercises help to keep the blood flow energised thus guarding against embolisms.

Wow, you've all been so helpful, and i really appreciate all of your comments and will certainly take them ''on board'.

I will continue with afternoon naps & try out the suggested exercises, elevate leg when sitting & pillows under knees.

Incidentally mine wasn't a scheduled THR as it was done as a result of a fall on New Year's Day when I broke my femur! Didn't have time to prepare etc. (73 yrs old) many thanks for all the help. So glad I found this site. X

Marg, like others I was shown and given exercises before I left , I tend to do standing exercises holding on to a chair back, weather is so bad have been hoping to walk short distances outside but just been walking around house. I try and do them 3-4 times in the day , finding squats tend to ache but others tend to be getting easier to do. Start off gentle and build up .

Thanks for that Rachel. I've been checking out exercises following hip replacement on the Net and finding them very useful, especially the PDF's. Hope you have a better sleep tonight.

Another tip I have found is using a reclining sun lounger chair during the day as it seems to spread the pressure from back and bottom xx