"Sleeping" on back

PS: RE: THE ABOVE POST........I forgot to say I am still waiting for a THR

Hi Sarah I found to recline in bed with pillows then have a rolled up t shirt under the small of my back then I put a pillow under my op leg as I found the my heel would hurt I also have a travel pillow for my neck so I can sit up more if need be I manage to get around 6 hours sleep I’m now 4 weeks post op

Hi Sarah, are you taking any pain relief medication? Perhaps speak to your doctor about what choices are available. Some can make you sleepy as well as helping your pain. Ice packs can be useful for pain relief too. If you can do some exercise like aqua fit that can help as it helps your muscles and gets the synovial fluid circulating in the joint which makes it less painful. I used to take Naproxen so that I could exercise.  Before my op I could not sleep on my back but afterwards I found it easy. It's as though my body wants to sleep that way as a self protective measure. I have also been practising Yoga  and specifically the Savasana pose with deep breathing exercises have helped. I use 'This Works' Deep Sleep and Sleep Plus pillow sprays. I repeat affirmations about sleeping well on my back as I drift off to sleep. I also have the body support pillow and that is very cosy too. I hope you get your operation soon. I found arthritic pain was much worse than the pain associated with the wound. Good luck

Ann 

Hi Sarah I know what you mean I’m Day 10 post op TRHP and I dread bed time to I’m sleeping in my grandsons spare bed that does go up and down but trying to sleep on back is a night mare e erything hurts and my feet get so hot I could scream I do doze of a bit but not for long you don’t say how far al g you are but I’m told it will get better

You get use to sleeping on your back. Try propping a lot of pillows behind your back and the pillows also under your knees. This is how I slept for weeks after my surgery and before that I never slept on my back. Hope this helps!

Sarah,

I am so sorry for your pain. It has to be terrible. Sleeping on my back never bothered me. Guess that's about the only thing. I have an adjustable bed, and also a feather bed I put on top. It's like sleeping on a cloud. It's not new, but I've never appreciated it more than now. I can raise the bed without moving with the remote. I wish you had one. Then again, it might not do the trick. I can't help but think you'd notice a big difference with only the feather bed. Best of luck. Dana

Oh it's a real art - and I've been doing it for 2 years now.

Whatever pillows work best for you (we're all different), my iPod with soothing music and in-ear headphones. 

I changed bed to use our spare room which had a much harder mattress which I found much more comfortable.

I would also flex my 'good' leg to the side, bending the knee forming a 'figure 4' with the operated leg just to get some movement.

I have had trouble getting onto my side due to upper spine problems with a trapped nerve.  I have found that a very firm bolster seems to improve my comfort, so have one on order from an internet supplier.

Best wishes

Graham

You poor thing. Before my hip replacement I was counting down the days to my op. I don't know what I would have done if it had got cancelled. I kept imagining I had a sore throat etc and I would be told to come back later. I was just in a lot of pain all the time which just seemed to get worse and worse and never found a good answer.