6 weeks post op and can't lay on good side or stomach

Thanks AnnieK....I am not a back sleeper either, but have managed somewhat by propping pillows under my legs from the knees down to the feet, but then I still get the pain in the buttocks from my bad left hip. I can only lay on the side or the stomach for a few minutes and I have to turn back over. I see my surgeon on the 12th of July and will ask him then, and a lot of it could have to do with the pelvic bone being fractured, he had to put a band on it to help secure it...Just keep thinking how much better I would be able to sleep if only I was able to lay in a different position....Thank you so much for the advice.....Wishing you well, Barb

Thanks gwen, yes I wasn't quite sure about the stomach but had heard of people being able to lay on the good side with a pillow between the legs. I hope it gets easier....Oh how it would be to lay in a comfortable position...lol....definitely not a back sleeper here.....Wishing you well...Barb

Sure know what you mean about can barely stand laying on your back anymore...Gosh it has seemed like forever. My surgery was May 17th am exactly 6 weeks post op today. I only lasted on my stomach for a few minutes. I am thinking the pain when I try to lay on my good side is because the bone isn't quite healed enough (femur) where the put the rod in the bone...same pain in front of thigh when I tried to lay on my stomach, but not sure about the pelvic pain it was pretty strong and think it may be because I had a fractured pelvis...Just not sure. So looks like it is my back still for a while and I will ask my surgeon about it when I see him on the 12th of July...On a brighter note I was able to walk with a cane all day long today, didn't use my crutches...which for me was really good. Having a hard time not using anything and some days have to use both crutches, not so much because of my operated side but my other side (left) still has to be replaced....which is really a bummer...I was so hoping I would be pretty good off by the time this side was done, but not looking that way. I sure dread going through this again so soon, but have no choice but to ask the surgeon to schedule that one next, soon...Take care nascargirl.....hope you feel better soon....Barb

Thanks Linda, wish I could sleep some other way. Even if I could bear sleeping on my side it would be great, but nope can only stay like that a few minutes..I hope everything is ok, and actually I have tried laying on my side before and the first few times it hurt way worse than it does now, but is still pain and uncomfortable. So I am thinking it is because it is just not healed all the way yet. I had a pretty long surgery as my hip was in really severe condition, then my surgeon also found the fracture. I am thinking the pelvic pain when I tried to lay on my stomach was due to the pelvic fracture, my surgeon had to put some kind of a band on it to help secure it, and hold it in place...In answer to your question, I had a male surgeon....he is great and I have a lot of confidence in him which makes a world of difference. Last year I had to have emergency surgery and so I was admitted to the hospital and never really got to pick out or select my surgeon just whoevery was available....He did a good job but he was something else in the rude and awful department. No bedside manner at all to speak of....just awful....I was really scared because the way he behaved I didn't have much trust in him...Thank goodness all turned out well, but I certainly found it makes things so much better having a doctor you can trust....Thanks for your input Linda....Hugs...Barb

Mine is a male as well and fabulous! Even my husband likes him.

I hope the sleeping improves - I used a lot of pillows to prop me up and I would not have made it through without a wonderful over-sized memory foam pillow that I splurged on.

I also heard of 'cool' mats that you can get for pets that help. I may try one of these for my next hip as I had pretty horrible night sweats for 4+ weeks after the surgery.I kept ice packs in a cooler pack by the bed with a stack of old thirty to change into several times a night. I am not looking forward to repeating ythe combo of not sleeping and the sweats!

I was just curious as I haven't heard any references to women and I do know that men tend to dominate surgical specialties.

Hang in there, you really are through the worst of it. Now it is simply discipline + determination and time and patience for all the healing to take place and it so much deeper than we recognize as all the connective tissues need to reattach uand grow over the new hip.

Hugs back with a few extra for the hard patches.

L

I have a female surgeon. She is really nice and everyone in the medical field sings her praises. She used to work in Paris and moved to Royan over a year ago. She does over 200 operations a year using the anterior approach

Thanks Linda and for sure know what you mean about all the pillows....they do help a lot...Have a great day.....Barb

Thanks Rocketman....wow on the sleeping on the operated side. I haven't tried that at all, figure if it hurts to lay on my good side I better not go there...lol....Certainly right about every recovery is different...Take care.....Barb

Yep, sleeping on the operated side surprised me too - as did the second recovery when suddenly it was more painful than the non-operated side.

I think that the surgical approach may make a difference here. I had a lateral approach with the scar running down the side of my thigh, and there was no way I was lying on that side for quite some time!

I agreee i am like 5 weeks out and cant imagine sleeping on operated side yet