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Any top tips for getting comfy for back sleeping??

Posted , 18 users are following.

angela1988
angela1988

I know we are all subject to the dreaded back sleeping and wonder what top tips for getting comfy you can share?

I seem to nod off ok to begin with only to wake about an hour and half later.

Try to have both knees slightly raised with a pillow but soon get back ache.

(Nearly 4wk post op...on paracetamol only)

Once awake takes bout 2hr to get back off hence on this forum lol 😪

2 likes, 42 replies

42 Replies

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  • gillyb74
    gillyb74 angela1988

    Posted

    Oh my ........ I'm 10 days post op and I desperately need an answer to this - I dread night times to much I'm so uncomfy and still in pain 😥Barely sleep
    • AnnieK
      AnnieK gillyb74

      Posted

      It sounds like you might be undermedicated. I would check with doctor for better pain relief.
    • Mizzfox
      Mizzfox gillyb74

      Posted

      I am taking Ambien to help me sleep.As much as I do not want to take it I sleep solid since I've been taking it ! I don't wake up in pain all night long thank God! Talk to your doctor let them know you're not sleeping and you need something that way you can heal and get some rest !
  • sandra02646
    sandra02646 angela1988

    Posted

    Sounds so familiar Angela. I try not to let it get to me but easier said than done. I find getting up have a walk around make a cup of tea read the paper anything to take my mind of the fact I can't sleep. Sometimes it works sometimes not 
  • brenda92532
    brenda92532 angela1988

    Posted

    I'm now nearly 16 weeks and still don't get a good nights sleep.  I sleep on my side without pillows. I wished I good give you some tips but I can't. I sympathise and if you get any good advice I would be happy to know.

    Brenda x

    • Guest
      Guest brenda92532

      Posted

      I am 12 weeks and still have to sleep on my back, the operated side is still too sore, and the non-op side is painful due to OA.  So I am still back sleeping, which makes my backach.  I tried everything that has been suggested, with no luck.  In a weeks time I am due to start back to work when I will have to get up at 4.45 am, luckily I only work 3 hours a day, but since the op I have been lying in until 8 am.  Not too sure how I will cope with even less sleep.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 angela1988

    Posted

    Hi Angela, 

    This seems to be one of the most challenging things post-op from THR - to be honest, I woke up every 2 hours to get to the bathroom for about 6 weeks - so I blamed that I had to get rid of build-up fluids or something like that - I took naps during the day and that was it - at some point I was delighted that I had 4 hours uninterrupted sleep ...

    I have to say that was allowed to sleep on unoperated side from day 2 though -

    I had 2 THR surgeries in 6 months  -

    Your body is healing and 4 weeks is really still early in recovery - 

    Sometimes listening to hypnosis for sleep helps to relax and heal the body -

    big warm hug

    renee

    • pollye
      pollye renee01952

      Posted

      I am waking every couple of hours or more! to use the bathroom, I think it has become a waking up habit, I am just shy of 3 weeks post op and only take Ibubrufen 400mg 3 times daily,  I feel well and I am walking unaided now but my operation area is stiff ...... any ideas 

       

  • angela1988
    angela1988

    Posted

    Thanks to all for suggestions. I usually get up.

    Rearrange bed pillows go to loo read trawl internet do xword until next nod off.

    Healing wishes sent xx

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK angela1988

    Posted

    It's awful isn't it - I had this twice just 10 weeks apart.  I found several ways to get over it -

    bending my non-operated leg and laying it flat to the side.

    raising my knees a bit with a cushion

    a firmer mattress - I used our spare bedroom to spare my wife my wriggling..

    my iPod was my constant companion, with soothing music

    keep up those bed exercises

    Then of course, just grit your teeth and bear it - it's not going to last forever.

    I was really not one for sleeping on my back before all this, but I have found that now I actually prefer being on my back eek.  I think the reasoning behind it is that you lay in a better position for the implanted joint to recover in a straight line.

    Graham - 🚀💃

  • nattie85
    nattie85 angela1988

    Posted

    hi i am 4 weeks out of surgery and finding sleeping on my back not all that comfy. in the past 2 ays i have come off my strong pain killers and finding it even more harder to sleep. i have tried getting up and walking then getting back into bed, i also have had a pillow under my feet to raise my legs. it just a pain!, off to see the doctor in about a week and a half hopefully i get the go ahead to leep on my side!.
  • belleAUSSydney
    belleAUSSydney angela1988

    Posted

    I found that sleeping on the chaise of my sofa, which was firm, was better than bed. The great thing was that it also has a "back". I leaned some cushions along the back and slept with my op leg bent as much as I dared and my thigh resting against a cushion for support. It did really help me to sleep.
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