Can't sleep
Posted , 14 users are following.
Hi I'm 8 days THR and finding it hard to get any sleep on my back , last night I slept 2 hours and they were broken hence I feel washed out now and no motivation to get moving , Ive been prescribed paracetamol and codeine 30 mg but haven't needed it as often these last few days , I know if I up the pain meds it might help me sleep a bit but don't know if I should if I don't need them for pain I guess I would be using them as a sedatives
Any advice welcome
Hope you're all having a good day !
0 likes, 25 replies
Suziemo Angie_york
Posted
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
gwen81475 Angie_york
Posted
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.
Hookie Angie_york
Posted
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.
madla39168 Angie_york
Posted
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.?
Stargate_fan Angie_york
Posted
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
renee01952 Angie_york
Posted
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 ....
Angie_york renee01952
Posted
Thankyou for your comforting words Renee I have taken what was prescribed tonight even though the pain isn't as bad I agree that sleep is healing and refreshing so hopefully tonight will be much better , hope you have a good night too
God Bless ya , Angie
susan48054 Angie_york
Posted
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.
kel40 susan48054
Posted
I had my op on 5th jan and was also given no restrictions.i said to the physio 'what if i drop something on the floor'? To which she replied 'you bend down and pick it up'.
beth2509 kel40
Posted
madla39168 susan48054
Posted
Hi Susan im not in UK but here in Australia when i have my op
6 weeks restrictions, but some hospital can be diferent and
also some areas. I had only two weeks to sleep on back than
Iwas alowed sleep on non operated side.
Good luck with operation.
Hug Madla 💗
Angie_york susan48054
Posted
Hi Susan Thankyou that's very interesting I will ring my PT tomorrow and ask what they recommend I'm just going by what they told me after 1st THR now they may suggest that is not the case anymore
They made me shower 10 hours after surgery last time I felt awful and would leaked daily , would you believe they don't encourage that now thank the good lord but sometimes don't pass on to patient which isn't good practice .
Good Luck for Monday , you'll soon be on the post op side and looking forward to a pain free future
Best Wishes Ange
Angie_york susan48054
Posted
beth2509 Angie_york
Posted
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.
Stargate_fan beth2509
Posted
Can u message that to me too as that sounds fantastic
Mary