Had thr 16 days ago

Posted , 9 users are following.

Walking around inside house getting up and down stairs without any aids. Need 1 stick when I go out for a walk so things are going better than expected for me. The only problem I have is being uncomfortouble when trying to go to sleep on my back, anyone know how long it will be before I can try laying on my side?

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Posted

    This is a question for your surgeon to answer for you. Different surgeons have different rules. For my THR, I was told not to sleep on my side until 6 weeks had passed. It was very hard for me, since I am a side-sleeper and have sleep apnea and cannot sleep on my back, so I had to sleep sitting up, propped up by pillows. Am doing the same now for my second hip surgery. 

    Some people are told by their surgeons that they can sleep on their sides from the beginning, making sure to use a pillow between their legs so that the operative leg doesn't fall down too low.

    Sounds like you are doing very well! The worst part for me was the lack of decent sleep (only had 5 - 6 hours of interrupted sleep per day for those first 6 weeks).

  • Posted

    Started sleeping on non op side right away with a pillow between my legs. Try to keep both legs the same - slightly bent or straight. You don't want op leg to go over the other leg and drop down. I'm 5 weeks post op and no problems on my side.

  • Posted

    I slept on my side (non operated) with a pillow between my legs after a few days. It still feels a bit uncomfortable after a while but I couldn't sleep at all on my back. I'm 20 days post op and am making great progress too. Long may it continue for both of us!

  • Posted

    At my 6 week checkup yesterday my surgeon said that I can sleep on either side as long as I keep a pillow bewteen my legs.  I had a posterior-lateral incision.

    ?This is such a blessing. I have spent the last six weeks sleeping two or three hours at a time every night.  I was always tired.  But after a few weeks I seemed to get used to having just a few hours sleep at a time.  Sometimes the restrictions depend upon the procedure that the surgeon.  Ask your doctor to be sure.

    ?P.S.  I've become a real expert at crossword puzzles!

  • Posted

    At one year post THR, I have given up laying on my side for any length of time - I just cannot get comfortable.  I can do max 10 minutes on the operated side, 30 minutes max on the 'good' side.  I suspect this is all because I had to have a revision operation 10 weeks after the THR, so there is a good possibility that you will get a better outcome than I have.

    Graham

    • Posted

      Sorry that your having these issues. I totally understand and I hope that some time soon down the road you can resume your normal sleeping position.

      it can be a challenge for some of us hippies. I am thankful that I can walk and there are good days. It's better than stuck in a wheel chair. Some of us have different surgery outcomes to to individual experiences. 

      Take care.

      (((hugs)))

  • Posted

    It's  tough sleeping on our backs at first. It's a important heeling stage for the bone to grow and secure the implant. I also had a wedge between my legs when sleeping on my back to maintain proper alignment.UGG  ! 

    It was about 8 weeks until I could remove that wedge and I promptly threw it in the burn pile. Then it took a while longer so sleep on the un-op side. 

    Now I have both hips with THR and still cannot sleep on either side.  I purchased a bed that adjusts top and bottom electric control similar to hospital beds, much more comfortable & lots of pillows .

    Once the muscle tone & ligament strength returns in your hip and your heeling progresses down the road the other sleeping positions will be available. The glute squeezes are the most important strengthening exercise to regain core strength and muscle tone.

    Everyone is different that's just my experience.

    Peace & Heeling on your wellness journey!

  • Posted

    Hi Anthony,

    Back in dinosaur time, we were given a pillow with a special molded shape that had to be strapped inbetween the legs when sleeping for the first 6 weeks.. .chuckle chuckle

    kind regards

    judith

    • Posted

      Hey, hey, Speak for yourself. I'm no Dino and had the A frame pillow to stabalize my hip on posterior approach. 

      It went in the burn pile when I was done! Hated that thing but it was only for a few weeks. The things we tolerate to recover. 

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