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Hi I have just had hip replacement surgery on my right hip

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susyp
susyp

I have just had hip replacement surgery to my right hip I am 6 days post op and I am having difficulty sleeping on my back. I have been advised to sleep on my back with a pillow between my legs for 6 weeks. When I lay in this position I get terrible pain in my operated leg and I am constantly seeking a comfier position raising my leg with cushions but nothing seems to work. After a while my leg becomes irritated moving around all the time. I have never had trouble sleeping in the past but do prefer my side. If i do drop off I am woken with discomfort either in my back or leg. I am exhausted and even trying to nap through the day does not compensate for the sleep deprivation. I am taking codeine and paracetamol 4 times a day and was wondering whether sleeping tablets would help.

1 like, 21 replies

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  • lors23
    lors23 susyp

    Posted

    If you look at your co-codamol it will say it contains 500mg of paracetamol and then you are taking the same again with paracetamol on there own. I know this as my husband works with pharmacutical drugs and knows what painkillers should be taken together. Please get a diffrent type to go with your co-codamol right away as taking to much paracetamol can damage your liver. I promise you will feel more comfortable on 2 diffrent types of painkiller as well as your sleeping tablets if you have got them now.

    Ps l too sleep on couch half the night most nights as your sleeping is just sent upside down after thr's. But hopefully this will make you feel better.

    X

    • lors23
      lors23

      Posted

      Try tramadol with co-codaamol l am not allowed any ibuprofen or nurofen tablets. They released me with 20 oxycodone they were not happy at doing it at 1st but doctor gave the ok and l am now able to get them off my gp when needed. But l am still taking both tramadol and co codamol and l am 6 weeks post 2nd hip and still need them both as l still need to comtrol my pain xx
  • Skidget
    Skidget susyp

    Posted

    Laura, what an excellent point regarding pain meds...different strokes for different folks. For example, my body doesn't even recognize codeine, but one of the Oxy's (I forget which one just now) works like a bullet. There is quite an Oxy addiction in this area, so doctors and hospitals seems to shy away from that prescription currently. At the hospital where my THR was performed, you are released with a Rx for both short acting and long acting Hydromorphone (apparently a really strong synethic morphine) and are told to take 500 mg Tylenol every four hours. Thankfully my body said "hello" to the Hydramorphone and my pain was eased for the first 10 days after release (I took only the long acting version, one every 12 hours - upon waking, and just before bed). I've got the back pain to deal with now, presumably from all this back sleeping, but I'm confident that like all the other unpleasantness thus far...this, too, shall pass. Take good care!
    • lors23
      lors23 Skidget

      Posted

      Yeah l just noticed right away sue it taking a double dose of paracetamol. I know codine does not work for some but works well for others. Same with tramadol some people find them great but others don't they are both highly addictive but when you have been through thr you need pain meds. Same with the morohine l only take it if l am having a bad day. But l know when l have to stop taking my tramadol and co-codamol l will need to taper myself of them like cutting them down weekly as the withdrawels can be awful so never just stop taking them if you have been taking them for a long period. Slowly cut down your intake and let your body adjust to less.

      Take care skidget l look forward to the day l can sleep a full night in my bed but as it is l am in the routine of sleeping for small periods then waking up an moving to the couch as it seems to be comfier xx

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK susyp

    Posted

    Sue, I slept sitting up for 6 weeks, propped by about 15 pillows. It was the only way I could get any sleep. I had 4 or 5 sleep sessions of about 1 - 1 1/2 hours spread through the 24 hours. It was awful, but it was the best I could do. It got a lot better at 6 weeks when I was allowed to sleep on my side again. 

    Wishing you the best as you get through those first 2 weeks. They were by far the worst, and things start getting much better after that time. 

  • lynn66084
    lynn66084 susyp

    Posted

    So difficult, I practiced before my op and could only do 20 mins, but I can go longer now, the most was 6hr in one go. I have to keep getting up for a wee though and spasms wake me, just started on muscle relaxants to help there. (Does not mean you will get them) I have to sleep with my calfs on a pillow so my heels don't touch the bed also helped with my bum too, pressure pains.

    But it is getting easier, like others you get up and down, trying to get comfortable, especially the early days. I keep my last painkillers until I go to bed.

    I struggle with getting myself up from lying so have a bed ladder to pull myself up, need good upper strength. Though I can do it if it's been a short while.

    Hope you find yourself a comfortable position. It will be 10 weeks on my back before I see my consultant. I'm 4 weeks

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