How will I ensure I sleep on my back

I am a total side sleeper and it was difficult to have to sleep on my back for 2 weeks. I used a sleep aid after 2 weeks because I was no longer taking hard pain medications. I also slept in a recliner mostly during that time. its challenging but doable. Hope that helps

I am a total side sleeper and it was difficult to have to sleep on my back for 2 weeks. I used a sleep aid after 2 weeks because I was no longer taking hard pain medications. I also slept in a recliner mostly during that time. its challenging but doable. Hope that helps

You will adapt. However, if you are like I was you can put a pillow on the side you lay on, wanna say it is the left, under the right, you will be fine. Promise. I had mine done two years ago. I am fine with the exception of my hip being over an inch longer than the other. Work with you ortho guy to ensure that does not happen. It is litterally a pain in the bake if this occurrs.

hi. I couldn't sleep on my back pre OP cos I couldn't put my bad leg flat on the bed dud to hip pain so slept solely on both sides for well over 2 yrs. since the OP I can now put my knee flat so can easily sleep on my back. use pillows to elevate you a bit .I brought one of those V shaped pillows and I use that with abt 4 others so I'm a bit upright. I also use a rolled up duvet on my L side so I cant roll onto that side if I'm asleep - i had RTHR done. seems to vary from surgeon / hospital/ country but i cant lie on my good side for 6 -8 weeks after I've been checked at my first post OP opa. i can lie on my OP side but atm I'm comfy lying on my back - I'm 18 days post OP today.

like you i did worry abt this plus how I'd get up and down the stairs as pre OP I'd led up stairs with my bad leg and down with my gd - the opposite to what you have to do but for me the pain was nothing like it was pre OP so although it's a bit sore coming down on my bad leg its do able.

anyway good luck. for me even at this very early stage of my recovery it's made my life much less pain free and enjoyable again. 😃 and it's only now i realise how bad I'd got because I'm getting better 😃

i worried about sleeping as I always sleep on my side, however,after surgery, there was no way I could have turned on to either side, I slept with operated leg on a pillow which helped. I am now 7+ weeks & starting to sleep on my side again, it doesn't come naturally anymore & I put a pillow between my legs to protect hip, its not long before I find myself back on my back though!

it's not as bad as it sounds. I thought it would be impossible but managed fine and within a couple of weeks was able to turn on one side. Clever use of a spare pillow to support also makes it easier

it is difficult especially at first. A pillow between your knees, a large pregnancy pillow, a v shaped smaller pillow are all things I have heard people use. it is not for ever and getting back

on your side after 6 weeks is so good.

You'll be so pleased when it's done and you have recovered. It's just amazing to be free from pain. i was also worried about sleeping on my back. i tried doing it for a week before the op, but without success. After the op, I had a slim pillow between my legs, another longwise under my operated leg, and two pillows stacked under my feet to elevate. Sounds dreadful, I know, but it worked, possibly helped by taking codeine before sleeping for the first week. after the 6 weeks I tried to go back to my normal side sleeping, but I ended up on my back most mornings! Good luck.

Of course you will find it strange, but like others have said, pillows help and you won't feel inclined to turn on your side immediately after your op. It did give me back ache (sleeping on my back) but that went as soon as I got up and was nothing like the pain I was in before. I did bend my opposite leg slightly after a few nights, keeping my operated one straight.

Good luck.

Sleeping on my back was a real worry to me beforehand as I had always slept on my side or tummy. As for others here it just wasn't an issue in fact. The pillow between the legs plus the fact that the operated leg just isn't going to move easily for a while means that there is no change of accidentally turning over. Also I slept so well, literally from day 1, after months of pain at night that there was no opportunity even to think about tossing and turning.

You'll be fine!

Joan

We have all been there and survived it. As people have said use pillows all around you, you may wake every two/three hours, but it is only for a few weeks. My hubby moved into the spare room to give me and my pillows space and I did not have to worry about waking him up.

I moved into the spare room too. it did help. only for a couple of weeks until more comfortable

I moved into the spare room too. it did help. only for a couple of weeks until more comfortable

Thank you everyone for your advice