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Laying on my side

Posted , 11 users are following.

kathy10666
kathy10666

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I had my THR. I am seriously struggling with not sleeping and wondered when I can lay on my non-operated side with an orthopaedic pillow between my knees? 

0 likes, 20 replies

20 Replies

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 kathy10666

    Posted

    Yes you can lie on your non-operated side, but you will find for safety (dislocation) you wil need a really firm cushion, between you knees, I found the best to be, two lounge cushions in a pillow cases, doubled up covers, the long end of the pillow case gave me a ear to hang onto when I needed to adjust. I found myself lying on my side the first night in the hospital, nurses shocked and said you got there, you get yourself back, with diffuculty and a great deal of gentle, slowly slowly.
  • susan05157
    susan05157 kathy10666

    Posted

    Everyone is different listen to your Dr. I was not allowed to lay on ether side for 2 months. Dr said back only . I too had trouble with sleeping but it does improve I slept in a recliner a lot 
  • sandra67350
    sandra67350 kathy10666

    Posted

    I have struggled with this. If I sleep on my back I wake up in the night and find myself on unoperated side with my operated leg right across !!!! worst possible position, so quite early on I lay on unoperated side with very firm pillow between my legs. In the night I often find I've rolled onto my back. Unfortunately I sometimes then find I roll onto side again and pillow doesn't follow. I tried sleeping sitting up a bit but hopeless. 3 weeks post op and sleeping is my only real problem. Pain, walking etc pretty good now. Oh for a good night's sleep in the future it will be bliss.

    • kathy10666
      kathy10666 sandra67350

      Posted

      It's awful isn't it. Not sleeping affects everything in your day to day life. 

      I am going to try sleeping on my side tonight with the orthopaedic pillow between my knees. I have to try something. 

      Xx

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie kathy10666

    Posted

    Hi Kathy, physio told me at4 weeks to lay on my side, I couldn't too painful in hip area, told me to use a pillow between legs too.  Saw surgeon at 6.5 weeks  he was not pleased with physio. Then Said I could lay on my side.  I have back problems so it was agony for me. I used a rolled up towel in the curve of my back to ease pain. I would follow what your surgeon told you. They know best. 

    • kathy10666
      kathy10666 auntiebeanie

      Posted

      My back goes into spasm when I wake up from sleeping on my back all night. I take a couple of ibuprofen to help the pain. 

      My surgeon didn't mention about not sleeping on my side. The physio suggested I don't, but from what I've read on here and other places, different physios say different things. 

      Xx

  • michael11283
    michael11283 kathy10666

    Posted

    Kathy

    I hate sleeping on my back too. It's been 5 months so far (4 after my stage one and 1 after my new hip) Last night I lay awake for a while at 3.00 wondering if I should try rolling onto my side. But having been through two lots of surgery I decided looking after my new hip was more important than getting back to sleep. I'm hoping that restriction will be lifted when I go back for my 6 week review.

    Mike

  • sinead74973
    sinead74973 kathy10666

    Posted

    I just got the go ahead to sleep on my side after 6 weeks. I was told by the doc not to use a pillow between my legs. I find I start on my back and end up rolling now onto my unoperated side. To be honest I'm most comfortable when I sleep with my back propped up on a few pillows.

  • Louisanne
    Louisanne kathy10666

    Posted

    Everyone seems to be told something different! I was originally told to sleep on my back for six weeks but at the 2 week check the surgeon said that owing to my lower back problems / pain I could sleep on my non operated side with a pillow between my legs if I was extremely careful. This made a big difference to me and I have been extremely cautous with many pillows to try to stay in a safe position.. At 11 weeks I still find it painful  to remain in one sleeping  position for more than a few minutes but generally I am more rested and sleeping much better  now that there is more flexibility.
  • joanne28187
    joanne28187 kathy10666

    Posted

    Hi Kathy, I was told not to lie on the unoperated side for 12 weeks as there is an increased chance of dislocation. I also struggled with sleep as I can not sleep on my back for longer than an hour. I used a medical grade fleece under my operated hip to cushion the scar , an ortho block between my knees, and strong painkillers!

    Hope you find a way to get some sleep soon.

    Joanne xxx

  • sara98902
    sara98902 kathy10666

    Posted

    Hi Kathy.  I struggled with sleeping on my back too although I found it easier if I put a cushion underneath both knees downwards.  The elevation seemed to help reduce swelling and put less stress on my back.  I'm now 8 weeks post operation and have been lying on my non operated side starting with a pillow between my legs from 4 weeks.  I had the anterior approach which has less restrictions though.  

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK kathy10666

    Posted

    Just consider that you are laying on your back for a good reason, to help your bones knit into the new components in the right alignment, and laying on your back is the easiest way to make sure you are straight.

    I had to lay on my back for 6 weeks, then I had a couple of weeks trying to get on my side before I had to have revision due to surgical and hospital errors, and then another period of 6 weeks on my back eek.

     

    • kathy10666
      kathy10666 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Ouch! It's not getting any easier lying on my back either.  I spoke to my physio today who said that my surgeon is flexible about me lying on my side, but I can only lay on my operated side, but I'm not sure that is going to be very comfortable. 

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK kathy10666

      Posted

      I found after the initial THR, I could sleep on the operated side OK, but after the revision 10 weeks later, I could not sleep on the operated side at all, and only a few minutes on the other side sad.  

      Now I cannot sleep on my side for very long, so I have become a 'back sleeper'.

    • judith12644
      judith12644 kathy10666

      Posted

      Hi Kathy, I hated lying on my back, but I did it until my 6 week check. It was what the hospital recommended, and although it's hard to sleep and uncomfortable, 6 weeks is not so long. Good luck!

    • kathy10666
      kathy10666 judith12644

      Posted

      Hi Judith, I'm really struggling with sleeping on my back. I can't get comfortable and last night ended up getting just 3 hours sleep. I can't imagine another 4 weeks of this. 😔

    • sandra67350
      sandra67350 kathy10666

      Posted

      it's not funny but if we don't laugh we'll cry !!!! I decided to be good last night and created a propped up armchair made of pillows in bed so I'd stay on my back. Woke in the night and was in my usual (recovery ) position lying on my unoperated side with operated leg crossed right over and foot turned inwards. I give up.....short of being tied to the bed I don't know what else to do. Roll on 6 weeks post op then I can roll all I like 😆

    • michael11283
      michael11283 sandra67350

      Posted

      Sandra

      I'm lucky/cursed to stay in whatever position I adopt in bed.

      So staying on my back is not a problem but even lying on my side I wake up after a while as my body needs me to move it to a different position.

      Years ago I used to let the cat sleep on our bed, and he would sleep between my legs. So I had to wake up and move the cat in order to roll over.

      The days I am happy to wake up in the morning. So sleeping 2 or 3 hours at a stretch does not worry me.

      Mike

    • judith12644
      judith12644 kathy10666

      Posted

      I remember it well. Used to go to sleep ok, because I was so tired. Then I'd wake up thinking I'd slept really well, and it was only midnight.... I used to have a stroll around on my crutches, have a stretch, try to loosen up. Then go back to bed. It did gradually improve. Wishing you all the best, Judith

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