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Not sleeping after hip replacement

Posted , 17 users are following.

chrisp56
chrisp56

My right hip was replaced 3 weeks ago, I have had 1 physio appt, walking on one crutch, and a few steps without, but i just cant sleep, was told only to sleep on my back, i put a pillow between my legs, im comfortable, but lay for hours without sleep and its getting worse, is this normal?

1 like, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • kate030815
    kate030815 chrisp56

    Posted

    I think so. I managed 3 hours last night. It is usually because people are uncomfortable but as you say you are comfortable I wonder if the pain killers might be the problem. I am 10 days now and sleep on my good side with a pillow between legs for an hour or so until I have to move. If you do try this make sure you operated leg does not drop down in front of your good leg. My physio said this was fine

    Take care

    Kate x ( very tired)

    • chrisp56
      chrisp56 kate030815

      Posted

      Hi Kate, I think some of it is because, im sitting around a lot, (no choice as you will know) and when going to bed on my back its the same sort of pressure on my body, i just feel i really want to turn over but was told not to, I will ask the physio,  another cause i assume is that we dont do enough compared to normal,  I walk about a third of a mile outside each day, easier in the mornings, as it all tightens up during the day, are you walking much?

      Let me now your progress!

      Best wishes

      Chris (also very tired)

    • kate030815
      kate030815 chrisp56

      Posted

      Hi chris

      Not walking much at all as leg is swollen and painful. Physio said keep it moving but elevate when possible. I potter around the house but 10 days is quite early still.

      I make sure I get up every hour but the nurse is coming today and once the dressing is off I think I will feel better.

      Try to have a siesta and take care

      Kate x

  • byteme
    byteme chrisp56

    Posted

    use some extra pillows under your back to sleep more upright and try a duvet under you to help position you comfortably it is normal
  • june_29646
    june_29646 chrisp56

    Posted

    absolutely normal I was waking after a brief sleep with the most horrific headache also lack of sleep being one of the reasons i contacted my pharmacist who recommended night time sleep aid.  Diphenhydramine hydrochloride I only take one. Two are recommended but they do help I can get about six hours sometimes a wake in between but go for a wee and get off after about ten to fifteen minutes hope this helps 
  • jackkane22
    jackkane22 chrisp56

    Posted

    Hi Chris

    I am two weeks in and hating sleeping on my back unfortunately I tried to carry on as normal got into day 4 and my hip dislocated so terrified to try and move during the night never realised how long the night actually is I also wondered if sometimes when you walk during the day do you ever feel sore in the groin area 

    Wishing you a speedy recovery

    Jackie

  • tony30891
    tony30891 chrisp56

    Posted

    No sleep for Tony, leg swollen , no comfort in chair during day either. In fact it fact like a crisis point this morning, the good news is that I persuaded him to get up and dressed( with help) and we took a very short walk outside in the sunshine. Things seem better now. Chris
  • veronica58657
    veronica58657 chrisp56

    Posted

    I can recommend a V pillow, it's lovely, it props you up and your head doesn't flop down to one side as it would with a normal pillow as its so high.

    I'm 8 days post op and have got used to sleeping on back with help of V pillow.

    Sleep well

    Veronica

  • renee01952
    renee01952 chrisp56

    Posted

    Dear chrisp, 

    I know ... it is exhausting for sure and frustrating at times - it is our head that keeps us awake (I think)- our body is healing and that takes a lot of effort and energy - there is restlessness as wel - at least, my legs are restless - 

    what to do eek

    I have tried a couple of things - I try to no get too obsessed with it ... if I fall asleep and stay asleep for, let;s say 3hours uninterupted, it is fine - longe? even better - Now, in the early recovery days, I had to use the bathroom at least 4-5 times a night - then it gets less, but still 3 times- I am usually a bit anxious whether I make it on time or not - the getting out of bed, hobbling to the bathroom, sitting down, the whole thing and then getting back in to bed - well, by then I am wide awake - try to get comfy again and miserably failing - 

    so I gave up - and by being more relaxed about it, I do sleep a bit better - 

    but I live alone and am retired ..

    it will get better , I promise ! 

    big warm hug

    renee

  • alice85142
    alice85142 chrisp56

    Posted

    Hi..Yes par for the recovery course!  I have recently been told I can now sleep on my side but on the operated side not good side......That was 2 weeks ago....I found myself back on my back because the pain from the wound hurt so much..but now better and still sleep for more than 3 hours is difficult.  I am sure readnig posts that this happens to all of us...I am now amost 10 weeks and waiitng for the magic 12 weeks!

    ]]Good Luck.  Ali 2

     

  • chrisp56
    chrisp56

    Posted

    Thanks for all your replies and info, the pharmacist has given me some Diphenhydramine hydrochloride so will try it tonight, and not helpful i know, but knowing its not just me helps!, had quite a long walk this afternoon .

    I will report back in the morning!

    Chris

  • shirley17649
    shirley17649 chrisp56

    Posted

    hi chris p,

    Yes, of course it is. Almost everyone on this discussion will say the same.

    Some more so than others.

    I wonder if part of the problem is lack of activity  during the day. What I mean is, because we are fairly immobile we are not using as much energy or having as much exercise as we normally would, and therefore we are not properly tired.

    OK we feel weak but that is not quite the same thing.

    I will let you into my secret, I am off pain killers now except for at night. Then I use an over the counter one called Panadol Night Pain (in a purple pack) which I buy over the counter at the pharmacy. This has an extra ingredient as well as paracetamol and it helps you get to sleep.

    It is worth a try and can't do any harm as long as you keep to the instructions on the packet.confused

    Three weeks is early days so be patient with yourself. The more uptight you get the less likely you are to sleep.

    Hugs

    shirley

  • shirley17649
    shirley17649 chrisp56

    Posted

    The extra ingredient is diphenhydramine as mentioned in another post
  • isabelle40781
    isabelle40781 chrisp56

    Posted

    With my first surgery I followed all the rules. But this time sleeping on my unoperated side from day one. Makes a big difference.
    • renee01952
      renee01952 veronica58657

      Posted

      hi veronica -

      it is really not breaking the rules - there are so many different approaches to so many things post-op THR surgeries, including sleeping on back -

      It is and probably will be the preferred method , especially in the beginning - hip muscles are stretched, less chance to dislocate or damage the fragile strands of healing around the hardware  etc ...at least, this is how it was explained to me - while in the hospital I was shown hw to sleep on my unoperated side with a pillow - how to turn and make sure that my leg would not flop over the other leg - 

      With first THR I was scared of dislocation when I sneezed - 

      Like Isabelle, I had a 2nd THR surgery and feel more comfortable and confident - that is all - 

      I think,for me, having a choice is important - funny thing is that I find myself sleeping on my back more comfortable -

      warm hug

      renee

    • veronica58657
      veronica58657 renee01952

      Posted

      Hi Renee,

      i tried last night to sleep on my unoperated side just to see what it would feel like, it felt wrong, can't really explain, so turned back to sleeping on my back and felt ok! I suppose our bodies tell us what's right and wrong.

      veronica

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK veronica58657

      Posted

      I thought we were not supposed to lay on unoperated side at all, but could go on the operated side ..... I think I saw it in a YouTube video which had an involved surgeon discussing the OP, and shows the complete operation - pretty gruesome stuff if you are not used to it, but my father was a butcher, and I used to help him cutting up meat etc. (but they were dead first of course).

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • alice85142
      alice85142 veronica58657

      Posted

      I agree I tried even tho I was told not to and went back to my back or operateds side..

      ALi 2

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