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Physio v Sleep

Posted , 11 users are following.

MichaelTN1UK
MichaelTN1UK

We are advised not to sleep on our sides. My hip is 4 weeks old today, and so I am trying to increase my exercises. I started to do the clam (aka clam shell) and a thought occurred to me: If I can lie on my side to do this, why can I not sleep on my side (either with or without a pillow)?

Perhaps I am being a little dense and the answer is obvious, but I would appreciate your thoughts. 

Michael

1 like, 25 replies

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  • susan47173
    susan47173 MichaelTN1UK

    Posted

    Physio told me I could sleep on my side with or without a pillow she said that at 6 weeks + the chance of it causing a problem is rare because the hip is at rest and not load bearing, funny thing is after so wanting to go onto my side I now find myself on my back cos it's mod comfortable no suiting me 😁
    • MichaelTN1UK
      MichaelTN1UK susan47173

      Posted

      How odd is that? After waiting all these weeks, you shy away from it. Huh. I can not wait as I am unable to sleep on my back.

      Two weeks to go.

      Michael

  • Lallydye1
    Lallydye1 MichaelTN1UK

    Posted

    Hi I am 2 weeks post op and am already on my side with a pillow between my legs and am sleeping like a baby.  I know I may be unusual in this respect.  I wouldn't do it without a pillow though.  BW Alison x
    • MichaelTN1UK
      MichaelTN1UK Lallydye1

      Posted

      Go Alison! You rebel, you biggrin.

      You know how we all have good days and bad days, well, I think today is my 'thick' day. But, how do you keep the pillow between your legs when asleep? I guess our subconcious takes over. I may try it tonight #excited.

      Michael 

    • Lallydye1
      Lallydye1 MichaelTN1UK

      Posted

      Hi Micheal

      I think I must be just very still in my sleep. I think if I did move and it pulled my hip I would be woken up.  Give it a try :-)

      Alison

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK MichaelTN1UK

      Posted

      Hi Michael, I will be be a week post op tomorrow on my second hip. We don't get automatic physio in Cornwall and leave hospital with a few gentle exercises and told to keep mobile by walking a bit! Surgeon said first two weeks imperative to keep everything quiet and then do what feels comfortable without breaking the 90 degree rule until 6 weeks. At two weeks I was suffering with a sore bum at night so experimented by placing a pillow between my knees and , keeping everything parallel, I rolled gently to un operated side. I put a pillow behind my back and slept like a baby from then on.

      I was also aware that lots of people were reporting pain and injury after doing cycling and other equally horrifying sounding exercises. I did nothing but at my six week check I was walking without a limp and only using a stick when outside. I thought maybe Cornwall was a bit behind the times and tentatively asked my surgeon at my check up. He said he was an advocate of the body healing naturally and normally. Too much exercise makes the muscles and tendons too elastic and you need a bit of stiffness to keep everything in place. He also gave me a web page to look up his statistics....he's one if the best in the country.

    • susan47173
      susan47173 Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Mine was the same, I was told "be patient the first 6 weeks and you will reap the benefits let ur body heal itself". Funny how advice differs across the country and other countries.
    • MichaelTN1UK
      MichaelTN1UK Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      He sounds like a very wise man. It also sounds familiar in that I was not given an exercises or physio. I with my surgeon would have articulated in such a clear manner. Perhaps he did and I was too drugged up to hear. 

      Thank you for the reassurance.

      Michael

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK MichaelTN1UK

    Posted

    Now that is one of life's mysteries. Why are some people allowed and others not?

    I was only allowed onto my side at 6 weeks the first time (can't count the second time, it's a different recovery), and didn't do any side-laying exercises at all.  

    Clam shell I had to do on my back ....... but I was told to do a 'push the wall over' exercise which deffo exercised the buttocks well.  It seems to be a unique exercise to my physio, no-one else has reported it at all.

    At 6 weeks, I am just back to sleeping on my operated side again, it was just too sore to do before now for me.  The other side would have been ok, but I had a sore shoulder from walking with one walking stick (can't win, can I).This is now cured by my private physio and purchase of 'hiking poles' at £10 from a camping store.  The hand-position is different, and I use them just to help with balance, not for load bearing except up steep slopes.

    Graham

    • MichaelTN1UK
      MichaelTN1UK Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      I did not look strange - trying to push a wall over whilst clenching my buttocks. Must try it at home. 

      But it is very effective.

      Michael

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Hi Rocket, after no exercise at the beginning, except walking, I progressed on to using walking poles to keep exercising the operated hip and supporting a crumbling second.

      Now both are done I am looking forward in months to come to getting back to my pole walking (no more pole dancing, heh).

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Such a shame - I'd love to see a pole dancing hippie. cool

      Great you are done with the surgery, so lots of exercise now to get fit enough to walk properly.

      Best wishes

      Graham

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