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SIDE HIP VIRTUAL PARTY FOR US SIDE SLEEPERS

Posted , 11 users are following.

DAYWALKER100
DAYWALKER100

HI I mentioned this to anothe friend on  here Cels. I think that we should havea Side Hip Virtual Party and celebrate those of us that are Side Sleepers when we have achieved the side sleeping.  I am a side sleeper but still sleeping on my back i have got used to it now though 10 weeks this week as those of you that know me i had to go back twice, for my Right Lateral Hip Surgery. I have my Cheese which my hubs and i call it between my legs that hubs made same dimensions as the Hosptal that i had when i woke up from the first op. So well done to you fellow Side Sleepers that have managed to lay on the operated leg a have a while to go yet. I thought we could annount when we had achieve it and pat our friends on the back x

6 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • CelsB
    CelsB DAYWALKER100

    Posted

    I'm ready to party along with you when that wonderful time comes.   Possibly around the same time as the ceremonial TED stocking bonfire?
  • MichaelTN1UK
    MichaelTN1UK DAYWALKER100

    Posted

    I am teasing myself with sleeping on my side.

    But I will get the fireworks out when I can ditch the pillow. Speaking of which, is there a general rule about how long we should keep the pillow between our knees? 

    • CelsB
      CelsB MichaelTN1UK

      Posted

      I know you can never cross your legs again Michael - just read it in the Q&A section of the Arthritis Research booklet they gave me about hip replacements.  By the same token, maybe you can never allow the operated leg to cross the mid-line of your body, which could be a risk if you sleep without a pillow between the knees.  
    • lynn48178
      lynn48178 MichaelTN1UK

      Posted

      When i left hospital they said not to bother with the pillow. So much conflicting information!
    • MichaelTN1UK
      MichaelTN1UK CelsB

      Posted

      Thanks Cels - I have not crossed my legs for years so that is no great loss. But the thought of sleeping with a pillow for ever is a little depressing...
    • CelsB
      CelsB MichaelTN1UK

      Posted

      I know frown

      I'm sure you can sleep on your operated side without a pillow.

    • belleAUSSydney
      belleAUSSydney CelsB

      Posted

      Cels: I cross my legs all the time, although I try not to do it. I crossed them several times during my last hospital appointment and the doc didn't say anything.
  • lynn48178
    lynn48178 DAYWALKER100

    Posted

    I must admit I sleep with a pillow by my side. Nice and cosy and maybe that stops me rolling over.
  • Kate53CornUK
    Kate53CornUK DAYWALKER100

    Posted

    Michael, I ditched the pillow at about 6/7 weeks with my first hip.

    I am a naughty side sleeper. I spent the first 10 days on my back for both hips but only because I was sleeping mostly on the sofa. I never got used to it and hated it because I have OA in my spine and it's painful on my back.

    I read so many conflicting things on here and an article that said that in the US they don't ban you from sleeping on your side just tell you how to do it properly.

    I started at about 10 days and perfected a 'leaning' technique. I kept my hips in line and supported my back with pillows. I put a pillow down the length of my body that I was going to turn onto (the un -opped side) and started to turn slightly towards it. I turned a little more each night until I was all the way over and moved the side pillow to between my knees.

    At 4 weeks I sleep all night on my side still with the pillow to support my knees as I find it more comfortable.

    On my first hip i think I ditched everything but always adhere to the lifetime restrictions I was given (no impacts, no pivoting, no raising and turning leg out to side, no crossing legs, no squatting).

    So I am nibbling on party food, thanks and might even have a G&T!

     

    • lynn48178
      lynn48178 Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Sorry Kate being a bit thick. What do you mean by raising?

      Sounds like you are having a good time ☺

    • MichaelTN1UK
      MichaelTN1UK Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Thanks Kate

      I am now near the end of week 8.... I am feeling brave/naughty...I may try it soon. :-)

       

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK lynn48178

      Posted

      My surgeon did the movement to explain it - he raised his leg (lifted if you like) while standing and then moved the knee outwards to the side. It is a movement I would have done at yoga before but it is illegal now!!

      Chips and dips?

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK MichaelTN1UK

      Posted

      I was much braver this time and felt more in control. I think you know straight away if you can do it or not. pain and stiffness stopped me before 10 days but it was still like rolling a baby hippo over when I did it the first few times.

      When I get into bed now I lie down, put my knee pillow in place and then straight over. I can sleep on my op side for a while but it still feels lumpy.

      I also lie on the sofa on my side now - like a sloth!

    • lynn48178
      lynn48178 Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Even more confused now. That sounds like an exercise my hippy friend was given to do by her physio! Who knew this replacement thing was so complicated. 
    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK lynn48178

      Posted

      I know! So confusing. I have every intention of looking after my new hips as best I can but I can't wrap myself in cotton wool. 

      I wondered if the restrictions were just mine, maybe my slight hip dysplasia had something to do with it. I have since had contact with a few people who have the same surgeon and we are all told the same thing (we are all under 55).

      He also told us all that a slightly stiff hip is better than a fit one. He does a lot of hip surgery in sports people and reckons that elastic/exercised muscles and tendons are more likely to dislocate and the percentage of revisions he does in fitter people outweigh the lesser exercised.

      Who knew?

      I can swim, ride a bike, walk and do gentle exercise but never any impact sports, twisting or pivoting.

      I am a swimmer so it suits me.

      I was also told no exercise for first 6 weeks apart from walking - absolutely no physio.

      At nearly five weeks I am walking without sticks and without a limp, have very little pain apart from stiffness on start-up, I am driving and my legs are strong.

      I can't argue his logic but am amazed that we are told different things.

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