1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

Sleeping after hip replacement

Posted , 114 users are following.

rachel57914
rachel57914

I'm 44 years old and had a hip replacement 10 days ago, I'm having real difficulty sleeping on my back . My recovery has been good , my wound is healing well ,I'm walking on 1 crutch now and doing exercises regularly. I'm just so tired from not sleeping at night and find that in napping in the day . Any ideas on sleeping .

15 likes, 174 replies

174 Replies

Prev Next
  • anita33062
    anita33062 rachel57914

    Posted

    Hi Rachel. I had the same problem along with many others but try a back rest. You can hire them from The Red Cross for nothing just a donation when you have finished with it. I always slept on my side so propping myself up with pillows when it came out of Hospital was a nightmare. Now 11 weeks on I find myself walking up in the morning on my back. I ditched the back rest after 6 weeks but it is still uncomfortable sleeping on good or operated side. Give it a go and good luck.
  • liz59955
    liz59955 rachel57914

    Posted

    Hi everyone

    I'm having hip replacement soon.  I wanted to know if any of you had the anterior approach as opposed to the posterior approach.  Also, what kind of bet is most helpful, meaning either a regular inner spring or a memory foam?  I need to get a new bed before surgery and went shopping today.  Anyone?

    • margaret57516
      margaret57516 liz59955

      Posted

      Do not get memory foam, it's hard to get traction, plus can be sweaty..
    • crissy_wissy
      crissy_wissy liz59955

      Posted

      I've got a 4" memory foam topper and its really comfy....tried a full Tempur mattress on holiday and Margis right...very sweaty!
  • crissy_wissy
    crissy_wissy rachel57914

    Posted

    I hated it but did get comfy with a pillow under my knees and sometimes one under my heels as they get sore! Took Nytol for a couple of weeks too.

    Had a combination of pillows and we have a bed where each half sort of raises up and that was better. I had backache nearly every morning but at 6 week review surgeon said OK to sleep on either side. I bought a body pillow from ebay for between the legs and it made such a difference!

    Now sleeping very well and normal rolling over onto each side...still have a small cushion between the knees ..a bit of a security blanket I think and bizarrely comfortable!

     

  • margaret57516
    margaret57516 rachel57914

    Posted

    Two months since second hip replacement.  My back is aching, I feel I am back at square one.  Does it get bette?
    • crissy_wissy
      crissy_wissy margaret57516

      Posted

      See my reply above about sleeping position but also I had backache too especially when I first got up or after standing or walking for a while...I'm now about 18 weeks I think (lost track a bit) and absolutely no probs....I think mine was caused by muscles I hadn't used bacause of limping so much suddenly having to do some work! It will get better!!
  • john48162
    john48162 rachel57914

    Posted

    I had a hip relacement eight days ago. I am sleeping reasonably well on my back with a pillow under the back of my legs, which I would recommend.

    But I am very worried about the bad swellling in my thigh and knee (operated side)  I was not warned about this before leaving hospital so I called the GP who just said "quite normal" but I can hardly bend my leg at all to do the physio exercises. Surely the swelling should go down by now? Or am I overdoing daily activity?

    Any comments on this would be greatly appreciated - thank you.

    John

    • crissy_wissy
      crissy_wissy john48162

      Posted

      Hi John...swelling for first few weeks is normal...ice and elevate is the answer....it will gradually get lessand less and then not at all.....its early days for you but it will go past in a flash!!
    • john48162
      john48162 crissy_wissy

      Posted

      Thank you ...most reassuring. Greatly appreciate your answer.

      John

    • john48162
      john48162 crissy_wissy

      Posted

      Thank you ...most reassuring. Greatly appreciate your answer.

      John

    • mary5832
      mary5832 john48162

      Posted

      Hi John I see from your post it ws 7mths ago.  I am 2 weeks post op for my new hip.  I still have swelling in my hip 17 days later.  Don't rush it.  It's a deep wound and it will take a long while to heal! 

      When I initially broke my hip at 22 I was in the hosptial for 6 months!!  Not just 3 days!  So, don't rush this.

      MCP

       

    • GmDi14
      GmDi14 john48162

      Posted

      Hi John, I had my hip replacement 12/15/16. This was my first major surgery. My entire leg (feet to thigh) were swollen. Elevate your leg, ice & aspirin. It's been 18 days, my entire leg is back to normal.

  • Glenda12345
    Glenda12345 rachel57914

    Posted

    Hi every one I had hip replacement a week ago today, and I have that sleeping on my back really bad can't sleep, have been reading your comments and found them interesting I will try the pillow under my knees and see how it goes, I will keep you updated hope you all recover very soon take care all 
    • barbara37123
      barbara37123 Glenda12345

      Posted

      I had my operation 4 weeks ago today.  I am 69. I was discharged less than 48 hours post surgery. I had no bruising and my scar is minimal at around 4 inches and it has healed really well, although I do have some numbness around the scar. I am lucky in that I have a husband who tells me he is waiting on me hand and foot!

      I just don't know if where I am with my recovery and if it is normal or am I just not doing as well as I should be.  I am still taking one Tramadol and two paracetamol four times daily.  Mainly for groin discomfort etc, although I think the medication is also a crutch to me.  

      I can walk with one crutch comfortably, but if I walk any distance I feel safer with two. I can walk around the house with one stick, but don't feel too happy. And I find it really difficult to walk any steps at all without support.  I sleep on my good side with two cushions, one between my knees and the other in front so my leg can't fall over the midline.  I am obsessively worried about dislocation😱.  I do the routine exercises as the physio directed 2 or 3 times a day, but if my groin hurts too much the physio told me not to aggravate it, so I don't bother.

      should I be doing better? Should I be more mobile? I would love to go out for lunch or away for a couple of days, but I worry about sitting on low chairs, low loo seats etc, and it just doesn't seem worth the bother.

      i just can't wait to feel normal and human again!!

    • john48162
      john48162 barbara37123

      Posted

      The biggst Ttruth is that everyone has a different recovery rate, Barbara. Some are luckier than others and recover very quickly but its not a competiton!

      I think you are spot-on in your recovery pace/progress which mirrors my own very closely. (I.m nowjust over seven weeks on)  

      Dont force it - let it happen naturally and one morning soon you'll get-up and say "Oooh! Thats better"!! 

    • barbara37123
      barbara37123 john48162

      Posted

      Thanks John.  It is good to talk to people and read about their own experiences. I feel I am turning a corner, however, I can weight bear without support when I stand still, exercising, making drinks etc, but as soon as I move without a stick, then my leg/hip feels unstable, and I have to use support. I think I will be much more confident when I have seen the surgeon in 3 weeks time and he confirms that everything is as it should be.  Hadn't realised what a ninny I was until now!  Thanks again John ...
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.