Sleeping after hip replacement

Buy one of those triangular support pillows - put one normal pillow against bedhead, put that in front of it put two pillows to either side of you and one on your chest/tummy and pad yourself in.  I found this to be quite comfortable.  Take painkillers and have EVERYTHING you will need in the night to hand.  Sleep when you can, if you are awake - use PC or read or look out of the window.  Thats what I did anyway.  Have you got a grabber?  They are really useful too.

Hi, im 31 and had full left hip replacement 9 days ago. I to struggle sleeping on my back or side to be honest. I feel like my hip is stretching out of its socket when i lay flat on my back. ( must be the muscles). I will try with pillows under my knees and see if that helps. My blood count is very low still still from the op and thought that was why i am still so tired. Reading your threads it seems the op takes it out of you anyway!

I am keeping up with my exercises and try to rest when i can, but i have two small children to contend with so finding it difficult to relax.

Apparently it was a complex op so i am non wait bearing for 6 weeks. Did anyones leg just feel like a dead weight? My leg and feet are always cold, but i put that down to poor circulation?

Sorry for the story, not really spoken to anyone regarding recovery from the op and it seems to be getting me down a little being tired and pained all the time.

I am 16 days post THR and can not sleep on my Bach as I get very bad acid reflux. After day 8 I have been sleeping mainly on my good side with a pillow between my legs.

I have not used a stick since day 10 and am walking normally.

I normally sleep on my front.is this better than side?

I am slightly sore but other than that ok...I'm back at work on Monday.

Hi,

I had an anterior approach Titanium and Ceramic THR 3.5 weeks ago and feel that I am doing well in most areas.  I am down to one crutch outside and no aid inside.  Can walk a mile (as I found out BUT suffered for it). 

My scar is neat and healing well with swelling going down nicely and bruising almost gone.

BUT my leg aches like mad, cannot sleep, restless leg tonight (it's 2am as I am typing this).  Back ache from trying to lie on back all night.

i try not to take much pain meds during the day but at night I am on Tramadol and CoCodamol.  Still can't sleep.  I am worse now than before sleep wise.

i am still wearing the TED stockings, advised to keep on for 6 weeks !!

i know it's early days and I do think I am overdoing it sometimes but the lack of sleep is awful even if I do nap during the day.  I am dreading if this doesn't resolve before I return to work in two weeks.

i am 42.  Consultant is pleased with my progress and X-Ray after two weeks showed bone knitting well already which is great.  Just want to sleep z z z z z. 

Going to to look at those pillows on eBay- maybe laying supported on my side will be easier.

good luck everyone - so pleased a found this forum X 

5 weeks after my op and still waking in the night for several at least 2 hours. was a bit of insomniac before but it's got worse. its not pain or discomfort i don't think. maybe it's part of the healing process? it seems we're all in the same boat. i guess it will sttle down in the end.

I used Nite Quill and ZZZZZ 2-3 hrs before bed. No problems. Both worked.

Hi Rachel,

I am 47 years old and received a hip replacement 2 weeks ago. I too am having real difficulty sleeping at the right times, Sometimes I need to nap in the day, I have had days where I have not snoozed in the day and the nights seem to be the same where I can only sleep for a few hours then need to get up and do something different. Spent a few hours downstairs last night, then tried again, but I feel like I am disturbing the whole house. My legs also feel restless. at night which prevents me relaxing. I dont know what to do aout it. I am tired and feel my mood is getting lower as a result. I know its early days. I am still using 2 walking sticks and go out for a walk every day, I cooked my first meal last night with the help of my perch stool. If I could just sort this not sleeping out.... it would be great! Any advice would be welcome.

Oh Rachel how I sympathise, I had my THR 12 days ago and like you have progressed well to one crutch, been to my first weekly physio group, doing more then I thought I'd be able to and ready pleased with my self....apart from the interrupted uncomfortable ness of sleeping. I don't have much pain day or night, more itchiness and tightening of my suture line knitting together. But the numb bum heel hurting is really getting me down, lying on my back is so uncomfortable and I'm so tired from bad nights sleep that I dread going to bed, to start it again, despite trying not to sleep during the day I'm not sleeping

Nearly everyone has the same problem. I got 12 sleeping pills from GP. Apparently they are very addictive, so that is all she would give me. I have not used them all, but they certainly helped my recovery. When I saw surgeon at six weeks he then said I had to sleep with a pillow between my knees for a further two months. Sleeping on either side. Bliss compared with sleeping on back.

I am six weeks from my THR and I am still sleeping in my recliner. I find it the most comfortable place to sleep and I feel safe that I won't move around during the night and cause any damage to my hip. My sleeping habits are horrible and I find most single people they are pretty bad. Not working makes it easier to nap during the day time and sleep crazy hours during the night. Pain killers also have thrown my sleeping hours off.  I just feel safer for now in the recliner...I don't want to do anything that is going to cause any issues with this hip replacement.