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Sleeping on back problems

Posted , 14 users are following.

Soobee
Soobee

As you all know, we're told to sleep on our back for 6 weeks, exception being it's apparently OK after a week or two to sleep on the damaged side with a pillow between ones legs. I've always been a right side sleeper.

Well, I tried the side one and it is too painful still. I am 3 weeks out from a left THR. If I sleep on my back I sometimes try it with a pillow under my knees as suggested by the physio. This doesn't help, in fact it makes the back pain worse sometimes.

I wake up stiff and aching from back and pelvis and barely able to move. It eases as I get up and move around.

Anyone any advice at all please about alleviating this? I have another three weeks to go before I can right side sleep and even then need to be careful!

 

1 like, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • margot50
    margot50 Soobee

    Posted

    Sleep on the damaged side? I thought most of us were told it's okay to try to gradually sleep on your good, unoperated side! This whole sleeping thing was one of the hardest things about recovery. It was torture sleeping on my back for 6 weeks, but I stuck it out with the help of pain killers at night, then gradually was able to sleep on my good side with a pillow between my knees. That was heaven and such a relief. Are you sure you stated it correctly about sleeping on the damaged (operated) side?! 

    • Soobee
      Soobee margot50

      Posted

      Sorry, should have used this box to reply!
    • lauretta38537
      lauretta38537 margot50

      Posted

      I was told to sleep on my good side , using a pillow between my legs not my bad side . I am 8 weeks post op and my bad side is still to sore to sleep on .

      I would like to know what Prince Philip has been doing as he looks so much fitter than me yet 40 years older !

    • Soobee
      Soobee lauretta38537

      Posted

      Well he'd have had the best of care! But for his age he's fantastic. Walking unaided at the wedding.

    • john86556
      john86556 lauretta38537

      Posted

      I had my surgery one week before Prince Phillip and he looks Better then Me!!!!  He is walking without a cane.  I still use a cane and cant walk without gait.  However I have made wonderful progress,
  • Soobee
    Soobee

    Posted

    Yes, that's what I was told. I've since been looking at other sites and several of them advise against a pillow UNDER the knees, they say to put one between the knees. The reason I was given for side sleeping with 'bad' leg on top is that it's easy to move it around and bend it an angle that might be detrimental.

    I don't know who to believe now! I only know I hate sleeping my back. I get so drowsy during the day!

  • mary75553
    mary75553 Soobee

    Posted

    I was told to sleep on the operated side at 5weeks and if I wanted too sleep on The other side to use a pillow between my legs and this would stop the operated leg crossing over mid line . I was worried about back sleeping but fortunately adapTed quickly
    • Soobee
      Soobee mary75553

      Posted

      Thanks, I wish I'd adapted quickly! Guess I'll just have to put up with it.

      It seems to me every hospital has its own rules.

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK Soobee

    Posted

    Yes, it's hard, but for a good reason, I suspect that it helps the bone re-grow around the new metal parts so that they align correctly.  I had to have this for 6 weeks, then 4 weeks later I had revision so had another 6 weeks on my back. sad.   It was about 18 months before I could sleep on either side with any degree of comfort.

    We all seem to get different advice on which side to sleep on, and I actually found it easier to carry on sleeping on my back.  Best advice from hippies on this forum is to use a pillow between your legs to stop them crossing over.

     

    • Soobee
      Soobee Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      You poor thing having revision so soon after. I need the other hip doing too but it's fine at present due to the amount of rest it's getting! Physio said to leave it 3 months minimum before having other one done. Consultant said 6 weeks! But they like to slash and dash.

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK Soobee

      Posted

      Yes, it was no fun having that hanging over me, it interfered with our Christmas celebrations.

      Trouble was, when he did the revision he was unable to correct his mistake as the ceramic was jammed firmly in the wrong position (it still is). I am right now in the middle of negotiating compensation after liability has been admitted.

      In your place, I would give it a couple of months unless there are other good reasons, consultants do like to rush us through as they get paid on the numbers done.

  • mary25429
    mary25429 Soobee

    Posted

    Nooooo sleeping on the operated side! Keep pillow between your legs and gently roll  to your non-operated side. Or sleep in a recliner. I had a chair by my bedside that I could grab onto to help me gently roll onto the non-operated side. Hope this helps. Better days ahead so hang in there.
  • Guest
    Guest Soobee

    Posted

    At 10 weeks I have been plagued by lack of sleep. My back is painful- more painful than my hip. It constantly gnaws and aches. I couldn’t sleep on my back so sat propped up for 7 weeks then was told I could sleep in my good side. Only I can’t my back goes into spasm and keeps me awake. I am desperate for sleep! 
  • molly29060
    molly29060 Soobee

    Posted

    What approach did you have?
    • molly29060
      molly29060 Guest

      Posted

      I had anterior with no restrictions so I'm not sure how we compare. At 8 weeks out I still couldn't sleep on my surgical side. I could sleep on my good one but needed a pillow and still couldn't stay that way for long. I.am a side sleeper but HAD to get used to my back. Its working.

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