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Total hip replacement / lack of sleep

Posted , 8 users are following.

lesley17286
lesley17286

Hello there, I'm new to this forum and hoping that what I'm feeling isn't abnormal.

im a 51 year old female, 18 days post THR, and finding sleeping horrendous. I do suffer badly, in other areas from Rheumatoid athritis, so sleeping is generally poor, however, since my op, I'm beginning to dread every bedtime. I've tried lying flat, propped up, cushions underneath me etc but nothing's seems to help. I'm suffering badly from low back ache and a strong pulling sensation in my groin and around my butt. I can seem to fall asleep as I'm so tired but it's very short lived and awake from the discomfort ., tried putting a pillow or tolled up towel under my knees/lower back and all I can say is that the fatigue and tiredness takes me back to the feeling of being a new mum with the exhaustion .

is anyone else in a similar situation as I feel thus us really really dragging me down

thanks in advance

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • clare83752
    clare83752 lesley17286

    Posted

    Hi I was like this at first then A friend told me about an app call head space I gave it a try and it has helped me so much I just listen to the app instead of getting frustrated that I can’t see when I want to I now get about 6 hours sleep a night and I’m nearly 5 week post op 
    • lesley17286
      lesley17286 clare83752

      Posted

      Thanks so much, feel as though I'm going off my head, but I'm obviously not, 

  • jan68388
    jan68388 lesley17286

    Posted

    Hi Lesley, I totally sympathise with you as I am only just getting some sleep after 3 weeks. I hate lying on my back and not being able to move, that's when I usually wake up after 2 hours just wanting to move!

    I suffered a sore coccyx, and ended up sleeping on both hands under my bottom.

    I have found that I can get some sleep now with 2 co-codamols and a chamomile tea, having tried nytol and other things. I am sure this will get better in a few more days. Good luck, Jan

    • lesley17286
      lesley17286 jan68388

      Posted

      Thanks jan, hubbys bearing with me as best he can too, but I'm feeling like all I do is moan, I'm tired, sore, exhausted etc, makes me feel better knowing it's "normal" to feel thus way

  • joanne28187
    joanne28187 lesley17286

    Posted

    Hi Lesley

    what you are going through is not abnormal, I went through exactly the same. I am also 51 & had THR on my right hip in April this year. My problem was that I could not sleep on my back because of spinal damage & was told not to sleep on my left side due to possible dislocation. This meant I had no option but to lie on the scar.

    l used an orthopedic block with a thigh strap to keep my hips in alignment and found this much better than a pillow, I also used a medical grade fleece to cushion my hip and scar. With painkillers this allowed me to get 3 to 4 hours sleep at a time.

    I am now 6 months postop and recovering well, no pain in my new hip and walking without a stick for the first time in years.

    I hope some of this may be useful to you and that your recovery goes well.

    • lesley17286
      lesley17286 joanne28187

      Posted

      Thanks Joanne, so looking forward to not having to use crutches but seems such a long way off, knowing I've 2 further ops in the future, feet and 2nd hip,, think when your tired though everything is hightened, thanks for the tips.

  • lisa31002
    lisa31002 lesley17286

    Posted

    I was the same. Your body's been through a lot and needs to learn to relax again. It will get better 🛌

    • lesley17286
      lesley17286 lisa31002

      Posted

      thanks Lisa, I think I'm wanting to run before I can even walk properly, good to hear everyone's been through similar situations.

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie lesley17286

    Posted

    Hi Lesley, very normal, had my RTHR 25 months ago at 56, was b awful for 6 weeks sleeping, used to go to bed in the afternoon for 2 hours, discharge nurse told me to do that and it helped so to get rid of fluid in the operated leg, and initially I did sleep for almost two hours near the end of the six weeks, I was just resting rather than sleeping.   Someone the other day said about the maternity body support pillow that has helped.

    ?I did used to get 5 hours towards the end of the six weeks but mostly when I woke in the night  I  sat upright and propped up or sat on edge of bed and massaged my back. my back was so bad at 4 weeks that  I went to the Osteopath and sat upright on the bed whilst she sorted things out.

    ?With the muscle pain and tight it could be the iliotibial band, It get tight a lot. Massage or see an osteopath.  It takes up to two years for the muscles to heal. 

    ?Remember we all heal at different rates and in different ways. Having this op taught me patience, I used to be pretty down on myself but when I look back I was doing ok, just didn't realise it.

    • lesley17286
      lesley17286 auntiebeanie

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply, yeh, definitely feels like something is pulling in my groin, do the same sitting up rubbing my back etc, just feel getting up outa bed that I'm more tired than when I went in, just need to take it slowly I guess

  • miriamal49
    miriamal49 lesley17286

    Posted

    I did have trouble sleeping in the beginning because of a triangular foam they put between my legs. They said trying to sleep in a recliner. I even had to change my mattress.
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