When can I sleep on my side of the operated leg after hip replacement surgery?

I waited till 6 weeks.  I still have difficulty sleeping on the operated side though due to some discomfort.  There are many different schools of thought on this.  All over the internet there is in fo about 4 weeks to sleep on unoperated side with a pillow between the knees.  Pick your poison.

I started sleeping on unoperated side with a thick pillow between my legs to stop midline crossing three days after my op and it was fine. Started sleeping on op side at about six weeks.

Posterior Approach and suggested I wait 6 weeks. Sometimes I did wake up on my side. I try to follow the Doctors advice as best I can. 

To my knowledge it depends on whether you had anterior vs posterior replacement. Posterior has a range of restrictions that are super important to follow to the T. Anterior is a lot easier and doe not have those restrictions. That said, there is a thing they call mermaid's tail (I think) it is a big foam rubber wedge that you strap onto your legs and it keeps you from accidentally violating your restrictions while you sleep. 

Ask your doctor  for one of those. It feels really good to sleep on your side after not being able to . 

Good luck!

Chris

I was told when it is comfortable but always with a pillow between the legs. It took about seven weeks with my first THR and I had second THR Jan. 15 and just rolled onto operated side last night! Go with your comfort level

I also forgot to add that I use My Pillow brand pillows between my legs. They don't squish down and keep their form. Important for not crossing the midline. 

Joe, with Posterior, sleep on your back. No cheating. It’s hard but time will pass

I took sleeping pills.  They seemed to help.  Now only taking melatonin +two glasses of decent Spanish wine or a large brandy before bed really helps.  Being retired, I can sleep all day but have tons to keep me busy.  I absolutely LOVE siesta time here.  

Six weeks is the usual time limit. 

At 6 weeks I had my restrictions lifted, and could sleep on my operated side OK, but not on the other side with comfort.

Then, at 10 weeks I had to have revision surgery on the same leg, and at 6 weeks after that I found that I could not sleep comfortably on the operated side, but was OK on the non-operated side !

It was almost 2 years before I could sleep on either side OK. Every recovery, even on the same leg, is different.

I am 8 weeks post op, posterior approach and I can now sleep on either side and I am so glad cuz I hate to sleep on my back. I am fortunate to have an adjustable bed so that helped me to sleep before this. I have horrible lower back pain if I lay flat. I do put a pillow between my legs to lay on either side.

MY consultant said I could sleep on the operated side a week after the op. which is all very well but it was too sore. The pillow between knees should only be needed if you sleep on the non op side and the other knee might roll over across the mid line. If you are sleeping on the op side it would nto be possible to cross the mid line with the op. leg unless you move about a lot in your sleep - but discomfort would prbably wake you up.