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THR Cannot sleep in bed

Trotter

new member
Joined
Jan 21, 2025
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14
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65
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United Kingdom United Kingdom
I am nearly 6 weeks post op. I cannot get to sleep at all in bed. I get a pain in my knee and shin on the operated leg. Thank goodness I have a recliner to help me sleep, even if it is for just a few hours at a time. Any tips?
 
Hi Trotter and welcome! I don't have tips but today marks 6 weeks since my THR. I have yet to sleep in my bed! I've been camped out on the long portion of a very comfy sectional that we have in our den. I feel more secure on this section of my sofa because I can't roll around in my sleep. I'm still a little paranoid about getting myself into some crazy contorted position (that would be bad for my hip) while sleeping if I were in my bed. I'm sure others will comment.
 
Welcome @Trotter !

If you provide the date and which hip, we'll create a custom signature so members see at a glance where you are on your postop journey.

Here are some resources to get you started.

HIP RECOVERY GUIDELINES

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary.

If you want to use something to assist with healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.

2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
Activity progression for THRs

The recovery articles
Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery. While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.
 
I haven't had a hip, just knees... But I can reassure you that poor sleep plagues the majority of both our hip and knee members, with many of us resorting to sofas and recliners, often with a ridiculous collection of pillows.

Remote pains are also common to both surgeries. Our weight bearing structure has slowly maladjusted to the arthritic joint(s), then suddenly in the OR everything is reset. So on top of healing, there's alignments, contracture, and laxity that needs time to resolve.
 
Hello and Welcome to BoneSmart and recovery!
I understand somewhat, because I slept comfortably in a recliner for three weeks after my surgery. That was long enough though, at that point I wanted to sleep in bed. If back sleeping is your preference, have you tried a pillow under your knees to relieve pressure on your lower leg? If you're up for trying to sleep on your side, place a pillow between your knees, I prefer a lengthier Body Pillow it reduces strain on the op leg and keeps your hips aligned so one isn't dropping into the other.

If you aren't already, you can try icing before bed to reduce any inflammation and see if that helps.
Best Wishes! Thanks for joining us.
@Trotter

Was it your right or left hip? Please let us know and we'll add it to your signature. Thanks!
 
Welcome!
Agree with Layla, try a pillow under your knees, might be helpful or find a comfy spot that pillows can be used. And ice, ice ,ice!
Some nights I'd get up & grab ice pack & take back to bed, helped me get back to sleep.
You will find this group extremely helpful & supportive.
 
Just been to see my consultant 6 weeks post op. He was pleased with my X Ray (day 1), thought I was a bit stiff. Over in 5 minutes, seemed a waste of time. Can I drive ?
Does not want to see me for three months. Said keep doing PT. That is very painful, I prefer walking. In fact today I walked the furthest since before my op.
Thoughts on PT to walking?
 
@Trotter Driving --- if your surgeon did not say yes or no - first try sitting in your car and moving your legs through the motions of driving (without starting the car). Can you easily move legs as needed? Even if an emergency maneuver were needed? Are you taking narcotic pain medication during the day? Narcotics can interfer with your reaction times and cloud your perceptions. If yes then don't drive. If no - or only taking one at night - it's OK to drive.

PT - most hips do not need PT -- walking really is the best exercise. But sometimes one does need some PT for motions other than walking and climbing stairs. If you have trouble getting that left foot onto your right knee then PT could help with that type of motion. If you limped for a long time before needing hip replacement your muscles and tendons in both legs are going to be out of condition. It can take quite a while to gently recondition those parts of your body. Also check the bottoms of shoes you wore frequently before surgery! The wear pattern on the bottoms of soles and heels is the old limping pattern and that is NOT good for new hips. So if there is a visible wear pattern -- get new shoes or have the heels and soles replaced.
 
Said keep doing PT. That is very painful, I prefer walking. In fact today I walked the furthest since before my op.
Thoughts on PT to walking?
It is not necessary to exercise your injured hip to promote healing. The controlled trauma sustained through THR will heal on its own. Often though, we're impatient and want to move the process along. In doing so we run the risk of struggling with pain and setbacks stalling the healing process. The best therapy for recovery is walking, but not to excess. Start slowly increasing time and distance incrementally in an effort not to overdo it. Give yourself the TLC you deserve and reap the benefits of a successful recovery.
 
Just been to see my consultant 6 weeks post op. He was pleased with my X Ray (day 1), thought I was a bit stiff. Over in 5 minutes, seemed a waste of time. Can I drive ?
Does not want to see me for three months. Said keep doing PT. That is very painful, I prefer walking. In fact today I walked the furthest since before my op.
Thoughts on PT to walking?
The information given by consultants is so diverse. I had the minimally invasive procedure, did you?

My six week check up was a five minute telephone call. I was told to stop the exercises and just walk. In fact, to just get on with my life at my own pace and I could call if I had any worries. I was told I was fit to drive at four weeks and fit to fly long haul at six weeks. I did both. Though a few days later than advised.

Apparently there is no actual guideline in the UK about timing for driving, flying etc. The consultant's word is law! So, if you want to be certain your insurance will be valid, just call the surgeons office for confirmation.

I should add that at 12 weeks I am not dancing the Tango or in training for a marathon. It is still a recovery process , two steps forward and one step back. I found the PT exercises easy to do but they aggravated the soft tissue healing and stopped most of them before the consultant told me to. I still do a few stretches to ease any stiffness.
 
I was very nervous to start driving again but one day I went outside & just gave it a whirl. I live in a small neighborhood & takes maybe 4 minutes to go from my driveway around the block w/o getting onto any main roads.
Plastic bag on front seat of your car will make it easier to swivel your body to get behind the wheel.
I sat on drivers seat with my both feet outside of the car & then lifted my legs & swiveled into vehicle.
Mine was right leg which was needed for gas & brake. I drove around the block & tested my right foot for "quick" type stop as well as just regular driving. I then had the confidence to go to the store which is just a mile from my house.
But as already mentioned if you are still taking pain meds like oxy during day it's inadvisable to drive.
And I think it was almost 8 weeks post op before I drove but I don't remember exactly.
All my best.
 
I was very nervous to start driving again but one day I went outside & just gave it a whirl. I live in a small neighborhood & takes maybe 4 minutes to go from my driveway around the block w/o getting onto any main roads.
Plastic bag on front seat of your car will make it easier to swivel your body to get behind the wheel.
I sat on drivers seat with my both feet outside of the car & then lifted my legs & swiveled into vehicle.
Mine was right leg which was needed for gas & brake. I drove around the block & tested my right foot for "quick" type stop as well as just regular driving. I then had the confidence to go to the store which is just a mile from my house.
But as already mentioned if you are still taking pain meds like oxy during day it's inadvisable to drive.
And I think it was almost 8 weeks post op before I drove but I don't remember exactly.
All my best.
Thank you, I'm med free so hopefully just getting in and out will be the main problem. It's good to hear from someone with a shared experience.
 
@Trotter Driving --- if your surgeon did not say yes or no - first try sitting in your car and moving your legs through the motions of driving (without starting the car). Can you easily move legs as needed? Even if an emergency maneuver were needed? Are you taking narcotic pain medication during the day? Narcotics can interfer with your reaction times and cloud your perceptions. If yes then don't drive. If no - or only taking one at night - it's OK to drive.

PT - most hips do not need PT -- walking really is the best exercise. But sometimes one does need some PT for motions other than walking and climbing stairs. If you have trouble getting that left foot onto your right knee then PT could help with that type of motion. If you limped for a long time before needing hip replacement your muscles and tendons in both legs are going to be out of condition. It can take quite a while to gently recondition those parts of your body. Also check the bottoms of shoes you wore frequently before surgery! The wear pattern on the bottoms of soles and heels is the old limping pattern and that is NOT good for new hips. So if there is a visible wear pattern -- get new shoes or have the heels and soles replaced.
Thank you for your reply. I am free from meds. I will take on board what you've said
 
I am nearly 6 weeks post op. I cannot get to sleep at all in bed. I get a pain in my knee and shin on the operated leg. Thank goodness I have a recliner to help me sleep, even if it is for just a few hours at a time. Any tips?
Hi, I am
Waiting for surgery but have been using a memory foam pillow in the shape of a right angle triangle. I put the straight side next to my butt and my bad side leg lays on the down slope. (The pillow is a square cut diagonally from the right hand top corner to the bottom left hand corner of a square.)
It is very comfortable for a while which is all I think you can wish for/ get at this stage.
 
PT is overrated, did it with my left as I didn't know any better skipped it with my right and just walked. No downside to skipping early PT. One thing is to figure out what your goals are of THR. My main goals was to be able to sleep without terrible pain and to be mobile for the rest of my life. I figured once I got past the first 6 mo. to a year I could decide if I wanted to train for the Olympics, I declined. I do exercises, stretches and some PT moves to keep my legs in good shape and with less pain.
With my left I drove at 2 weeks since it was my left, took a little longer with my right. I drove to get to places I could walk as I needed flat even ground to walk on.
 
My PT has asked me to sit on dining room chair, cross my arms so my fingers are on opposite shoulder. Then stand and sit 3 x 10 reps. I find this very painful, especially after doing my daily walk. Am I OK to do squats instead?
 
@Trotter Um no I don't think squats would be a good idea yet. If you find those stand up/sit down exercises painful then squats would be even worse! And since those stand up/sit down exercises are painful - I urge you to cut back on them. Hips really do not need much PT. The walking you do should be sufficient.
 
Thank you for the reply. I get really frustrated that I cannot do them. The other exercises are fine that I have to do.
 
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