I don't recall covering this topic with Dr. Gross.

I usually sleep on my back, but my wife has been complaining that I am snoring a lot.... I read that sleeping  on my side might help.  how far after surgery are we allowed to sleep on our sides?  Any precautions needed, like a pillow between the legs?

Or just stay on my back and tell her to get earplugs??  Hahahahaha

Thanks!

I am 12 days post op LBHR and I started turning on my right side with a pillow between my knees on day 8 or 9 but I could only tolerate it for about 10 minutes at first. Now I can stay on my right side for about an hour, sweet pleasure!!! You gotta appreciate the baby steps!

My memory is that Lee said sleeping on your side was dictated by whenever it was comfortable. I remember rolling onto the operated side for brief periods as early as the first week or so. I also remember that they wanted me to use a pillow when sleeping on my side at first, but I cannot remember how long that lasted; I think that it was for about the first month. At almost three years, I still have some occasional minor discomfort sleeping on that side, due to off and on bouts of bursitis when I push the hip hard.
When I did have to sleep on my back at first, I found that it really helped if I propped myself up with pillows. I think that this even helped with the snoring.

John,

I would be dead by now if I had to sleep on my back, I just cannot do it, I slept in my lazyboy the first night or so till I could roll over at home.... and you're right about propping your head up if you want to sleep on your back, that's the only way I slept in the hospital.


Chuck

I didn't think I could do it, but I've been sleeping on my back since my first surgery two months ago. I never slept on my back before, unless for some unknown reason I ended up that way while sleeping. I really don't have a choice since I had both done. I have been trying to sleep on my sides since probably about the 4th week post op. Now I can only lay on either side for maybe 10 or 15 minutes max. It is total heaven until a dull achy pain sets in then it's over. It is more comfortable with a pillow between the legs. I'll just keep trying.

P.S. It helps a lot to have a pillow under the knees when lying on your back. I even put another one under my feet so both legs are slightly elevated. Seems to relieve pressure or something. And oh yeah, I snore like a bear when on my back! Poor wife.

i slept for 2 hrs on my side last night with pillow, then the achy feeling started and woke me up, absolute heaven it was .. ;D

5 weeks out now ..

Yes, like everything else associated with this procedure, it seems that transitioning to side sleeping comes in increments. I'm 11 days post op, rolled onto non-operated (R) hip 1st time Fri night. It only lasted a few minutes as I felt a pretty good stretch in the surgical leg and that ache someone else mentioned. Last night, I could do it a little longer, so I'm just going to keep working until I can sleep the night - that is how I usually sleep and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm using the wedge they gave me between legs, as it not only aligns the legs but also holds them together so the leg won't shift/slip and violate the midline rule. Fortunately, I've been sleeping with a pillow between my legs for a couple years now, ever since hip/back problems began intensifying. I can move to that variation at about 3 weeks.

bdoughty,

It sounds like you are doing real well since your surgery. Keep moving and do what your doc says. You are doing great!

I too slept with a pillow between my legs for at least two years before my surgery. I'm sure most Hippys slept that way also. It was impossible for me to lay on my side without.

Steve (newdog)

I always had the pillow for side-sleeping at least a year prior to surgery.  After LBHR 3 weeks ago, I'd say in about 5 days post op I was sleeping on my right side, but only for an hour a night and with 2 pillows between my legs.  I did make the mistake of rolling onto my belly and and then I couldn't turn back over without help.  Right now, at 3 weeks post op, I am just starting to lay a little on my surgical side, but it's not comfortable.  I think in a week I might be ok with sleeping on my surgical side.  I do lay on my belly for a 2-hour stretch, but my sleep is still pretty chopped up.  Even if my operated side gets fully recovered I'll still have trouble sleeping because of my right hip, though.   

I tried sleeping on my side and it didn't feel comfortable.  I have always slept on my stomach up until six months ago.  Six months or so ago, I started having my arm fall asleep while I was sleeping.  I would wake up at night and it would be numb.....it was determined to be my nerve being pinched and I was told to sleep on my side or back.  Because of my hip, even with the pillow between my legs, sleeping on my side was not comfortable. 

I started sleeping on my back.  For the first couple of weeks, it was hard to get myself to sleep on my back, but now I'm used to it and like it...but it makes me snore worse!!  My wife hates it!

Maybe as I progress I'll try converting to sleeping on my side?  Well see.