I'm ten days out fro surgery and having trouble sleeping. I've been able to get some sleep in the recliner, but only three or four hours at a time. Sleeping in bed strapped with foam between my legs doesn't work very well. I supplement these shrt nights with daytime naps, which helps a lot.
Couple of questions for you Hippys. Neither my wife nor I remember receiving any instructions from Dr. Rector about sleeping when I was discharged. Are there standard sleeping instructions? If so, please share them with me.
I would love to find a way to sleep on my side, even if protected by a bunch of body pillows. I don't want to take any chances of hurting my hip, but I could sure use a good nights sleep.
Would appreciate some ideas. My recovery is going slow, but I'm doing OK.
Thanks
Boomer
I didn't have really good sleep until the fourth week or so. I had really bad night sweats, so that woke me up at least three times per night. I felt okay, though, since I expected to nap during the day; made myself at least once by going to my bed instead of just laying back on the couch.
I used pillows, not the foam, but I was not able to go on my side until four or five weeks had passed. I slept on my back with both legs on the pillows, one pillow under my head and another available to position wherever.
I am struggling with sleeping too. I am 5 days post op. I am so sick of being on my back! I seem to sleep better in shorter naps rather than through the night. Last night I managed to sleep on my side for a little while, up to this point I have not been able to role over to my side.
Thanks for the responses. Looks like I have another two weeks of sleeping like a vampire.
They had me sleeping on my unoperated side in hospital with two pillows between my legs on the first night. I've done that even since - I'm now on day 17.
I was also prescribed by request some sleeping aids (zopiclone), this has helped my sleep no end. I don't think there's any issue taking something to help you sleep - especially in the early stages. Sleep helps the healing & also gives you the energy to exercise.
Kiwi,
Thanks for the post. I'm going to Try sleeping on my side with pillows between my legs tonight. Even if it works for just a few hours it will be helpful.
The hospital I used for surgery had me strapped down with Velcro to ensure I could not get to my side. Made me paranoid when I came home.
Thanks
Boomer
That would make me paranoid too Boomer! I should add that my nurses did put the side of my bed up where I was facing & placed another firm pillow length ways behind my back to stop me rolling. I can't sleep on my back very well.
Good luck with it mate.
I was not comfortale sleeping on my onoperated side for a couple of weeks, and I'm 100% a side sleeper normally.
I bought a foam wedge to raise my legs, and that helped me a lot in trying to sleep on my back.
Boomer it is very normal for the first few weeks to not be able to sleep well. Like Hernanu I too had MAJOR night sweats and would wake up soaking wet along with my pillow, covers, etc. I couldn't sleep on my side for 3-4 weeks and sleeping on my back was difficult. It gets better by the week and day so hang in there. There were many nights where I would be sitting up in bed aggrivated watching my wife sleep like a baby.
That being said I'm almost 5 weeks post op and I'm sleeping better now than I have in years. Hang in there you will have relief shortly.
i used a rolled up towel in-between my legs for sleeping. it was probably about 2 to 3 weeks for me to sleep on the non-operated side and maybe 6 weeks for me to be able to sleep on the operated side (that was and is my favorite side to sleep on). as others said ... each day will get better. good luck tonight!!
Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm going to try to find a way to sleep on my side tonight.
After both of my ops, when I got home I put a pillow under my ankles, a pillow between my legs, and wedged a pillow either side of my hips to stop me rolling on to my side. It may seem like a lot to do but I slept very well. It gave me the confidence to get to sleep without thinking, consciously or sub-consciously, about turning and damaging my hip. I now enjoy sleeping on my back.
Hope your recovery goes well.
Ed
I didn't try to fight sleeping through the night. I assumed I would have some trouble. More often than not I would get up and read. Then fall asleep in the chair. Then maybe go back to bed.
I was also uncomfortable on my back constantly. So maybe a week later I would roll on the unoperated side for short naps. But that wasn't comfortable either. And I am a side sleeper as well.
Bottom line is that just about any position is going to be uncomfortable at some point. Just plan on sleeping when you can and finding something to read or watch when you can't.
Best wishes.
Dan
Thanks Dan. That's what I've doing. Fell asleep in the barbers chair today.
Hopefully that didn't change the outcome of your haircut...are you sporting a new look?
Sweet Dreams!
nothings easy first up ... work it out .... we all suffer at times and sleeping will come .... :'(
Boomer, the sleeping problems are normal. As you can see from other posts, I think all of us have them to a greater or lesser degree for the first few weeks. My biggest problem was to get in a comfortable position long enough to fall asleep - there were many nights in the beginning when I moved from the bed to the recliner to the couch, just trying to find a comfortable position for falling asleep. I started sleeping much better around the third week after both surgeries.
I had no real problem laying on my unoperated side from very early on, but it was a bit of a struggle getting there. After my second surgery, I was able sleep on the operated side for short periods after just a few days - it took longer for the first surgery. Dr. Gross's discharge instructions say that you will not hurt your hip by laying on the operated side, but it can be uncomfortable for several weeks or even a couple of months.
I think it helps to understand that the sleeping issues are normal, and get better quite quickly. :)
I tried some suggestions for sleeping on my Side last night, but when I actually go to my side, it wasn't comfortable. My operated hip objected somewhat to this new position, so it was back to the vampire sleep. But, I did get six solid hours of sleep last night, which is really pretty good for so early on. I feel rested today.
Moving from the bed to the recliner or visa versa in the middle of the night was wearing me out. Just too much work. I decided to stay put wherever I am, and that has worked out better.
I think I am having a very normal, though somewhat slow recovery. No real issues to speak of, just plodding along letting my body heal so we can increase the recovery work.
Anniee, it's funny that we think we're making little or no progress sometimes, and yet the people around us are amazed at how fast we are improving.
Thanks for the post and kind wishes.
We've had snow here in Denver, so I haven't been able to walk outside. We'll today's the day. I'm grabbing my ski poles for support and trying to do a little walk in the sun and snow. I'm pretty excited to get out of the house.
Boomer
I have problems sleeping now (pre surgery) and pre hip problems. I take ambien and it works great. Is there any reason you cant take sleep aids post surgery?
I take sleep aids too & my surgeon wrote the prescription. It helps me sleep no end. I guess some people don't like taking them as they can be addictive.
Thanks Kiwi. Not sleeping is horrible, it is good to have a tool. Working/living days with little or no sleep is not good.
I wasn't able to get on either side until I got my staples out. Then I could get on my sides with a pillow in between my legs but I really couldn't get comfortable, but it kept getting better every night. This weekend, at 3 1/2 weeks, I'm finally able to get into my normal comfortable positions on either side. Hang in there everybody, it won't be long until you'll be feeling better at night.
Also, the sweats are almost over for me. It got bad for a while and I had one four tee shirt night but now I'm just changing once. I hope its over soon.
I guess I am in the night sweat club. I actually have been off narcotics for a day and a half but woke up drenched last night. Had to change my top and bottom. What actually causes this sweating? I am very cold by nature especially in the winter.
Quote from: Boomer on December 11, 2011, 09:10:31 AM
I think I am having a very normal, though somewhat slow recovery. No real issues to speak of, just plodding along letting my body heal so we can increase the recovery work.
Anniee, it's funny that we think we're making little or no progress sometimes, and yet the people around us are amazed at how fast we are improving.
.
.
Boomer
Boomer, join the ranks of the type A personalities here. I think you're making good progress at a reasonable clip, it's just hard to have the one thing we all seem to lack and which is critical at this point: Patience.
I know it's hard and will get harder as you become more mobile and the goodness of the HR kicks in, but you have to be patient, follow your instructions and let that hip heal. You're making good progress from my perspective, but I do know how difficult it is when you just want to get up and run.
Hernanu,
You are so right! Did my first walk outside yesterday, only about 200 yards with two walking sticks for support. It felt great! I iced all day afterwards while watching football. Then did my home PT at 6 pm. That also felt great. What a wonderful breakthrough day I thought. Wrong!
Up most of the night with pain in all the muscles around my hip. Sore back. Nothing serious, just my body letting me know it was not happy about getting back in the game. And, I did nothing I shouldn't have done. This is just a very difficult surgery to recover quickly from. So, as you said, better to just understand it will take a long time, and be happy with the incremental progress. I did after all take my first notable walk yesterday. And, I did get through my home PT. That's a good day, regardless of what happened afterwards.
I hear you. My recovery is inching along, but that's just fine. Outpatient PT today. Maybe a shorter walk. Whatever. I'm moving around with just a cane. Appreciate your advice. I agree with you. The biggest problem for people posting on this page is our reluctance to let the recovery happen at it's own pace. We try to speed up the agenda, because pushing the pace is what we do.
Thanks for the post.
Boomer
Boomer-
Hang in there things will get better. We've all had setbacks along the way. One day you feel great and you overdo it only to pay for it over the next day or two. I've done this many times but this is all a learning experience. Also, don't get frustrated if you read other posts where someone is at the same time post surgery as you but are doing more. We all progress at different levels and some of us are worse off than others. My PT said I will have a longer recovery than most because my hip was so bad for so long that the supporting muscles were badly damaged.
You will get there and it def. sounds like you're making great progress. Just think that the pain you're feeling today is your muscles and body getting stronger.
Thanks Pete. I expected a slower recovery because of my age 57, and because my hip was really bad. I'm not frustrated. I keep focussing on the fact that for the first time in a long time, I am getting better every day instead of getting worse. That is the key perspective for me.
I've had great support from family, friends and Hippys like you.
Boomer
Boomer;
Hang in there pal....
Sleep was a problem for the first 4 weeks for me, much better since overall. I've had a couple of small setbacks, both seemingly cold weather related that have screwed up my sleep again, most recently over the weekend. Couple bad nights then it normalizes.
I use the same mantra as you: the day before surgery was the last day this was going to continue to get worse, and each day since has been overall better than that last day with the old hip. It really does continue to improve as a trend, with little ups and down that seem like minor inconveniences given the scope and depth of what I've been throuugh since early October. I feel so good about it, I've scheduled my second surgery (although found myself doubting that as I tossed and turned over the weekend!)
I'm keeping my eye on Feb 2013 when I'll be 12 months out from all post surgery limits...
Best regards,
Dan
Hey Boomer, sorry to hear about the frustration. My guess is that your recovery is not much different from the majority. Slow and frustrating most of the time, but the general theme of posts is more specific and thence more positive. There are lots of specific pains, aches and hurdles that most of us Type A, non-whining, should be doing at least as well as the next guy refuse to bring up in the posting.
I even wrote some of my problems down in a sort of journal for the first two weeks and then lapsed, but I can tell you that I had forgotten almost all of them (except catheter and getting on and off potty) until I reread them. My long-winded point is that few of us have had an exceptional recovery, truth be told, and we all over do, under do and expect too much. The good news is that most seem to catch up in the end. Sleeping well, walking further, limp gone whatever. Just hang in there and take what progress you CAN perceive and relish it. I think you'll find that its still a heck of a lot better than the shizzle you endured before the surgery.
Best for a "funner" recovery,
Curt
I am creeping along, making progress and overcoming each obstacle as they arise, just like the rest of you Hippys did. My physical therapist is pleased with my range of motion and stength, which is had to believe considering I have neither at this point.
Today the PT warned me about the Delayed Reaction pain coming my way from the therapy. Nice.
I'm a happy Hippy. The hip doesn't hurt. I'm off the pain killers except for after PT to fight off the dreaded DelayedvReaction pain! I've even gotten used to my wife injecting me every evening.
Please stop mentioning the catheter. That is my nightmare. Nothing hurt worse. The whole idea is barbaric, cruel and inhuman. There simply has to be a better way.
Thanks for posting. I'm doing fine. Drank a toast of Langavulin to Woodstock Hippynyesterdatvto celebrate his fine check up and release from restrictions. Life is good.
How you doing?
Boomer
Couldn't agree with you more Curt. I thought I was cruising along pretty well to begin with - a very uneventful first two weeks apart from severe fatigue. Walking long distances (900m in first week) & around the house with one crutch in the first week. I actually started to back off posts as I felt like I was bragging.
Then I get clunking / clicking, swelling & pain just after weektwo, then yesterday massive spasms, more swelling, soreness all around incision & upper leg. My muscles are angry with me & I need to back off everything for a couple of days yet again.
Some days I feel like I'm going backwards & get frustrated. The one thing I keep reminding myself is; where's that horrible arthritus pain that used to floor me? It's gone.... yeah it's frickin gone!
It's early days & in the echo of many - "Take it easy" - "Listen to your body" - "Build up slowly" - "Let it settle".
If only we were aal that patient!
You're not alone Boomer!
Simon
There are things that I still can't do. Luckily, there seems to be an ever-increasing set of things that I can. I can reach my foot, I can walk with virtually no limp, roll over at night without thinking about it (too much) and after 10 weeks, I can work at my job again without being in serious pain when walking or sitting.
I still cannot move my knee too far over center without feeling like I'm at the "edge" of hurting the joint. I cannot turn left when walking without feeling like my leg is swinging through the turn. I'm still weak at abduction and use my arms when standing up.
When I got the surgery, I was excited by a lot of posts and testimonials of those that were very active soon after surgery. People doing Ironmans, marathons, blah, blah and blah. It didn't take me long after my surgery to refocus my goals on the basics: walking, sleeping and most importantly being pain free from that friggin' OA. Those are goals that I can live with for now, and after 10 weeks I'm mostly there. Slower than I had hoped, and certainly isn't on par with getting a number and a timing chip and starting training, but I get pretty excited when I think how far I really have come in 2 1/2 months.
Lets face it, when early successes revolve around getting off meds, taking stairs foot over foot and using the toilet like a normal person, maybe its OK to let the really big physical improvements come when they come. I'm extremely grateful for the level of activity I can do NOW, especially compared to where I was before surgery. I can't wait to see where I'll be a year from now. Hang in there Boom.
Curt