Re: More about Sleeping on your Back

[Guest guest]

I slept on my back in a recliner for a little over a week. Couldn't get comfortable in a bed. I slept on my operated side after about 4 weeks. I'm at 6 weeks now and sleep on it all the time. I used a long pillow between my legs when laying on my side and under my knees when on my back. Good luck!

Pops

More about Sleeping on your Back

How long do you have to sleep on your back after THR? When can you sleep on your operated on side?I do not believe it is necessary to get a hospital bed at home (have been through this before when I initially broke my hip). However, I did get a bolster pillow like my massage therapist uses for under my knees. She is also getting me a wedge-shaped pillow. Just a thought for others.

[Guest guest]

You ask: " How long do you have to sleep on your back after THR? When

can you sleep on your operated on side? "

Basically you " have " to sleep on your back as long as you haven't yet

figured out how to get rolled over on your side and have convinced

yourself that it's safe to do so. When you are ready to roll over on

your side, put a bed pillow the long way between your knees and feet,

squeeze the pillow with your legs, and " logroll " your whole body.

It's good to have something to hold onto as you get into or out of

the side position - the edge of the bed might do.

I've had both hips replaced, (not at the same time). For the first

one I tried to " obey " all the OS prescriptions including the one

where I use the abduction pillow while sleeping on my back for 6

weeks. Ha! That prescription is predicated on the assumption that

if you don't use it you will thrash all over the bed and something

really bad will happen such as dislocating your hip. After about two

weeks of not sleeping much and pretty much going nuts, I finally got

the nerve to roll over on my unoperated side with a big pillow

between knees. Wonder of wonders, I could do it, practice makes

perfect. However, it sort of hurt to lie on the operated side for

about 3 months - lying on the incision that may remain a bit

sensitive for awhile.

Then I had my other hip replaced and I used the torture device only

about a week after I got home, then switched to big fat pillow.

That, plus I rolled onto my good side with the abd. pillow in place -

it is possible to do this, they did it in the hospital too and it was

a great relief. I would do this for about an hour every night and it

really helped. I actually got some sleep each night after the second

hip.

Key here is keeping your hips abducted, you legs perfectly parallel

and not twisted in any way and not allowing the operated leg to cross

midline of the body or to internally rotate. That means you must

have enough thickness of pillows between your legs from knees to

feet. I didn't feel I was in much danger there since I was already

used to using the pillow even before surgery because I couldn't sleep

any other way.

Of course I don't recommend that anyone disregard their doctor's

orders re: use of abduction pillow. I'm merely describing my own

transgressions and venturing an uneducated guess that I am not the

only hippie who cheated a bit! How about it folks - how many of you

actually slept using the abduction pillow every night for the

prescribed time?

[Guest guest]

Fortunately, I've trained myself not to move around much in my sleep

so I don't have to worry about thrashing about. What's an abduction

pillow? I have my two-hour pre-surgical class on Monday, so don't

know all the terminology yet!

> You ask: " How long do you have to sleep on your back after THR?

When

> can you sleep on your operated on side? "

>

> Basically you " have " to sleep on your back as long as you haven't

yet

> figured out how to get rolled over on your side and have convinced

> yourself that it's safe to do so. When you are ready to roll over

on

> your side, put a bed pillow the long way between your knees and

feet,

> squeeze the pillow with your legs, and " logroll " your whole body.

> It's good to have something to hold onto as you get into or out of

> the side position - the edge of the bed might do.

>

> I've had both hips replaced, (not at the same time). For the

first

> one I tried to " obey " all the OS prescriptions including the one

> where I use the abduction pillow while sleeping on my back for 6

> weeks. Ha! That prescription is predicated on the assumption that

> if you don't use it you will thrash all over the bed and something

> really bad will happen such as dislocating your hip. After about

two

> weeks of not sleeping much and pretty much going nuts, I finally

got

> the nerve to roll over on my unoperated side with a big pillow

> between knees. Wonder of wonders, I could do it, practice makes

> perfect. However, it sort of hurt to lie on the operated side for

> about 3 months - lying on the incision that may remain a bit

> sensitive for awhile.

>

> Then I had my other hip replaced and I used the torture device

only

> about a week after I got home, then switched to big fat pillow.

> That, plus I rolled onto my good side with the abd. pillow in

place -

> it is possible to do this, they did it in the hospital too and it

was

> a great relief. I would do this for about an hour every night and

it

> really helped. I actually got some sleep each night after the

second

> hip.

>

> Key here is keeping your hips abducted, you legs perfectly parallel

> and not twisted in any way and not allowing the operated leg to

cross

> midline of the body or to internally rotate. That means you must

> have enough thickness of pillows between your legs from knees to

> feet. I didn't feel I was in much danger there since I was already

> used to using the pillow even before surgery because I couldn't

sleep

> any other way.

>

> Of course I don't recommend that anyone disregard their doctor's

> orders re: use of abduction pillow. I'm merely describing my own

> transgressions and venturing an uneducated guess that I am not the

> only hippie who cheated a bit! How about it folks - how many of

you

> actually slept using the abduction pillow every night for the

> prescribed time?

[Guest guest]

I never used the abduction pillow. Left it at the hospital. Some nice down filled filled pillows worked great for me.

Pops

Re: More about Sleeping on your Back

You ask: "How long do you have to sleep on your back after THR? When can you sleep on your operated on side?"Basically you "have" to sleep on your back as long as you haven't yet figured out how to get rolled over on your side and have convinced yourself that it's safe to do so. When you are ready to roll over on your side, put a bed pillow the long way between your knees and feet, squeeze the pillow with your legs, and "logroll" your whole body. It's good to have something to hold onto as you get into or out of the side position - the edge of the bed might do. I've had both hips replaced, (not at the same time). For the first one I tried to "obey" all the OS prescriptions including the one where I use the abduction pillow while sleeping on my back for 6 weeks. Ha! That prescription is predicated on the assumption that if you don't use it you will thrash all over the bed and something really bad will happen such as dislocating your hip. After about two weeks of not sleeping much and pretty much going nuts, I finally got the nerve to roll over on my unoperated side with a big pillow between knees. Wonder of wonders, I could do it, practice makes perfect. However, it sort of hurt to lie on the operated side for about 3 months - lying on the incision that may remain a bit sensitive for awhile. Then I had my other hip replaced and I used the torture device only about a week after I got home, then switched to big fat pillow. That, plus I rolled onto my good side with the abd. pillow in place - it is possible to do this, they did it in the hospital too and it was a great relief. I would do this for about an hour every night and it really helped. I actually got some sleep each night after the second hip. Key here is keeping your hips abducted, you legs perfectly parallel and not twisted in any way and not allowing the operated leg to cross midline of the body or to internally rotate. That means you must have enough thickness of pillows between your legs from knees to feet. I didn't feel I was in much danger there since I was already used to using the pillow even before surgery because I couldn't sleep any other way.Of course I don't recommend that anyone disregard their doctor's orders re: use of abduction pillow. I'm merely describing my own transgressions and venturing an uneducated guess that I am not the only hippie who cheated a bit! How about it folks - how many of you actually slept using the abduction pillow every night for the prescribed time?

[Guest guest]

You know I hated that thing two, I only

used it while in the hospital to avoid getting yelled at heh. As you might

guess I get yelled at a lot, was up and out of bed the day after the first side

was done wanting to go outside and take a shower. Its just that I felt SO much

better I wanted to get up and get going. I was on a walker a week after, until

that made me insane, then on crutch’s for another week, those made me

nuts, moved to a cane, well you guessed it but that was because I just couldn’t

figure out how to use the thing without darn near tripping over it. So a month

or so post op I was off of everything.

Tiffinee

From: treprice2000

[mailto:treprice2000@...]

Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003

12:25 PM

Joint Replacement

Subject:

Re: More about Sleeping on your Back

You ask: " How long do you have to sleep on your back after

THR? When

can you sleep on your operated on side? "

Basically you " have " to sleep on your

back as long as you haven't yet

figured out how to get rolled over on your side

and have convinced

yourself that it's safe to do so. When you

are ready to roll over on

your side, put a bed pillow the long way between

your knees and feet,

squeeze the pillow with your legs, and

" logroll " your whole body.

It's good to have something to hold onto as you

get into or out of

the side position - the edge of the bed might

do.

I've had both hips replaced, (not at the same

time). For the first

one I tried to " obey " all the OS

prescriptions including the one

where I use the abduction pillow while sleeping on

my back for 6

weeks. Ha! That prescription is

predicated on the assumption that

if you don't use it you will thrash all over the

bed and something

really bad will happen such as dislocating your

hip. After about two

weeks of not sleeping much and pretty much going

nuts, I finally got

the nerve to roll over on my unoperated side with

a big pillow

between knees. Wonder of wonders, I could do

it, practice makes

perfect. However, it sort of hurt to lie on

the operated side for

about 3 months - lying on the incision that may

remain a bit

sensitive for awhile.

Then I had my other hip replaced and I used

the torture device only

about a week after I got home, then switched to

big fat pillow.

That, plus I rolled onto my good side with the

abd. pillow in place -

it is possible to do this, they did it in the

hospital too and it was

a great relief. I would do this for about an

hour every night and it

really helped. I actually got some sleep

each night after the second

hip.

Key here is keeping your hips abducted, you legs

perfectly parallel

and not twisted in any way and not allowing the

operated leg to cross

midline of the body or to internally rotate.

That means you must

have enough thickness of pillows between your legs

from knees to

feet. I didn't feel I was in much danger

there since I was already

used to using the pillow even before surgery

because I couldn't sleep

any other way.

Of course I don't recommend that anyone disregard

their doctor's

orders re: use of abduction pillow. I'm

merely describing my own

transgressions and venturing an uneducated guess

that I am not the

only hippie who cheated a bit! How about it

folks - how many of you

actually slept using the abduction pillow every

night for the

prescribed time?

[Guest guest]

I did EVERYTHING per the docs instructions. My wife told him that I'm

the poster child for following Doctors orders. At the pre-op THR

familiarization class one of the nurses said something like, " If you

enjoy being a risk-taker you will probably have more problems than if

you follow the Dortor's orders " . I believed her.

But I also got hooked on the pillow between the knees, still doing it

7 months later.

> I'm merely describing my own

> transgressions and venturing an uneducated guess that I am not the

> only hippie who cheated a bit! How about it folks - how many of you

> actually slept using the abduction pillow every night for the

> prescribed time?

[Guest guest]

Re: Re: More about Sleeping on your Back

I did EVERYTHING per the docs instructions. My wife told him that I'mthe poster child for following Doctors orders. At the pre-op THRfamiliarization class one of the nurses said something like, "If youenjoy being a risk-taker you will probably have more problems than ifyou follow the Dortor's orders". I believed her.But I also got hooked on the pillow between the knees, still doing it7 months later.> I'm merely describing my own> transgressions and venturing an uneducated guess that I am not the> only hippie who cheated a bit! How about it folks - how many of you> actually slept using the abduction pillow every night for the> prescribed time?I still sleep with a pillow between my legs after over 7 months. I believe that you only hurt yourself if you don't follow the rules. I sure don't want to mess up and have to have it done over.

[Guest guest]

You can use pillows between your knees to sleep on your side, bending

your knees to 90 but not beyond. You can also buy a wedge cushion to

use under your head to elevate your upper body however don't forget

to spend some time stretch out the hip flexors by standing tall or

laying flat...

Alisa, Site Moderator

[Guest guest]

I HAVE FOUND TREMENDOUS HELP AND COMFORT WITH MY CONTOUR BED. I ALSO HAVE SPINAL STENOSIS, AS WELL AS THR WITH TWO TKRs COMING UP. I WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND A CONTOUR BED FOR YOUR MOM. IT MADE A REAL PERSON OF ME AGAIN AT AGE 71.

MARGE

How wonderful are the

things the Lord does!

my mom had second hip replaced dec 9th--she hates nights ..follows doc orders..cannot get comfortable..also has back pain..spinal stenosis..some relief with tens unit...any more suggestions?

jan

[Guest guest]

I tried for a few nights at the rehab hospital, and finally tossed it.

Never slept with any pillow between my legs while on my back.

However, faithfully adhering to rules while on my side.

anna

> I did EVERYTHING per the docs instructions. My wife told him that

I'm

> the poster child for following Doctors orders. At the pre-op THR

> familiarization class one of the nurses said something like, " If you

> enjoy being a risk-taker you will probably have more problems than

if

> you follow the Dortor's orders " . I believed her.

> But I also got hooked on the pillow between the knees, still doing

it

> 7 months later.

>

> > I'm merely describing my own

> > transgressions and venturing an uneducated guess that I am not the

> > only hippie who cheated a bit! How about it folks - how many of

you

> > actually slept using the abduction pillow every night for the

> > prescribed time?