Sleep is an important part of the healing process after any major surgery. However, one of the most common complaints we hear after someone has a total hip replacement is about difficulty or trouble sleeping. Whether you’re unable to sleep in the position you’re used to or you wake up with pain, the issue likely contributes to restless nights. Also, for several weeks after your surgery, you’ll need to take extra precautions when you go to bed to avoid dislocation.
To ensure you get some crucial shut-eye, in this post, we’ll discuss some tips on how to sleep after you’ve had total hip replacement surgery.
Follow Your Pain Management Plan
Before you’re discharged after your surgery, your doctor will lay out a pain management plan. Appropriate pain management protocols, such as narcotic medications and anti-inflammatories, can help inhibit pain and discomfort experienced after total hip replacement. You’ll need to follow your doctor’s prescribed plan for several weeks after surgery. Doing so will help you sleep along with contributing greatly to your recovery.
Getting in Bed After Hip Replacement
To ensure you don’t cause further injury to your hip, be careful when you’re getting into and out of bed. To safely get in bed, you’ll need to:
- Use your walking aid and back up until you feel your bed behind you.
- Sit on the edge of your bed while extending the leg which received the hip replacement.
- Support yourself using your arms and scoot your bottom back.
- Bring one leg at a time up onto the bed.
- Position yourself in a safe sleeping position.
Getting Out of Bed After Hip Replacement
When you’re ready to get out of bed, follow these steps:
- Remove all sheets and pillows.
- Bend the leg that didn’t receive the hip replacement, and use your elbows to support yourself.
- Slide your bottom until you’re near the edge of the bed.
- Using your elbows and hands, push yourself up from a semi-lying position.
- Gently slide your hips and legs over to the edge of your bed and swing your body around to sit up.
- Extend the affected leg, and use your stronger leg for support as you stand.
Best Sleeping Positions After Total Hip Replacement
The best position to sleep in after total hip replacement is on your back with a pillow between your legs. You can also sleep on your non-operative side with two pillows lined between your legs. When you’re sleeping on your back, make sure you don’t cross your ankles or legs. When you’re sleeping on your side, avoid bending your knees.
Here are a few other tips to ensure you have a safe night’s rest:
- Use pillows between your knees, ensuring that one is supporting your foot if you’re lying on your side.
- Avoid putting pillows under your knees as you sleep.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
- Sleep on a firm mattress or bed.
- Change positions if you become uncomfortable.
- Avoid turning or twisting your leg or toes inward in any way.
- Do not cross your legs or ankles.
How Long Until You Can Sleep Normally?
It’s best to avoid sleeping on your affected side for at least six weeks. After your doctor gives you the go-ahead, listen to your body, and only lie on your operative side when you feel comfortable.
Contact OrthoBethesda to Learn More About Total Hip Replacement
If you’d like tofind out more about total hip replacement surgeryin the Bethesda, Maryland area, we invite you tocontact OrthoBethesda todayto schedule an appointment. You can also call us at (301) 530-1010.
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FAQs
Do NOT sleep in a recliner. Your hip will get stiff in a flexed position and be harder to straighten out.
Is it better to sleep in a bed or in a recliner after hip surgery? ›
Do NOT sleep in a recliner. Your hip will get stiff in a flexed position and be harder to straighten out.
How long do I have to sleep on my back after hip replacement? ›
Sleeping. For the first 6 weeks after your operation, you are advised to sleep on your back. (Please note you do not need to lie flat, use plenty pillows) placing a pillow between your legs helps you to stay in this position and prevents rolling over.
Can I sleep with my legs bent after hip replacement? ›
Best Sleeping Positions After Total Hip Replacement
You can also sleep on your non-operative side with two pillows lined between your legs. When you're sleeping on your back, make sure you don't cross your ankles or legs. When you're sleeping on your side, avoid bending your knees.
Why is it so hard to sleep after hip surgery? ›
It's common to have trouble sleeping because of pain. One of the most common complaints after total joint replacement is difficulty sleeping. The most common cause of sleep disruption is pain. It has been reported that more than half of patients wake up with pain after joint replacement.
Why can't you sit in a recliner after hip replacement? ›
Recliners and sofas are not recommended after your knee or hip replacement because they are not supportive, difficult to get out of and can limit range of motion. Straight back chairs with arm rests are suggested for safety.
When can I bend to put socks on after hip replacement? ›
You should not bend your hip beyond 60 to 90 degrees for the first six to 12 weeks after surgery. Do not cross your legs or ankles, either. It's best to avoid bending to pick things up during this period.
What hurts the most after hip replacement surgery? ›
You can expect to experience some discomfort in the hip region itself, as well as groin pain and thigh pain. This is normal as your body adjusts to changes made to joints in that area. There can also be pain in the thigh and knee that is typically associated with a change in the length of your leg.
What can you never do after a hip replacement? ›
The Don'ts
- Don't cross your legs at the knees for at least 6 to 8 weeks.
- Don't bring your knee up higher than your hip.
- Don't lean forward while sitting or as you sit down.
- Don't try to pick up something on the floor while you are sitting.
- Don't turn your feet excessively inward or outward when you bend down.
I typically recommend avoidance of bending the hip more than around 90 degrees (a right angle) for the first six weeks and 130 degrees (a six-inch gap or less between the knee and the chest) thereafter.
The bone of the socket (acetabulum) is machined down to remove any remaining arthritis and cartilage. A porous metal cup is placed into the socket. Eventually, your bone will grow into the metal so that it becomes part of you, a process that typically takes 2-3 months.
What are the three rules after hip replacement? ›
Some general rules for any activity you do are:
- Do not cross your legs or ankles when you are sitting, standing, or lying down.
- Do not bend too far forward from your waist or pull your leg up past your waist. This bending is called hip flexion. Avoid hip flexion greater than 90 degrees (a right angle).
It's important to follow these sleeping precautions for 6 to 12 weeks after surgery, depending on your health and personal recovery. The best sleeping position for your hip is to lie on your back with a pillow between your legs.
How long do you have to wear an abduction pillow after hip replacement? ›
Two of the most common surgeries in which patients find themselves using a hip abduction pillow for healing are total hip replacement and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Depending on the type of surgery you have undergone, hip precautions may be standard, lasting 6 weeks, or extreme, lasting a lifetime.
Is it better to sleep in a recliner or a bed after back surgery? ›
Similarly, sleeping in a recliner after certain abdominal or back surgeries may be recommended by healthcare specialists. The inclined position can help to speed up healing by reducing strain on incisions.
Should you sleep in a recliner after surgery? ›
Conclusion: Personal Choice and Comfort
While a recliner is an option, it's not a necessity. The method of sleeping in your bed with the support of pillows often proves to be the most effective and comfortable, making the recovery process less painful and more manageable.
