SLEEPING ON MY BACK???

hileena111

Hi all :?
Have you any suggestions about sleeping position?
I had a knee replacement last August. For a long time I couldn't sleep on either side [I'm a side sleeper]
Then at the beginning of the year I had an operation on my right shoulder, pins plate screws etc.......so that was me still sleeping on my back. A few weeks later I had to go back in again and have a complete replacement on that shoulder. Its now October [almost a year later] and I'm still on my back. I cant find any way to get comfortable. Wake up every morning very sore ..... both shoulders and my back........different places each day

I'm so miserable and weepy every day and its because I'm not getting any sleep. That's why I haven't been on here for ages. Any tips would be welcome

Love
Hileena

[Deleted User]

Hileena It is nice to see you returning to us and I am sorry it is to ask for help.

You have certainly had a difficult year and I do hope it only gets better. Sleep is very important to us in the aid of recovery and I can understand how you must be feeling.

Perhaps you could speak to your physio about ideas and perhaps some form of equipment like certain pads and protecters, I know when I had my knee done I slept with a pillow between my legs, but that isn't for everyone. My late mother in law was in a car accident a number of years ago and broke her collar bone, she stayed with us until she was better, she ended up sleeping sat up on our sofa, I am not suggesting that is the answer and I am sure you have tried every which way.

Hileena I do hope you find a solution, you have certainly come to the right place for support and I am sure there will be someone on the forum that could perhaps direct you or give you some other ideas.

with love

D X

hileena111

Hi
Thanks for your help. I no longer have a physio. Originally I had a few weeks of physio for my shoulder. Then she said that was as much as she could do, just go home and continue the exercises
Then I had another few weeks of physio for my leg. They said that any pain I was having was referred pain from either my hip or spine and I've got a referral to see the spinal surgeon. BUT and there is a big BUT.....later I rang to get a rough idea when I might get an appointment........I was told February or March!!!!!! :shock: :shock:

As for sitting up sleeping. I'm more or less doing that now only in bed. I have loads of pillows behind me to keep me almost upright. I still waken up sore.

I don't think you can self refer to a physio?? You can to an OT so what you said made me think about that. I'm friendly with the head OT. I'm a volunteer for our arthritis care branch and one time she caught me when I was filling up stands with leaflets and said she was doing a course and was nearly at the end of it and would I come and give a talk on arthritis care. I might get in touch with her.

Love
Hileena

stickywicket

Have you actually been told you must still sleep on your back? ARUK (My 'go to' site) was unforthcoming on this but I found a site, albeit an untested one, which seems to assume you will soon sleep however is most comfortable for you:

“If you sleep on your side, sleep on your uninjured arm and stack pillows behind you to keep you from rolling in the night. You can also use pillows to prop your surgery side into a more comfortable position in front of you.”
http://orcaak.com/how-to-sleep-after-shoulder-surgery/

Have you PM'd frogmorton for advice? I know Lucy has made an excellent recovery from her shoulder replacement and I'm sure frog would be very happy to give tips.

As for physio – you can certainly self-refer to a private one. Mr SW has just done that as there was a long wait for an NHS one. He's doing his exercises and feeling much better. Although one bit has got better with them and another worse she was able to explain to him why this was so and give him more exercises for the 'worse' bit. It has only taken two sessions so not too expensive.

hileena111

Hi Sticky
Thanks for your reply. I haven't pm'd Toni recently but I do know how well Lucy recovered from her operation. I will pm her later Thanks
Oh no I haven't been told I HAVE to sleep on my back. Its simply that I CANT sleep on my side.
Do you remember about 4 years ago I had my second THR and I was doing their exercises. One of them was abducting my left leg. At that time I had been told I had osteopina but nothing else. I was just told to use life changes and that was it...no tables....thank goodness Just forget about it. Anyway that exercise I was doing one day and there was a loud crack and my leg gave way. I was taken to hospital and told that I had fractured my greater trochanter bone, they gave me crutches and exercises and said I would be on crutches permanently. A bit later I saw the consultant that has done all my replacements and he said I would probably never walk without them again. That was 4 years ago. I was OK......I was walking with them driving my car etc and thins were fine. It is on the Left side , replaced shoulder was on Right side. So Sleep on the shoulder, it hurts, sleep on the fracture side and it hurts :?
So...........I'll re read your pillows and try that again. I will check your link....thanks. I'm going out now so it will be this evening.
I'd forgotten about a private physio.
So thanks for your advice

Love
Hileena

Slosh

Consistent lack of sleep is awful. I can't sleep on my back at all and have a lot of pain in both shoulders and arms so getting comfy is very challenging. I spoke to my GP and he prescribed an antihistamine to help as it is one that causes drowsiness. I still have the odd sleepless night when I've been doing too much but it has helped a lot.
Hope you find a solution soon.

barbara12

Hi Hileena
I feel for you ,what with all the ops you have had and in such a short time... ..think I have already suggested the body pillow or you have one..and you cant take certain meds..but you do need something to help you sleep..it helps with healing and how you feel in yourself..wish I could help more...xx

hileena111

Hi Slosh
I was at the GP's today [for something else] I did mention it to her and how it affected me during the day. She smiled and nodded and that was about it :roll

Hi Barbara

Yes I think you have mentioned the body pillow before and I do have one and it didn't seem to help but I will get it out again .....ifI can remember where it is If its in the loft....no chance until I can get Peter to try to get it for me

Love

Hileena

TheLordFlasheart

I only have my knee to keep me awake at night, and before I (and still do)started on amitriptyline, I sleep on my left side with a pillow between my legs.

How about trying something similar, like stickywicket suggested.

It's bad when you cannot get a good nights sleep, as you feel all cranky in the morning, and if like me not in best mood either. Not to mention you feel drained throughout the day.

hileena111

Hi
Thanks I am going to try all the tips. You are right about what you are like in the morning. I am moody or I'm weepy. When I'm weepy it takes nothing to make me cry. So any tips are welcome.

Love
Hileena

dibdab

Hi Hileena, losing sleep is grim, sending hugs ((((( )))))).
When I struggle with sleep, particularly when I fractured my collar bone, I sometimes resort to sleeping in my recliner chair with cushions to prop the sorest parts.

Deb x

hileena111

Hi Deb

I do wish I had a recliner or even room for one if I did have it

Thanks

Love
Hileena

stickywicket

Hileena, if it might help, make room for one. Chuck something else out. Your health is the important thing.

hileena111

Hi Sticky
Are they not expensive? Its not log ago that we bought a piece suite.

Love
Hileena

Slosh

My recliner chair was from a specialist company three years ago, I was " measured up" for it by an OT who also made reccomendations about what would be best for me. The company came to my house with a chair and a choice of back styles so I could try them out and see what suited me best. It cost about £1300 but was well worth it and the build quality is excellent. Worth every penny and great after purchase support too, this year it started to make a noise when reclining, I phoned the company, they came out, serviced it and said they continue to do this free of charge while I have the chair.

stickywicket

Slosh is very wise to get things done properly but my perfectly acceptable one cost £80 second hand. There are good, new recliners for less than £200. .

dreamdaisy

Restful restorative sleep is a thing of the past. I wake up tired and go to bed tired. Hey-ho. Pain does that and, although medicated sleep is an option, I think I take enough with the biologic, DMARD, occasional NSAID, BP meds (needed thanks to the others) and pain relief.

I don't think there is a secret to Lucy's recovery: she was aided by the energy of youth and a very wise head after experiencing and surviving leukaemia (the treatment for which necessitated the shoulder replacement). I was fortunate in that I broke my left shoulder (I am a right side sleeper) but even so it took a good few months before I could lie comfortably on my preferred side. In the meantime I used the armchair pillow arrangement - here goes trying to explain it!

You need four pillows, I preferred them to be on the firmer side. Lie one in the usual position against the headboard, then place two more lengthways, side-by-side, to cover the first pillow and give it 'legs' (think Stonehenge but with the cross-beam resting under the two pillows). Place the fourth pillow as the first. This gently raises your upper back and head but supports the shoulders. DD

dibdab

Hileena my recliner came with our 3 piece suite3 years ago, we went to a small company that makes suites to order, we chose the style, fabric etc and tweeked to suit ourselves-I was chatting to the proprietor about my RA and she suggested building in a riser too, so it was is ready for if and when I need help to get out of the chair (I have to confess my mum finds it really useful when she comes over). I seem to recall it cost around £350 as part of the suite and is my go to space to rest. I nag the rest of the family if they get to it first :? .....and they know to select an alternative!!! Our little dog finds it perfect for sitting on to watch the comings and goings outside, she is less ready to move over!

I think if you can find a reasonably priced one it may be a good investment, but don't rush in to anything.

DD ,I also build a kind of cocoon with 4 pillows in bed, and hubby just has to move over and accommodate the pillow mountain!

Deb x

dreamdaisy

Returning to two (one under my head and one under/between my legs) was a joy and hard-earned, the accident was January 2014, it was May by the time my body allowed it. Everything involved in recuperating after an operation is about time, it's something that cannot be rushed.

I regret now not exploring a recliner option when we moved to No.10, it was my second (and I suspect final) opportunity to choose a new suite so a basic error on my part. I wish there was a way to convert our armchairs into recliners!

Sorry, Hileena, I've wandered off-topic. Sleeping on one's back is not comfortable but hopefully as things heal, and your muscles strengthen with the physio-prescribed exercises, getting more comfortable will become easier. To this day I still do my shoulder post-break ROM exercises to keep the joint as mobile as possible, along with the knee and Achilles tendonitis ones, and will do until my end: I feel things tightening if I miss a couple of days, it isn't worth it. DD