Ensuring I sleep on my back

Lotsofpain

I am told that if I have a hip replacement - a real possibility - I'll have to sleep on my back. I almost always sleep on my side. How on eartth willI I ensure I sleep on my back

dreamdaisy

If you want the hip replacement to work as it should you will do it. It may be for only for a comparatively short period of time, and you won't sleep as well as you usually do, but you will do it because you will be aware you have had surgery.

Sudden though; do you have a recliner? Sleeping in that might be a short-term answer but I am not an OT or specialist of any kind. DD

dibdab

It's problematic but doable. I'm recovering from a slipped disc and have been sleeping on my back for 2 months, I put a pillow either side of myself in bed to stop me rolling over.....takes up a lot of bed but hubby puts up with it! As DD said I have a decent recliner chair that goes almost flat and have been known to hunker down in it over night.
When mum had a hip replacement last year she was told to sleuths a pillow between her knees length ways to stop her rolling over.
I find a v pillow useful when lying on my back, it saves trying to lie flat and somehow gives support as you sleep.

Hope all goes well for you. Debxx

stickywicket

I think we all hate the 'back sleeping' after a THR but we all learn to cope. As the others have said, careful positioning of pillows will ensure you don't turn onto your side accidentally. It's only for about 6 weeks. Then you'll be told how to, carefully, resume side sleeping.

Lotsofpain

Thanks for the replies will the (hopefully) attached image of a head pillow help me to stay on my back when I am asleep

Lotsofpain

with image

dreamdaisy

I cannot see how that will stop you turning over. Are you still able to move and turn without waking up? I remain of the opinion, based on my post-op experiences, that post-surgery you will be very conscious of not moving as you shouldn't and probably won't sleep naturally deeply for some time. DD