Lack of sleeping post hip operation

Hello CardiGranma - there's a few insomniacs that go onto the overnight thread here, so you're not alone in the exhausting cycle of non sleeping. We have different recommendations for aiding sleep.

I have found Valerian tablets very helpful, they're herbal and non-addictive. I'm sure lots of others will be here soon with different useful ideas and tips.

I hope you recover from your operation soon

Hi CardiG. having had a hip & knee, I am well aware of your sleep problems.

Two things, firstly don't worry about sleeping at night, if you can cat nap a few hours here and there you will be fine, don't get worried that you can't sleep as normal,. give it a few weeks and you will be sleeping through gain.

Secondly, I found music helped me, I used my MP£ player with headphones so I didn't wake my partner, the music took my mind off the discomfort and I drifted off most times

First of all you must find a comfortable sleeping position for your new hip and at present that is flat on your back with a couple of pillows between your legs. Are you comfortable normally sleeping with a couple of pillows behind your head?

How long were you told to continue sleeping lying on your back? When you can sleep on your side you must still sleep with a couple of pillows between your knees. It is flexion and internal rotation of the operated limb which can dislocate your hip.

2 hours nap during the day + an extra early night would put me off having a decent night's sleep.

Good luck

A doctor once gave me the tip of taking antihistamine tablets for a few nights to get back into a sleeping rhythm. Just make sure you don't buy the non-drowsy type! It worked for me.

All the best, hope sleep finds you again. x

My DH had major problems being unable to sleep and he now listens to audio books which he gets from the local library. They are available in Download, CDs and some old style tapes. He listens to them every night (via earphones) and invariably drifts off to sleep after a few chapters.

As Grannyknot suggested, you could try taking an antihistamine tablet. I've tried this and it works well for me if taken an hour before bedtime.

Good luck, I hope something works for you.

I keep my radio by the bed and if I can't sleep I put in my earphones and listen to the BBC World Service. It is usually quite boring so I soon drop off! You may well prefer to listen to music or a story, as others have suggested.

You say you had your op privately so you should have easy access to the staff of the ward you were on. Why not phone them up (ask for the sister or a senior nurse) and tell them of your problem. They may be able to get something prescribed for you.

My friend had her hips done 2 within a month and she had sleep problems for about 3 months after the last op. She tried all the above remedies, repeatedly asking her GP for advice and it seems that nothing can help, she used to get up at four and have a cuppa, watch tv or read and then go back to bed and sleep for a while. However a year later she is fine, its just something you have to get used to, your hips will settle down, you do need to use pillows at night to support your legs and back (she had a bad back due to the pressure of lying on her back all the time). She started going walking with me as I had had my op just about the same time and she found this helped, we would just walk a short distance at first and by three months she could walk a good way. Good luck

CardiGrandma - did they give you sleeping tablets while in hospital? If so, it takes some time to get back into a normal sleep pattern afterwards.
I had them while in hospital, and a lower dose when I went home.
Good idea from ethel about walking - try to be more active during the day, a little bit at a time.

I found that downloading lots of samples of books on my Kindle helped as I didn't want to get into a whole book. The pain woke me up and so I would wait for another painkiller to kick in and read something short. I also found it not very sensible to be in the same bed as DH as I woke him up wandering around like Blind Pew tapping away with my stick. Also any lying in bed awake was an opportunity to do the cluttock benching and knee stretches. Again best not in the same bed as DH as I didn't want to wake him up.
I found codeine made me very sleepy so I was happy to take as much as they prescribed although DH was a bit anxious that I might become addicted but that didn't happen although I take an occasional Paramol now when I think I'm going to be stretched with more than normal walking.
I refused to nap in the day but put my feet up every afternoon to keep any swelling down. If I did sleep in the day I had very little hope of a decent night. I get six to seven hours now but in two sections. It's taken six months. I found Charleygirl's advice very helpful also the fact that Jaineainsworth's husband couldn't cut his toenails after six months although he was walking long distances strangely encouraging

I am on the waiting list for a TKR and admit to getting scared by some of these posts but more by making the mistake of going on a website and the experiences on there were horrendous. I know " no pain no gain" and I really want to be free of the pain I am in currently but am I being too pessimistic?

I woke up after my hip replacement pain free after waiting in awful pain for 22 months (17 years ago) No pain whilst recovering at all.
Don't believe all you hear, I recently had a bunion done, which Google said would be agony, and had no pain at all.

I had a new hip on 3.5.17. All went well and am better each day. My question is will I ever be able to take a bath again. I have visions of being unable to climb out.
Any advice out there would be most appreciated. Thanks.

I have a 13 yr old hip replacement and one that is 5 wks old and I never was able to bath comfortably after my first hip surgery so we got rid of the bath and put in a walk in shower. But everyone's recovery is different so you may be more flexible only time will tell.
It might be an idea to start a new thread as this one is a year old.