👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees Part 5 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

You will have done your first week tomorrow Grammargran, well done but it’s still very early days.
It is going to be good soon, honestly, but fir now be a patient patient.
If you have any questions you know where we are. Always here to help.

I’m so glad I posted and that folk have been kind enough to respond. The other thing I forgot to mention is that I am a natural born fidget so having one limb completely immobile is frustrating in itself. Still, every cloud has a silver lining and DH is enjoying blissfully quiet nights at the moment as I am able to gnash my teeth in silence. (I do thresh around with the other leg, though ….

Interesting because I also found sleeping on my side awkward after 6 weeks on my back. It took a while to get back into the usual rhythm of side sleeping.

I was told to sleep on my back for 6 weeks after my hip replacement operation. Eventually I got used to it, and even after about 8 weeks found sleeping on either side very uncomfortable. I had the other hip replaced 9 days ago and am sleeping on my back again. I also have osteoporosis in my spine, and have had two compression fractures in my spine, so sleeping flat on my back with both legs straight out in front of me is not a natural position for me. But it will only be for a short while, and “this too shall shall pass”.

Maizie Sounds like everything went so well with the whole process and even more that you are back to horse riding… impressed.

Thank you everyone. I think my mantra is going to be “this too shall pass” and be patient. After all, I am just five days in after surgery …..

That sounds great MaizieD. You're very lucky where you live.

Oldcodger, it really does depend on where you live. I was assessed by a physio at the beginning of April, was referred and offered 3 NHS and 2 private centres, none with a waiting list of more than 3 months. If we hadn't had holiday commitments I could have had my op in June. I'm in the NE.
I know it varies a great deal across England.

Normally you are not allowed to sleep on your side until after 6 weeks and then you should be prepared.

I had my THR at the beginning of August. The physios and the nursing staff said it was OK to sleep on my side so long as i had cushions/pillows between my legs to support the operated leg (which will be the uppermost leg). It was slightly better than sleeping on my back, but it was really several weeks before I could sleep comfortably, even on my side. However, it passes. You know that the discomfort won't last for ever, unlike the hip and leg pain which would have persisted if you hadn't had surgery.

Also, because I was worried about the 90 degree angle thing when side sleeping I asked my physio how long I had to observe that and he said it wasn't really necessary as the chance of dislocation was very slight. Though he did say it was greater in overweight people.

I'm 16 weeks on now and I forget that I have an artificial hip, there's nothing that I want to do that I can''t do (including riding my DD's horse). It's been life changing.

Oldcodger physio pre-surgery is a delaying tactic. If possible you need to find out the grade of your OA. There are 4 grades, 4 being the worst and it is bone grinding on bone.

Please try and do some research re surgeons. I chose mine prior to my knee replacement but I was in a better position, knowing many of them.

Where I live the w/l is now many months for the first consultation and around 18 months after that for surgery hence I am being forced to go private next year. Around here there is even a 6 week wait here.

You could always say you would welcome a cancellation.

Some people are fortunate and are seen and operated on within months but as said where you live counts.

grammargran if you have been told you may sleep on your side, fine but it is not a case of rolling over or lifting your leg, you need some preparation.

If you have a bedmate, send them to sleep in the bath!

You need two pillows. One you put lengthways between your legs when on your side and the other is lengthways down your back to keep you from rolling onto your back and leaving the knee behind if that makes sense.

Normally you are not allowed to sleep on your side until after 6 weeks and then you should be prepared.

When watching TV have your leg elevated on a stool but to prevent pressure on your heel have the foot dangling but still elevated.

I hope you can understand what I have written. Anyway I am around if you want to ask any questions. This is my ex-professional advice.

Thank you, Silverlining, that sounds encouraging. And I must try the water bottle tip, Aveline, thank you for that!

Re sore heels when back sleeping: a kind nurse noticed this and took a disposable glove and filled it with warm water, tied it off securely and slipping under my heels. It really took the pressure off. I'd never have thought of it. At home could you maybe do similar with a hot water bottle, only half filled though.
I used to get up and just sleep in my recliner. Didn't matter what time of day. Sleep is sleep and always welcome particularly after an op.

Welcome old codger, yes asking your gp for a referral is the first thing to do. Sometimes physios can refer you directly but areas have different rules.
How much pain are you in? That may affect how long you have to wait. The other option is paying for the surgery of course but if things are bad then hopefully it won’t be too long before you get a hospital a ppointment.
Let us know how things go.

Congratulations grammargran. Happy that all is going ok apart from back sleeping. You have my sympathy, I am a one particular side sleeper so found it very hard, unless you have been told otherwise it’s still too early to sleep on your side, or at least it was a few weeks post op before I could sleep on mine.

What I did was surround myself with cushions / pillows to keep me on my back and smaller ones under my knee/s which lifted up my heel as it was looking a bit pink and I didn’t want bedsores.
I also took a mild sleeping tablet, pfenerghan. Available over the counter or on prescription. It worked for me but yes that period of sleeping on my back wasn’t good.
Take care, you can do this and will feel so much better very soon.

I think it depends where you live and whether your local NHS has a contract with local private hospital services (I’m sure most do these days in an effort to keep the waiting lists down). Ours has and I was referred in June and had the surgery in November. I could have had it done sooner than that but for personal reasons chose not to.

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our forum guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Had my THR on Monday which has left me reeling! First major op in 85 years, I’m feeling battered and bruised. However, being well looked after by DH and on hand daughters so all well during the day, but please, any tips on how to get comfortable in bed at night? I’m no back sleeper and am aching to get on to my side which I think is now allowed but my operated leg just won’t co-operate. My foot and heel are particularly uncomfortable with my heel feeling the pressure. I just long for a good night’s sleep - or is that expecting too much at this stage? Best wishes to everyone else going through TH and KRs.

Hope you hear from physio soon.

Thank you silverlining

Oh and if you don’t see our thread on Active ( because we hardly ever are - we don’t know why) look at forums at the top of the page and we are under Health. You just need to look out for the dancing girls 👯‍♀️ to find us.

Hello AGAA I think a referral to the physio is usual. It shouldn’t take too long for an appointment. The y will see if they can help but if the problem continues they can refer you to an orthopaedic doctor.
In the meantime keep walking if you are able and see what the physio suggests.
If you have any other questions we can almost certainly help.
Keep in touch a nd 🤞 good luck.

I've recently been diagnosed with arthritis in both hips. I did know it was likely that but the x-ray confirmed. The doctor is sending me to physiotherapy to see if they can help. Not sure what else I can do?

Hello 👋 here we are again.
Charleygirl it took ages getting the dancing girls 👯‍♀️ but made it in the end .