4 Best Sleeping Positions After a Hip Replacement

Key Takeaways

• Choosing the right sleeping position after a hip replacement is crucial for reducing pain and ensuring a restful night’s sleep, which can support vital healing processes.
• Create a comfortable environment using pillows and a supportive mattress for better sleep post-surgery. Additionally, be sure to practice good sleep hygiene and take prescribed medications before going to bed.
• Laying on your back with pillows for support is the most recommended sleeping position for post-surgery recovery. However, some patients may benefit from sleeping on their side with a pillow between their legs.
• Elevated sleeping positions can be used to reduce swelling and alleviate discomfort. Still, you should consult your medical provider before attempting new sleeping positions to ensure alignment with your recovery plan.

Learning About the Best Sleeping Positions After a Hip Replacement

Unfortunately, many patients struggle to find comfortable sleeping positions after hip replacement surgery or hip revision surgery due to temporary mobility limitations, discomfort, or concerns about damaging their new hip joint. Using pillows and elevation can help you develop suitable post-hip replacement sleeping positions, potentially augmenting your recovery experience. Quality sleep can give the body an opportunity to repair damaged tissue, mitigate inflammation, and rebuild muscle.

Sleeping on your back with pillows for support is generally considered the best sleeping position after hip replacement surgery; however, some people may prefer other options, like sleeping on their side with a pillow in between their legs. Educate yourself on potential post-hip replacement sleeping positions to increase your chances of resting more comfortably, reducing discomfort, and recovering faster.

Although the article below features strategies and advice for achieving better sleep after surgery, you should still consult an experienced joint specialist to get tailored medical advice that can help you discover your best sleeping position after hip surgery that will not exacerbate symptoms.

Understanding the Healing Process

Your body undergoes complex healing processes in the weeks following a hip replacement surgery. Even though cutting-edge technology like Mako SmartRobotics can minimize the invasive nature, the tissues around your new hip joint will still need time to settle. Although every patient’s experience is unique, the typical hip replacement surgery recovery timeline integrates pain management strategies, physical therapy, and gradual increases in mobility for the first 6 to 12 weeks.

During post-surgery recovery, the risk of complications like dislocation is heightened. In fact, the general hospital readmission rate following hip arthroplasties is over 10% for total hip replacement surgeries and 20% for total hip revision surgeries. Many of these complications are fueled by abrupt increases in activity levels or improper sleeping habits. It is important to consult your surgeon about implementing a recovery plan that incorporates quality sleep to reduce the risk of additional joint issues.

Role of Sleep in Recovery

Sleep is essential to post-surgery recovery—lack of quality rest can hinder progress by prolonging pain, causing fatigue, and delaying the body’s natural rehabilitation processes. Some examples of ways sleep can benefit a recovering body are:

• Improving blood flow – Deeper stages of sleep can enhance blood circulation to muscles, delivering oxygen and nutrients essential for recovery and repair.
• Reducing inflammation – Sleep may minimize inflammation by regulating prolactin, a hormone known for combatting swelling and discomfort.
• Boosting the immune system – Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep can help strengthen your immune system, minimizing the risk of infections at your surgical site.
• Producing collagen – Quality sleep can naturally increase the body’s production of collagen, a protein crucial for skin health and tissue repair.
• Releasing growth hormones – The brain’s pituitary gland can release growth hormones during deep sleep, promoting muscle repair and development.

In addition to the benefits above, sleep can support better mental health, helping some patients achieve an emotional balance that makes the recovery process easier to handle.

General Tips for Better Sleep After Hip Replacement

Knowing how to sleep better post-surgery is essential to facilitate recovery. By practicing the following suggestions, you may be able to achieve more restful and rewarding sleep after a hip replacement.

Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment

If your current bed is too stiff or uncomfortable, purchase a supportive mattress that cushions your hip and keeps your spine properly aligned. You can also strategically position pillows to provide additional support where needed—many people are able to alleviate pressure on the hip joint by placing a pillow under their thighs or lower back.

Instead of just focusing on the bed itself, ensure the room as a whole is comfortable, too. Try to maintain a cool, quiet bedroom for optimal sleep. If lots of light comes in through your windows, you can also use blackout curtains. Sleeping soundly through the night can be easier by minimizing distractions and finding a comfortable position to lie.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

Sleep hygiene is an umbrella term for the nighttime habits that contribute to how well you sleep. Some examples of lifestyle changes you can make to promote good sleep hygiene are:

• Abide by a consistent sleep schedule to regulate your body’s internal clock
• Avoid caffeine for 6 hours before bedtime
• Do not stare at electronic screens before going to sleep
• Do not use nicotine in the evening
• Carry out relaxing bedtime activities like reading or gentle stretches

If you start practicing some of these sleep hygiene recommendations and guarantee you always get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep, you may notice an improvement in how your body feels.

Manage Pain and Discomfort

After your hip replacement, your surgeon should provide a list of important hip precautions to take after surgery. They may also prescribe pain medication that you are recommended to take roughly 30 minutes before bed to ease discomfort.

To address swelling and inflammation, use ice packs around the hip joint. Consider asking a loved one to perform a light, gentle massage to provide further relief before bed, but be sure to avoid applying pressure to the incision site itself.

Although it may require pain management strategies and sleep adaptations during the recovery stage, hip replacement surgery can ultimately reduce pain and discomfort in the long run, making it a viable treatment option for many people with joint problems like arthritis.

Sleeping Positions To Try

The best sleeping positions after hip replacement can be determined by a myriad of factors, including the type of surgery you received, posterior vs anterior. Nevertheless, the following four options are considered among the best post-hip replacement sleeping positions.

1. On Your Back with Pillows for Support

Most surgeons recommend sleeping on your back after hip replacement surgery. Sleeping in this position can keep your hip joint aligned in hopes of mitigating the risk of dislocation. It can also reduce pressure on the sides of your hip, where surgical incisions are usually made.

A lot of patients are not used to sleeping like this, meaning there may be an adjustment period. Some tips that can make this sleeping position more comfortable are:

• Put a supportive pillow under your knees to keep your legs slightly bent. Doing so may reduce strain on the lower back and hip.
• Place a small pillow or rolled towel under your lower back for added support if needed.
• Keep both arms resting on their respective sides because crossing or contorting your arms can lead to slightly misaligning your spine.

After lying on your back with pillows for a few nights, you can reassess if it is the right fit for you. If not, talk to a joint specialist to find the best sleeping position after hip replacement surgery that accommodates your specific needs.

2. On Your Side with a Pillow Between Your Legs

If sleeping on your back proves to be too uncomfortable, side sleeping may be an acceptable alternative, assuming your surgeon approves of doing so. You can alleviate pressure on the portion of your hip that was operated on by sleeping on the opposite side—this may also provide a more natural position for some patients.

However, this sleeping position may come with a higher risk of dislocation. To avoid this, add a pillow between your legs; it can ensure proper alignment and prevent the operated leg from crossing your body’s midline, which can otherwise stress the hip joint. Some other tips that can make this position more comfortable and safe are:

• Choose a firm pillow for your knees because pillows that are too plush can cause your leg to sink below the midline.
• Until you get approval from your medical provider, avoid lying directly on the operated side.

If you are not comfortable with either of the two post-hip replacement sleeping positions mentioned so far, you should talk to your doctor. They may have you incorporate subtle elevation to make sleeping more comfortable.

3. Elevated Sleeping Position

For many patients, sleeping in a reclined sitting position can improve circulation, potentially reducing swelling, promoting healing, and minimizing discomfort. This can arguably be the best sleeping position immediately after hip replacement surgery because it can be challenging to lay flat during the early recovery stages.

Some examples of routines you can adopt to make this sleeping position more ideal are:

• If you have an adjustable bed frame, raise your mattress to a comfortable incline to support your body.
• If you don’t have an adjustable bed frame, simply use a wedge pillow to prop up your upper body and maintain a slight hip bend.

In general, incorporating elevation and supportive pillows is a great way to facilitate quality sleep after hip surgery.

4. Fetal Position (Only for Those Cleared by Their Doctor)

Although it is not suitable for everyone, the fetal position can be the preferred sleeping method for many patients. This position allows for gentle bending of the knees; it also mimics the spine’s natural curve, possibly reducing pressure on the lower back and hips. Despite its potential comfort, sleeping in the fetal position is not safe for everyone, and it could lead to hip complications if it is carried out incorrectly—consult your surgeon before attempting this sleeping position.

If approved by your doctor, some tips that can help you get the most out of this sleeping position include:

• Lay on the side that was not operated on.
• Put a pillow between your knees for support while gently curling your body.
• Avoid extreme curling or twisting to protect the hip joint.

Before giving you the go-ahead to sleep in the fetal position, your doctor may suggest trying other options, like lying on your back, because they are less likely to hinder your recovery process.

Additional Considerations for Post-Surgery Sleep

Always discuss post-hip replacement sleeping positions with your healthcare provider. Their medical knowledge, mixed with their familiarity with your unique condition, can make them the best resource for post-surgery considerations. They can provide personalized recommendations based on your specific circumstances, including what surgical procedure you had and your current recovery progress.

To complement whichever sleeping position you and your medical provider deem best, you can use assistive devices, such as bed rails or grab bars, to help you safely get in and out of bed without worrying about straining your hip. You can also ask your doctor which wedge pillows or specialty cushions they recommend for additional support and enhanced nighttime comfort.

Find Quick Recovery From Hip Replacement Surgery

Choosing the right sleeping positions after hip replacement surgery is crucial for reducing discomfort and getting a restful night’s sleep, which, in turn, can facilitate the healing process. Some of the most popular post-hip replacement sleeping positions are sleeping on your back, side, or in an elevated position. Regardless of what you and your doctor decide is the best sleeping position after hip replacement surgery, always prioritize comfort and safety by using pillows and other assistive devices to reduce the risk of dislocation.

The dependable joint specialists at the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale provide patients with comprehensive post-op care instructions, making it easy for them to follow the proper precautions for a smooth recovery—patient satisfaction post-op is important to us. If you’re preparing for or recovering from hip surgery, contact us today to schedule an initial consultation. We can help you develop a treatment plan that is expertly tailored to your individualized needs.

Call the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale for reliable medical advice tailored to your unique situation.