Episode 13 - Sleep After Hip Replacement

July 31, 2025

Can’t sleep after hip replacement surgery? Here’s what actually works—at every stage of recovery.

Sleep After Hip Replacement Surgery: Best Positions, Recliners, Beds & Real Recovery Tips

Sleep after hip replacement surgery is one of the most common and frustrating challenges patients face—and it’s rarely explained clearly before surgery.

In this episode of The Hip Replacement Podcast, host Chris Bystriansky, a double hip replacement patient more than 10 years post-surgery, breaks down exactly what to expect and how to sleep better after hip replacement surgery based on real-world experience.

If you’re searching for answers about sleeping after hip replacement, best sleeping positions after hip replacement, recliner vs bed after hip replacement, or why sleep feels so difficult during recovery, this episode is for you.

Chris walks through how sleep changes at every stage of hip replacement recovery—from the first night in the hospital to weeks, months, and even years after surgery. He explains how surgical approach (anterior vs posterior hip replacement) can affect sleep, why elevation matters early on, and how to avoid overstretching or compressing healing muscles.

You’ll learn:

Why sleep after hip replacement surgery is often disrupted
Whether sleeping in a recliner after hip replacement actually helps
How wedge pillows can improve sleep and reduce discomfort
When and how to transition back to sleeping in a bed
How mattress firmness affects hip flexors, stiffness, and morning pain
Why some patients struggle sleeping on their side after hip replacement
How sleep needs evolve long after surgery—not just in the first few weeks

This episode is especially helpful if you’re asking:
“Why can’t I sleep after hip replacement?”
“What is the best sleeping position after hip replacement surgery?”
“Should I sleep in a recliner or bed after hip replacement?”

Unlike generic medical advice, this conversation focuses on practical, lived experience—what actually worked, what didn’t, and how to adapt your sleep setup to match your recovery stage.

Whether you’re days away from surgery, in early recovery, or years past your hip replacement and still struggling with sleep, this episode will help you make smarter choices so you can heal better, recover faster, and feel more like yourself again.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

LINKS & RESOURCES

Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

The Hip Replacement Podcast website

Submit a Question or Comment here

Gallery Furniture

Sleep Number Beds

Wedge Pillow (referral link*)

*Referral Link - There is no additional cost to you in using this link and if you use this link to make a purchase, The Hip Replacement Podcast receives a small commission which offsets the cost of producing the podcast.

LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you liked this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us reach more hip replacement patients who need these insights and inspiration. Thanks for tuning into THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST! See you next time.

Episode Transcript

Episode 13 – Sleeping After a Hip Replacement Surgery - Transcript

Welcome to the Hip Replacement Podcast, where recovery meets motivation and healing leads to a whole new lifestyle.

I’m Chris Bystriansky, your host—author, athlete, and double hip replacement patient. I’ve been through the surgeries, the setbacks, and the comebacks, and I’m here to help you do the same.

Each week, I’ll bring you tips, tools, expert advice, and inspiring stories to help you take back your life one step at a time. Thanks for joining the Hip Replacement Podcast.
New hips. New you. Let’s go.
________________________________________
Welcome back to the Hip Replacement Podcast. I’m Chris Bystriansky, your host. I’ve had both of my hips replaced—one more than 10 years ago and the other more than 12 years ago—and

I’m here to share what I’ve learned along the way.

Today we’re talking about something that was incredibly important to me on the day of surgery, is still important today, and is probably important to you every single day as well: sleeping after hip replacement surgery.

This was a major concern for me going into surgery. Before my procedures, the hospital hosted pre-surgery orientation sessions where patients could ask doctors, nurses, and caseworkers questions to help prepare for what was coming. One of the most common topics—by far—was sleep.

Why sleep? Because depending on how you normally sleep and the surgical approach used, your normal sleep position may not be possible for a while. If you usually sleep on your back and have a posterior or lateral approach, that could be uncomfortable. If you sleep on your stomach and have an anterior approach, that may not be allowed initially.

At that orientation, multiple people—out of maybe 20 in the room—asked about sleep. One recommendation was to consider sleeping in a chair or recliner for the first week or two, keeping the upper body elevated.

So before surgery, we did some preparation. I didn’t want to feel miserable from surgery and miserable from lack of sleep.
________________________________________
The Hospital Stay
I stayed overnight in the hospital after each surgery, which I was very grateful for. At the time, overnight stays were more common, and I personally felt safer knowing trained staff were there overnight rather than relying on my wife alone at home.

The hospital bed was adjustable, which made a big difference. I had the anterior approach, meaning the incision was in the front of my hip, and being slightly inclined all night helped me stay comfortable and avoid overstretching the surgical area.
________________________________________
Sleeping in a Recliner
Based on hospital guidance, we bought electric recliners before surgery. I slept in a recliner for the first two weeks.

This worked extremely well. The recliner never went fully flat, which was actually perfect early on. I didn’t want my hips fully extended while the incision and surrounding muscles were healing. It was also much easier to get in and out of the recliner than a bed.

I’ll say this though—I’m someone who moves around a lot when I sleep. Being locked into one position worked temporarily, but I wouldn’t want to do it long-term.
________________________________________
Transitioning Back to Bed
After about two weeks, I moved back to bed. Our bed was very high, and I needed help getting in and out. I also used a stretch-out strap (which I discuss in Episode 7) to help lift and lower my leg safely.

To recreate the incline of a hospital bed, we used a wedge pillow behind my back. This allowed me to sleep on my back without fully flattening my hips, which was helpful during early healing.
Our mattress at the time was a memory foam mattress. Interestingly, that worked well initially because it allowed my hips to stay slightly flexed. Over time, though, that became less comfortable as I wanted my hips more extended while sleeping.
________________________________________
Finding the Right Long-Term Bed
Eventually, we switched to a Sleep Number bed, which allows adjustable firmness. This was a game changer. I now prefer a very firm mattress so my hips stay fully extended when I sleep.

The firmer mattress helps prevent tightness in the front of my hips and legs when I wake up. I primarily sleep on my back now, and sometimes on my stomach. I no longer sleep on my side because that compressed my hips and caused soreness.

Over time, my sleep setup evolved:
• Hospital bed (inclined)
• Recliner
• Bed with wedge pillow
• Softer mattress
• Firm adjustable mattress
Each step matched where I was in recovery.
________________________________________
Final Thoughts on Sleep After Hip Replacement

Whether you had an anterior or posterior approach, sleeping after hip replacement may require adjustments. What works early on may not work months or years later.

The goal is simple: get good sleep without compromising healing. Lack of sleep on top of surgery and medication can make recovery much harder.

I hope this helps you think through your own sleep setup—whether you’re days, weeks, or years out from surgery.

Thanks so much for tuning in to the Hip Replacement Podcast. Until next time, I wish you the best recovery possible.

Take care.

Episode 13 - Sleep After Hip Replacement

DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE