Some patients are very anxious and may get insomnia after hip replacement surgery due to anxiety. Other reasons for difficulty falling asleep are if patients were taking sleep medications before the surgery and are discontinuing them afterwards. Additional reasons include worry about hip dislocation precautions and inability to fall asleep in the supine position.
Pain is rarely a cause of inability to fall asleep after hip replacement surgery. The patients who are uncomfortable laying supine with their hips straight are advised to use a pillow underneath the knee after hip replacement surgery. This bends the hip a little and makes the patient more comfortable. I do not advise taking sleeping pills after hip replacement surgery because of the increased risk of falls after taking sleeping pills. Patients who are unable to fall asleep in the supine position should use a wedge between their thighs to sleep on the side.