Trouble sleeping after joint replacement surgery? Is it safe to sleep on your side after surgery? Can’t sleep after hip replacement surgery at all? After hip replacement surgery lying on your surgical side is uncomfortable and isn’t good for your incision. It can cause fluid collection around the incision site. Avoid lying on incision until after the 6 week mark or later. Your body will let you know when it becomes more comfortable. Laying on your side after the 6 week mark in small increments may be okay. To maximize sleep after joint replacement surgery, it’s important to keep busy and to avoid napping during the day. Try to get out of the house and get back into a “normal” routine. Also, it’s important to time your anti-inflammatory and narcotic medications properly after surgery. You want to take your last dose right before you go to bed at night for a sound sleep. Try and develop a normal bedtime routine. Remove electronics, don’t play with your phone, and try to relax without stimulation. Play this video to hear what Dr. Wayne Trevor North, orthopedic surgeon at Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan has to say about on this subject (https://www.healthgrades.com/physicia…).