How to sleep with a broken femur
Anyone who’s fractured their femur knows that getting a good night’s sleep is challenging with a broken leg. Whether your thigh is in a cast or you’ve got an assortment of metal screwed in, getting comfy and pain-free for the night can be a daunting task.
In 2017, I broke my right femur (and tibia and fibula) in a serious traffic accident in Cambodia. The constant pain and discomfort made it impossible to sleep through the night — especially in the first few months post-surgery. One of my earliest recovery goals was simply to “get a good night’s sleep”.
Throughout my femur fracture recovery, I learned a few things that often helped me to get some shuteye. I say “often” and not “always” because on some nights I just could not find a comfy sleeping position. But on many more, a few simple steps helped me to get some much-needed rest.
1. Find the most comfortable place to sleep.
A good night’s sleep starts with a comfortable surface. Whether it’s your bed, the sofa, or somewhere else, find the most comfortable place to sleep at home and claim it for your femur fracture recovery.
2. Wear wide-legged pyjama bottoms.
Aside from a comfortable surface, you’ll want comfortable pyjamas. Wide-legged pyjama bottoms allow you to move around and prevent restrictive, tight fabric from causing additional pain in your leg.
3. Use lots of pillows.
During femur fracture recovery, pillows can make or break (pun intended) your sleep. Keep a few extra pillows nearby and use them to prop your leg up in a way that feels as pain-free as possible. I highly recommend getting a full-body pillow like this one.
4. Sleep in a bed by yourself.
If you’re worried about being accidentally kicked or nudged in the leg by your partner in their (and your) sleep, sleeping solo is the way to go.
5. Pop some pills.
Last but not least, painkillers — used as instructed by a medical professional — may help to take the edge off the worst pain and let you drift off into dreamland.
