Hello
I had a TKR 3 weeks ago and all going well except continual tiredness. I realise that sleep is broken but just wondered if anyone had any tips. Thank you
My advice is (if possible) sleep any chance you get! You need sleep to heal properly.
Thank you Sky. I do set high expectations of myself no doubt unrealistic time to be the tortoise not the hare I think!
Hi Susie try having little naps in the afternoon just a hour gives you that bit of strength
Thank you Lynn. Susie
Have a nap any time you feel like it. I used to feel guilty at having an afternoon nap then realised it was doing me good. Now at nearly eleven weeks if I have done a lot I still might have one.
You will be several weeks overcoming the tiredness as surgery alone will pull you down. You probably aren't eating as usual due to meds and quite possibly are dehydrated as fluid intake suffers post surgery plus pain meds tend to drag you down. You are very early in the process. Be sure and rest every chance you get. A rested body heals much better than a tired one. Don't worry about others thinking you are just using the surgery as an excuse. Listen to your body and give yourself a chance. Docs don't tell you all the dirty little hidden secrets of this process but there are many things you become concerned with that are just the normal part of healing. I'm currently at 5+ weeks since having the prosthesis removed due to staph. I currently have a plastic spacer in place e and my leg in a brace that allows 40° bend and no more than 50% weight distribution. I take antibiotic infusions twice a day (2hrs each time) and have 2+ weeks to go. Even with this, I have to continue strengthening and stretching like a reg tkr. In 6 weeks I go back and get a new knee then start the process over again. This is my 10th surgery on this leg and I've never escaped the fatigue and general worn out feeling. Give it time, you'll feel different and better every few days. Stick with the rehab program as you absolutely will not heal properly without it. Good luck
Hi OFG nice to see you posting again!Haven't seen you for a while. Glad to see that everything is going according to plan, even though the plan is not a very nice one!
Glad to see you back on here and great advice given as always
Hi susie im 5 weeks post op and not sleeping. Last night I had about 2 hours in total and today ive just laid on the sofa all day in agony??? Im at docs tom and gonna mention the lack of sleep as a lot of people seem to have slow release tramadol at night??? I am exhausted through the day which makes me unable to exercise and very teary x
I completely agree with Sky. Unless you are sleeping because of depression, take it every chance you get. Because we all know that sleeping at night is horrible and never very fulfilling.
I am 5 weeks post op, still only getting at the most 2 hours of sleep or naps each night. Sometimes like last night I saw every hour. I have scented my pillow with lavender and this does help relax you. Good thing my hubby has no sense of smell!!!! but then I made him sleep in the spare bedroom. I can at least manage to get comfortable on my side, with the aid of a pillow between legs, then wake turn over and adjust pillow again. Its all a case of not hurrying the healing process. In fact this week I feel better and would feel great if I could get a decent nights sleep.
Thanks....been a rough week. My wife overdid it last Monday and made herself physically I'll which also increased the depression so I've had to use what little energy I've got to see that some things got done around here. Dragging a leg behind a walker drags you down fast. We have a program here called "meals on wheels" that seniors can buy at a very low cost. It is a fresh, daily prepared and delivered between 11 and 12 noon so I ordered a couple of weeks of that program. Seems like food preparation was the thing we were having the most difficulty getting accomplished. This way we get one nutritious meal a day plus a partial breakfast for the next morning. Her Parkinson's has really caused her to plummet as she seemed to activate it with unnecessary activity. Our daughter came by to run a couple of errands and she decided she wanted to ride along............then shopping and standing got out of hand and its taken a week for her to start recovering. Hope you are doing well.
Thinking of you and you wife we are here for you anytime xxx
Oh dear I remember that very well I am now fast approaching wk 10 and getting at least 5h straight sleep then wake up turn over rearrange pillow between knees and start again.
I know it is an awful feeling lack of sleep I just took every chance I could to nap during the day mainly after exercise / ice / TV - don't try too do to much and listen to your body
Thanks
I too remember the sleeping issue myself. I am 7 week post op and sleeping is one area I seem to of mastered.
I did go two weeks straight with no more than two hours each night. I found I was able to doze off on the sofa in the early hours (I cannot straighten my TKR leg much) by hanging my heal off the edge, I found some relief.
I also take Amitriptolyne for nerve pain caused in op. An hour before bed time is ideal as they make me sleepy. I wake up after 4 hours without fail but after a drink of water I can sleep again for another 2.
I actually find sleeping on my good side with a cushion between my knees the most comfortable.
Also when struggling to sleep I put some music on...anything to take my mind off it.
Hi I also drift off to either music or a film on TV thankfully husband comes up and switches it off so no shock when I wake up.
Good to hear that you have mastered sleeping
Glad you are getting a good meal a day without the hassle of preparing it. I can imagine (I think) how difficult it must be with you leg the way it is now. . but the reality is probably even worse than my imagination! Not too long now till you get yur new joint. . .and then start all over again! Fingers cross your wife improves with rest. . Parkinsons is such a cruel condition . . .
Hard one and will improve in time. Even when sleeping better I am still tired as everything is more effort. A bedtime routine helped me and also a routine for when i woke up did the same thing, got up, went to toilet, took a tablet, iced and got back into bed. Lying resting is still good for you even if not asleep. It will pass.