Hi, I 'm 2 weeks post TKR and struggling to sleep , managed 2 1/2hrs last night. My leg aches and feels numb, can't get comfortable, so I just toss and turn . I'm only taking paracetamol and 1 diclofenic for pain. Any tips would be great. Thanks
I'm afraid it's a 'very' common problem. I think pretty much everyone has the same issue.
The cushion between your knees when trying to sleep always helps, as (in my experience) your operated knee seems to weigh a ton, so the cushion helps. If it's any consolation it does tend to improve after something like six weeks post op.
I found I got very familiar with nighttime TV schedules.....Eeeeeek
Morning
early days for you yet however I am now 12 weeks post op and now sleeping through the night. Everything has got to knit together as you have been through massive ordeal but you will get there. I was prescribed Meptid 200 mg and sorted out pain enabling me to sleep
Yes Susan, all part and parcel of the tkr journey but there are a few things you could try to maybe induce some shut eye. Before retiring for the night, prepare your body for "rest time"-a warm shower, some light reading, dim the lights, listen to some relaxation music, place some lavender under the pillow, drink peppermint tea (no caffeine at least four hours before retiring)-anything that helps you unwind and takes your mind off the problem,. Maybe try a gentle massage. You may find just a few of the above suggestions may help. I found around six weeks the problem started to ease and at four months was sleeping like a baby. When our sleeping pattern is disturbed it can take a while to re-establish. Good luck!!
Seeing you doc would be the best bet! He'll let you know if you need something else. After 2 TKRs - this is normal. But your doc may prescribe you something to help.
Hi I'm sorry but bit looks like you've joined the 2am wide awake club 😂😂😂 everyone has the same problem after TKR The answers are listed in previous replies all can help I even once wrapped my knee in cling film as it was once suggested I'm going in to get my other knee done soon so I'm forewarned what to expect this time I shall be expecting sleepless nights for at least 6 weeks 😂However I shall be icing before sleep arm myself with Kindle Ipads etc to grab every few hours and just accept disturbed sleep I put a pillow lengthwise for my leg to rest on I believe this is frowned on But I have 140 bend I'm able to climb stairs bad leg first and yesterday I did a little trot along the path 😁😁😁😁So pamper yourself don't overdo it and nap when you're tired The meds I was on was 2 codeine + paracetamol + 1 antihistime cos I'm alergice to pain lol Keep positive and you will emerge from the dark side + new leg and follow Chico on here amazing great advice always given ❤❤
Unfortunately, this is part of the stuff we have to put up with in early days of TKR land. I've had 2 - one 18 months ago and one 3 months ago. I got that for a while after my first, but not after my second. It is very hard to get comfortable. Just ice at this stage. Don't put your leg on any kind of pillow even though it'll probably feel better. because it can mess up your flex on your new knee... It'll improve. Some people feel better sitting up to sleep in the early days. I'm not one of those people, lol. But you may be.
Yep. What they all said.
it just comes with the territory I'm afraid.
I cannot sleep on my back, period...surgery or ot, so it's a real struggle at the beginning. At about 1.5 weeks I was able to get on my side and pillows are my best friends....I have 6 that I use, mix and match for different positions .
I find sleeping g on my side, operated leg down is most Co for table for me. I keep the operated leg straight, put a big fluffy pillow over my leg lengthwise, and throw my good leg over, and it helps. The operated leg is secure and comfy under the pillow, a d I get a good stretch h through y lower back. Now at 4 weeks, I an manage to sleep on y other side too, this time e with fluffy pillow next to me, a d bad leg rest g o top if pillow.
It takes time e ut it does eventually Co e, a d what you is at ight ca be made up I the day.
I was good for 1.5 hours at a time. Now getting g about 3, a d am able to go right back to sleep once I change position.
I also downloaded so mesmerising sou ds, like rain, water, birds, etc., a d so e meditative music which helps me relax and e joy the rest, even if awake.
Good luck, try not to let it frustrate you, as then even just rest is unsatisfying....and YOU NEED rest. Xx
It is common. Rest plenty during day...mental relaxation also important...hard I know, but your body has just been through a big trauma. I found deep Breathing, relaxation exercises, lavender on pillow, and no skimping on pain relief key. Are you taking pain relief in the middle of the night, with a banana or small snack.
Hi Susan
Google Aircast cuff, buy the ice bucket and knee wrap, it makes the icing through the night much easier, unfortunately sleeping for some of us with this operation . Is not easy, for myself it was the same as your self. Crying each night. At 6 weeks it was a little better at 12 weeks sleeping went back to normal.
It's a long road, this site is a god send. As all have suffered the same as yourself. With a few really lucky ones.
As I said at the beginning the ice bucket which has a quick release pipe to the knee wrap really helped myself. Sleep was still short, as when the knee wrap was cold I slept a little, but as my knee was on fire , once the cold went away the knee wrap becomes an oven. This woke me because of the pain. Draining the knee wrap by connecting the ice bucket ( the air open vent ) and putting it on the floor. So gravity emptied it. Then ( the air vent closed) shaking the bucket, ( air vent open) lifting the bucket has high as you can.
You can do this without removing the knee wrap, for myself the feeling of the cold water was great. Once filled dis connect bucket ( close air vent)
Another 2 hours sleep.
In the first weeks this was 5 to 6 times a night.
Chin up and there is a lot of distant support from this site.
Good healing
This was a big, big problem for me too. It seems to be a pretty common complaint among us TKR patients. I encourage you to talk again with your surgeon/doctor and tell him your concerns. Perhaps you need different medication?
I also drank chamomile tea and honey at night, listened to sleep-inducing music on my iPad and tried to be as calm and patient as I could be. You are not alone in this, although it is difficult to feel this way in the middle of the night when it seems like everyone is asleep except you.
Please talk with your surgeon/doctor and explain your problems and fears. And keep reading this forum and writing in it! It has helped me so much. I just completed my 6 week post-op date yesterday. Still have some pain, but truly, each day does find me stronger. It will for you too. Don't lose faith!
No more than 8 pain relief tablets in 24hrs! I took two co-codamol at 0800 / 1200 /1600 / 2000. Hospital issued me with Pregabalin. Took 1 when I got into bed.
I did use a pillow lengthways as my new knee/leg was incredibly painful in bed.
I was icing my leg but leaving pack on for an hour or longer. I now know I should have popped it in for 20 minutes then whipped it off quick! Getting to the loo was problematic in early weeks as we have two bathrooms upstairs and one loo attached to the house, but outside. My OH went in search of a potty, but I did manage without.
Both my legs were aching horribly, the pain was horrendous. My lovely GP told me to stand behind a dining chair; hold the top of the chair, and FOR TEN MINUTES lift heels off floor / down again / up / and repeat for ten full minutes. Wow did it hurt! But the up down up down worked. Due to inactivity, uric acid had settled in my legs. Problem solved! Made my GP a cake to say thank you. Oh, keep doing the exercises. My new knee has just celebrated its first birthday and I am just one degree from full inflexion. So, keep going. All the best!
Hi Susan. I'm now 8 1/2mths post right TKR, and I remember those early days. I am not a back sleeper, but I became one the first couple of weeks. I had a few pillows under me so that I was a bit elevated which helped. By week three, I was able to turn to my right side, TKR leg on the bottom, pillow between my legs. I also had a Polar ice machine.....which became my biggest comfort for pain relief. If you can get yourself one of those....it helps tremendously!! I'm surprised you're not on stronger pain meds at only two weeks out....maybe talk to your doc. Good luck with your recovery. It DOES get better!!
Thanks used a cushion and slept better last night.
Thanks slept better last night .
Hi , thanks for your help. I had a warm shower , massaged my leg and managed to sleep better . Still woke after a couple of hours but this time I got back to sleep.
Thanks , I go back to see my Doctor next week will ask his advise .
Thanks for the great advise, I used the pillow and iced well but skipped the cling film. I slept better , still had quite a few awake times but last night I managed to go back to sleep 😊. I know it will get easier .
Thanks for your help , I did ice before sleeping and again through the night and managed to sleep with a few breaks. I know your not supposed to use a pillow but I did at one point . I'm going to physio 3 x a week and they are pleased with my progress. Walking still using a crutch if going far , can use stairs slowly. I trying to keep positive and tell myself it can only get better .