I had a TKR to my left knee last Wednesday July 27th and so far so good. I had the right knee replaced three years ago virtually to the day and have been so pleased with the outcome.
What I had completely forgotten about was the inability to sleep at night..hence me writing this at some unearthly hour! Fortunately I do have a couple of sleeps in the day particularly after my exercise sessions.
Does anyone out there have any tips for a more restful nights sleep please?
I took medication! Painkillers gave me around 4 hrs a night. No coffee or regular tea after 6pm and perhaps camomile or tulsi tea just before bed. I was so exhausted most days sleep came and went easily.
Other than the narcotics which you want to be off of ASAP, there are two things:
A. If pain is the problem, try Voltaren Gel (topical anti-infalammatory) on the knee. Non-opioid pain meds include Tramadol or 800 mg Ibuprophin TID.
B. If sleep is the problem, 50 mg of diphenhydramine (2 capsules) 1/2 hour before bed time. This is the generic active ingredient in Benadryl and all the "PM" products. There's also melatonin. Ask your doc or pharmacist to see if you have any interactions between these and your current meds. A mister with lavendar oil also helps.
C. If you still can't sleep, I'd call Warner Brothers and have them send over Wylie Coyote with the big rubber mallet he tries to use on the Roadrunner. Crude but effective.
Lyn, you just warmed my heart with the mention of Tulsi tea! I can't wait to get back to India next week and have it readily available again. Of course I can find it in the American grocery stores, but it's not the same as my favorite Indian brand.
Joy, I'm not sure I ever really found anything that helped, especially not the first couple of weeks. I had both knees done the same time, so it was especially difficult. But they told me to use a pillow between my legs so I could sleep on my side. Yea, that wasn't happening. I was flat on my back and misserable. I did cheat a few times and put the pillow under my knees - I was desperate. And I don't think I suffered any thing from that - I worked on sitting with them straight out in front of me whenever I wasn't exercising, so that compensated for it. 
Once I was off the narcotics (or maybe the dose was just really low) I did take Tylenol PM that Chico mentions. It did help me sleep for a larger chunck of time. I took naps whenever I could, so at least I wasn't completely sleep deprived. Good luck.
-Mo
Hi mo. I bought 3 cans back with me from Gokarna. 220 rupees. What a bargain! I drink it 3 times a day and it keeps me "normal" or as normal as I want to be! Have fun!
Ouch!! two at the same time was extremely brave and must have been so difficult for you.
i am just taking Paracetamol and Ibuprofen which seems to be OK it's just having to lay flat in a semi upright position that I am finding quite uncomfortable.
Early days and like yourself I am sleeping in the day so not sleep deprived.
Thank you.
A long way to bring the mallet to Hertfordshire UK😀
The pain is controlled with two Paracetamol and an Iboprofen which I plan to reduce ASAP it's the sleeping position that is my problem. Sitting virtually upright with leg out flat but will just have to grin and bear it for a while until I can lay on my side.
Thank you.
I think because I am normally a very active person I am probably not that tired when I go to bed with all this enforced rest and day time sleeping.Hey ho it can only get better so in the meantime I think that I am going to be getting through a lot of books these next few nights.
Thank you.
Forgot to mention that around 15 days post opp I got so tired of sleeping on my back that I decided I'd try sleeping on my side with a tiny airline pillow between my legs. It worked! Good luck lovee! X
Hi ,have you tried sleeping slightly propped up maybe with a V pillow padded around yourself. I found I could get about 4/5 hours at a time that way.I also took a biscuit and painkillers to bed with me incase I needed to take them in the night, the biscuit kept the painkillers from making me feel nauseous, I also took a good novel to bed with me
The V shape pillow sounds like a good idea so will order one for myself and while I am doing that will also order a bolster pillow so that I can place my leg on that full stretch..hot drink and a good book ..bring on the nightime.
Thank you
Like the tips...thank you.😀
I am 15 days TRKR.....anyone that gets bilateral knee replacements are my new heroes. 💪💪👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️
I sleep practically sitting up with both legs up on two pillows. Slept for fours hours, woke up, watched rubbish TV for one hour then managed to get back to sleep the same position for another two hours.I'm ten days post op and try to get by on paracetamol and a tablet three times a day called Nafupam.The nights are by far the worst.
I keep reading you shouldn't have your leg on a pillow but it's the only way I can get comfortable with the pain at the moment.I also rub the most painful part(inner knee) with Aloe Vera Gel from the fridge. I find it really soothing.
I was told by the Physio at the hospital that it was OK to use a pillow as long as it was full length so today I have ordered a long bolster pillow plus a v shaped pillow.
Yes I have a similar topical coolant gel (Flexall) that the Physio used on my previous TKR which I find quite soothing.
Hi joy, from what I've been ear in the forum, sleeplessness can be a issue. For me I asked my doc for a sleep aide. Did the trick for me. I pray your healing health is speedy..... Best kathy p 🌬🍀👼🍵
Kathy P...thank you🌹🌹
The first several weeks I decided I'd lost my mind and regretted the decision. But over time I realized it wasn't so bad. I didn't have a "good" knee to pick up the slack, so both were working equally hard. And, it's done. If it were only one, I still wouldn't have slept any better.
-Mo
Thanks, but I sorta feel that anyone who goes through it with one and still decides to do it again are the real heros. Aside from the additional time of being layed up, I was worried that I'd chicken out of going through it a second time. 