I had a fairly busy day earlier with some walking and a trip to the dentist to get a permanent crown put on. I did some time on the exercise bike and some step ups as well. It is now 3am and the leg really decided to swell up and cause some pain. Some nights it gets pretty old. I have it iced and elevated and took a pain killer and that strong ache is starting to fade. I guess I'm curious as to when people are able to start sleeping the night thru, or at least maybe 5 hours? I seem to get about 3 max and end up taking a nap or even 2 during the day and I'm 7 weeks out. I know it will vary but would like to hear from folks and maybe just get an idea of when you were able to start getting real sleep. Best wishes,
Sky
Hello Sky
I'm 18wks today and still waken 3 or 4 times a night because it's decided it doesn't like a position. But at least now i get straight back to sleep.
I still use a pillow between the lower legs to cushion the contact.
Some days i feel almost normal. Days like today depress me because everything hurts.
I take 2 paracetamol and 2 ibuprofen at night to get me off
I'm pretty fit again and back at work. Walking about 11000 steps a day
but a full nights sleep still eludes me!
Wish i could be more positive!
Hi
I am nearly seven weeks now and yesterday I was quite energetic , I walked the dog in the morning for around 2 miles and then later drove my car to the shops. I iced and then had to have a nap in the afternoon. I also did not sleep particularly well last night was awake at 1.30 , read for a bit and the slept until 6.30. I think we have to balance busy days with a rest day, so today I took the dog onto the park at the bottom of the road just to play and I am going to take it slowly for the rest of the day. I am lucky because I can choose as I am retired. I have had a couple of really good nights sleep but if I need a nap in the afternoon then I have one. Sun shining today in the UK so might sit in the garden. I always take my pain killers at night with a glass of milk, that seems to settle me as well.
I am 14 weeks and still wake up because of the position twice during the night. I go back to sleep more or less straightaway. This started happening at around 12 weeks. Sorry to not be more positive. I still take two co codamol to get me off to sleep. It seems to go in a cycle, you feel better every do more and then pay fir it the next day.
2 miles is excellent! 1 seems to be about right for me now. I'm trying to cut back on the pain killers so I don't take them every night, although I wish I had last night. I do intend to take it easy today. Thanks for that. I think I may walk my sister's dog today (she lives nearby). That is fun and good for both parties... . I hope I can get to the point where I can actually feel rested for a larger amount of time during the day. Well, one day at a time. thanks again
That is encouraging! I like the sound of "I get straight back to sleep" !
Not happening here just yet. I have started with ibuprofen and notice that it does help with swelling. My MD just said to stagger taking the pain killer and the Ibuprofen. Thank you...
Well it sounds like I have a few more weeks to go and things should improve... I can live with that... Thanks Susan
Hi Sky,
I am now 17 weeks an stopped all medications at about 12 weeks. At that time I was sleeping reasonably well and found it quite easy to go back to sleep after the old persons customary visit to the toilet. For the first 10 weeks I slept alone as it was better if only one of us had a disturbed nights sleep. I think the meds make you sleepy but I found out if I dozed off in the day I didn't sleep so well at night.
But we are all differerent so experiment and find out what is best for you, take whatever meds you need, ice when you think you need it and take a day off from physio if you feel you need a rest. It is your knee and you are the only one who knows what it feels like.
Regards PAul
Hello
I am 13 wks and I still wake at night at least twice. I do get back to sleep but I keep a flask of a hot drink by my bed for when i cannot sleep. My legs get very restless and that is the biggest problem so I massage them and walk around. Reading my kindle helps also.
Thanks Sally. I do find getting up and getting the circulation going before icing helps, although it is a bit painful to start.
Thanks Paul. I have tried to stay up so I can sleep at night but just stumble around like a zombie if I do. At this moment if I can sleep, I do, so maybe that is part of the problem .... no routine. It does seem strange that regardless, I always wake up with the most pain around 3am. I am going to try to take the day off today. I say that and get bored and want to do something outside, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Thanks again
I have also started using a heat pad to overcome stiffness. If I have done a lot or my knee is sore I use ice but quite often it is nice just to warm it a bit too. It seems to relax the muscles a bit. Today was sunny and I sat in the garden for 10 minutes with the sun on my legs , that was nice.
I found that a hot water bottle really helped me but not till I was about 12weeks, nighttime was a nightmare for me and I would cry an awful lot. Just give it time I used to get up and make myself a cup of tea. Anything that works for you is worth a try. I did have to resort to a low dose sleeping tablet, an absolute godsend. Take care
I was only thinking just today that I am now managing to sleep for most of the night but I've had to struggle through 21 weeks to get to this stage! If I over do it during the day I still "pay for it" in the evening and during the night! Tonight I've had to resort to my ice pack as I gave the lawn it's first cut of the year!
Thanks Joy... I have the heating pad and tonight will try it. I toss and turn and hope to keep it in place. The only thing that seems to hold me in place is the recliner.
I will try the heat pad and thank you Tucks!
I have a pad which is heated in the microwave and is elasticated and fits round my leg.
Well, I see it may just may take more time like everything else while you heal. The sleep deprivation seems to be the thing that is obviously (NOT) directed at only me! ha ha.... it looks like everyone is or has fought this!
Decent sleep for me at 10 weeks .But I still sleep with pillow between knees.
Robert