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15 day Progress update

Posted , 6 users are following.

peter73207
peter73207

Hello folks. Just thought I would post a 15 day update.

Had staples removed yesterday, another milestone. It wasn't real painful having them removed but I did feel every one of them none the less. Getting comfortable and getting a good nights sleep is still the worst. Still cant sleep more than about 90 min max without getting up in pain. I'm on Percocet which helps but doesn't manage the pain as well as I hoped. Tried some melatonin last night for sleep.  The doc gave me some sleeping pills yesterday but thought I would try this first. During the night I woke up just as often but I got back to sleep much quicker so overall a much better nights sleep.

Has Anyone else tried melatonin before? Maybe tonight I will give the sleeping pills a try.

Oh I did ask 2 diff pharmacists and the doc about taking nytol to help sleep.

Each said there was no issue when taken with Percocet. Not sure about other meds though.

As far as my knee goes, there are definite improvements but it is still stiff, stiff, stiff and 

painful. Been doing exercises 3x a day and always icing right afterwards. Also still very swollen. I am typically not easily discouraged but man, this is draining.

If I come across any miraculous shortcuts or anything to help sleep, ease the pain or bring comfort in any way I will be sure to pass it on.

Until next time. God bless

3 likes, 33 replies

33 Replies

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  • jean95756
    jean95756 peter73207

    Posted

    Hi 

    sleep is still a problem for me 16 weeks on from TKR I never sleep for more than 90 mins

    i heard about the Nytol and I will try it when this dreadful snow and ice has disappeared and I can get to the shops.

    I haven't heard of the other medication you mentioned. Maybe we don't use it here in the UK

    good luck and I hope in  2015  you'll be running around on your new knee 

    Jean 

    • peter73207
      peter73207 jean95756

      Posted

      Hi Jean,

      We buy melatonin here over the counter as your body produces it naturally. Odd how these things are handled so diff by other countries.

      the sleeping pill the doc prescribed for me was Zopiclone. Wanted to try the more natural route first. Might try it over the next couple days and will post the results for folks. Again, I'm told there are no issues when taken with Percocet but have no idea about other meds. 

      This sleep issue sure is a toughie but we will get through it!

      heres to some happy zzzzzzzz's smile

       

    • jean95756
      jean95756 peter73207

      Posted

      Thanks so much for the zzzzzzzz s I will take them to bed with me tonight along with my pain meds / hot chocolate / and a good book for when I can't sleep ...biggrin

      Jean 

  • david13272
    david13272 peter73207

    Posted

    I am at 4 and a half weeks and for me sleeping still the worst part , I am using Melatonin every 3-4 nights to make sure I get a good sleep and it works for me. Having the staples removed will help too, keep pushing yourself with your exercises and you will see improvements each day. I walked a mile two days ago unaided and felt so good being able to do it. 

    Good luck to you 

    • peter73207
      peter73207 david13272

      Posted

      Wow, that's fantastc man! Keep it up.

      i'm looking forward to when I feel comfortable enough to walk to the corner store and back with no aids. Just a few hundred yars but we have tons of snow and ice here which doesnt help.

      glad you found some help with sleep. Thats a biggie with this op.

      keep up the good work!

  • lynn00032
    lynn00032 peter73207

    Posted

    Hi Peter,

    I have tried melotonin, apparently you can't buy it in UK, I bought mine here in Spain.

    It does help you sleep, as it is natural, I'm pretty sure our body naturaly makes melotonin, something to do with sleep pattern.When our friends used to go on long haul flights, they took it as they said it got them over jet lag.

    • jean95756
      jean95756 lynn00032

      Posted

      Hi Lynn 

      i just looked it up online 

      prescription  only here in the UK 

      such a shame 

      Jean 

    • peter73207
      peter73207 lynn00032

      Posted

      Yes thats correct, our bodies produce it naturally when its time to sleep.

      if taken incorrectly (by that I mean sort of sparatically at all different times of the day) it can mess up our systems clock and cause depression and such. When taken correctly though there should be no problem.

      we buy it over the counter here in Ontario, Canada. It's very peculiar hows meds are handled so differently in diff countries.

  • sally58158
    sally58158 peter73207

    Posted

    Hello Peter

    i am at 21 days and i am still struggling to get about. The nights are always the worst however i cant seem to find a comfortable sitting position in my lounge and am constantly having to move. My leg gets stiff at the drop of a hat no matter how well i have done with my exercises. It is such a journey. It does get on top of me sometimes. The meds that allow me to get some sleeep are Oxycodone short tec. More of a pass out than sleep so i use them very spareingly.

    • peter73207
      peter73207 sally58158

      Posted

      Hi Sally,

      thats exactly how I feel here. Oxycodone is what I'm taking as well. The way I understand it is that the TEC is the manufacturers stamp for their brand of Percocet.

      I take 1 every 3 hrs. Will take 2 before going to physio tomorrow.

      How is the swelling on your knee? You can hardly make my knee out at all. Looks like a tight round balloon. How in the world can anyone expect us to bend something like this.

      When the swelling goes down I'm sure the stiffness will go and the bend will return.

      How we gonna get that swelling down quicker?

      You are sooooo right. This is a journey.

      Try and have a great day and get some good rest 

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 peter73207

    Posted

    Peter, after going through my 9 surgeries including 4 complete rehabs I gave tried my best to evaluate the pain at night and the best I have come up with is that as the leg starts relaxing during the sleep the weight pulls down on the nerves and soft tissue causing the pain to reoccur.  All of that has to heal before it stops. My routine was bed, sleep, awake, recliner, ice, more pain meds and 2-3 hours later back to bed for a start over on the routine. Most everyone I know that's been through it seems to have a similar story. It will get better in time. Don't fight it just do whatever it takes to get some rest
    • jean95756
      jean95756 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      OFG

      you really have a wonderful way of putting things into perspective

      i would never have thought of why the pain is so bad during the night.

      but after reading your post it makes perfect sense

      Jean 

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 jean95756

      Posted

      Being awake for hours every night for years gives one a lot of time to think of trivial stuff. Back then I never dreamed of a forum like this where someone else might get some use out of it.
    • peter73207
      peter73207 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Hi OFG,

      I would bet there are huge numbers of people on this forum whom have been helped immeasurably by you over time OFG. I Thank God for folks like you who are so willing to bring comfort to others. Thank you.

    • peter73207
      peter73207 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Hi there oldfatguy. Just wanted to say Happy new year and all the best for 2015
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 peter73207

      Posted

      Thanks and same back to you. Looks like winter is about to hit the mid US with freezing rain, sleet and snow so looks like we'll be bundled up and inside for a few days. Spent 4 hrs at a doc in a box walk in clinic with my wife this afternoon as she appeared to be coming down with something. Flu season is rampant in this part of the country, worst hospitals have seen in 50 years. Fortunately for her, no flu but just an upper respiratory infection that should clear up on its own. Guess this will be a good weekend to get the tree down and put away. You take care and hope you are running at full speed soon
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