CAN'T SLEEP!

Mellissa, ive just had my second TKR Yesterday and i will be the same as my first.The biggest problem i had was no sleep with my first TKR really lethargic exhausted and couldnt be bothered so this is important. Not getting sleep will slow your recovery by a long way simply because you have no energy.Easy remedy go to your GP and get some prescription sleeping pills i did and my god what a difference they made,i only had them 4 weeks or so and when i stopped i certainly didn't feel like i needed more,it got me through a difficult period and after i finished them my sleep was back to normal.Its a must melissa you need sleep,please get them and post again in a few weeks.

Hi Melissa,

I just had my TKR this past Monday. Did they give you and medications for Nerve pain? I found when I take my nerve meds and Melatonin(over the counter) i sleep better than I previously have. Not saying it helps every night, but it does help me more. Hope this helps and good luck.

Have your primary care doc to prescribe amitriptyline...

HI Melissa. I'm about 4 mos. out now, and I remember what you're going through very well. I called my surgeon and asked for sleep aids like Lunesta, but they said they only dealt with pain meds, etc. I tried every OTC remedy available - melatonin, herbal mixes, Benadryl. Tried taking my prescribed muscle relaxers... but they all made my leg jerk spontaneously (like restless leg syndrome). Finally called my family physician, and he prescribed Lunesta. I took it for about 30 days. Got me past the "unable to sleep" part.

And PS - The forum is a lifesaver in the early days, a place to talk to people who do understand what you're going through, someone to talk to in the middle of the night when you've moved from bed, to another bed, to couch, to recliner. :^)

hi i'm 7 weeks post op, have you tried cold spray, it helped my knee, i am now sleeping better with less pain but wake up several times with stiffness, it does get better, , sue

Hello Melissa, I really do think you should take your pain medication as prescribed, especially as you say it helps you to sleep too; while you probably don't want to become too reliant on them, it may be best to take them only as and when they're needed rather than on a regular 4-6 hourly cycle. As for a natural medication to help with sleep, I can recommend WilKo

Sleep Aid which I found helped me after a friend told me about them; these are herbal and can be bought over the counter at WilKo for a very reasonable price. I hope this helps.

hi melissa

i have had 2 reasonable nights in 4 weeks post TKR

i cant take strong meds...cant lay on back...still cry with tiredness frustration and pain some nights.

i am most comfy on my right side the op side with knee against not on a pillow then bring good leg over op leg and put on pillow but after a couple of hrs my hip hurts lol x dont think there is an easy answer...reg change of position get up for a walk to bathroom every couple of hrs ..cos i need to and ice xx hope it gets better for us xx