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Can't sleep

Posted , 9 users are following.

joan51826
joan51826

I'm 10 weeks post operation and thought I was doing fine but seem to have gone back today. I have been out for a meal today and was in some pain because I am used to sitting with my leg elevated. My knee was squashed under the table and felt like it was in a vice. I can't sleep to

1 like, 19 replies

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  • joan51826
    joan51826

    Posted

    Sorry this wasnt finished. Meant to say I can't sleep and my knee is aching. I seem to be going back which I know is par for the course with this operation. I am fed up and just want a pain free day. X

  • janice83811
    janice83811 joan51826

    Posted

    Well Joan I haven't slept a full night since my surgery on April 28, 2015. But I sacrifice and sleep when I can. The first time I road in the car after my TKR, we were heading to the store about five miles away. Long story short, we didnt make it. After that any time I go on a long ride, I medicate. My problem is when I set too long. I just get up and move a bit. I dont understand why you elevate your leg all day. I only elevate when I ice it bout three ttimes a day and laying in bef to sleep. I have a cycler what I pedal on several times a day to ease the stiffness. I have also begun walking around the yard a bit. I still have trouble with stairs and weakness. I got to PT 3× weekly.
    • joan51826
      joan51826 janice83811

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. No I didn't mean I elevate all day. Just If I sit down. I am back driving and doing my shopping. Last night was a strange one. I think I had too much on my mind and Couldn't switch off. I have done lots of washing and cleaning today and am resisting the urge to rest so that I will be tired tonight. Here's hoping.x
  • sandra82290
    sandra82290 joan51826

    Posted

    Hi, I know the feeling, I had both my knees done on the 3rd of March, and I can't sleep, it's 4.27 am now and I have work in the morning!!
  • dode
    dode joan51826

    Posted

    Hi Joan. I can empathise. I'm 6 weeks post-op tomorrow and have been making good progress, or so I thought. On Friday I had my first physiotherapy session at the hospital's gym. Since then I've been stiff and sore and my knee has swollen more than usual. I've felt yuch as well. I started driving again four days ago and have been trying to walk more. Maybe I've overdone it recently. I still have difficulty in bending my knee to 90 (currently about 70). I know what you mean about being squashed under a table. I had a meal yesterday in a local pub and my knee was squashed at an angle under the table. Not comfortable! I feel a lot better today and have started sleeping better (4 hours a night now!) so I guess we've all got to hang in there. I love the support this forum gives to its fellow members. Good luck and keep your chin up!
    • Dubgirl00
      Dubgirl00 dode

      Posted

      Are you in America? and the reason I ask is I am confused why you are going for physio after 6 weeks when one should do exercises as soon as they can after an operation perhaps i read your post wrong.  I started straight after my op, was up walking around and went home after two days and did exercising non stop.  my bend is 111 at the the minute and I am 6 weeks post op.  My consultant has discharged me and that will be that unless I get complications then I will need to go see him again.  I like you have real stiffness in my knee and use an exercise bike which seems to loosen it untill I sit around and do nothing.  They told me to continue taking pain killers and anti imflamatories unitll I fee able to cope without them and take them for 12 weeks which is the convelsance time I was given and full recovery 1 year to 18 months.  I still take codiene at night to help me sleep and i sleep like a log.  The tablets in England are Solphadol, Co dryamol and all have codeine.  They make one drowsy but if you only take them at night before bedtime then you will certainly sleep. Good luck.
  • hazel14959
    hazel14959 joan51826

    Posted

    17 weeks po and I still can't sleep longer than 2 1/2 hours sometimes less. The sleep I am getting now  is a better sleep and I feel more refreshed, when I wake I turn over, replace pillow between legs and seem to go back to sleep quicker than spending what seemed like an hour ( I take notice of the time) to go off again.  I normally wake at 5am and turn and wake again at 7pm when I do get up.  This last 2 hour sleep is the best all night.

    I too went out for a meal with my family, my knees were quashed as well, I had to visit the ladies and it was such a struggle to stand without crying out..but managed rather stiff legged to walk and then came back to the table the long way. Then sort of sat sideways to get more leg room.  I only elevate my leg for massaging, icing and then if tired at night for 1/2hour or so.

  • seamus_98118
    seamus_98118 joan51826

    Posted

    I don't know whether this might apply but painkillers can cause insomnia,Tramadol which I was taking for back pain caused me to stop breathing on countless occaisions and I just kept waking fighting for breath.Despite being absolutely exhausted through lack of sleep, lots of nights literally without a wink of sleep just waiting for daybreak so that i could get up and start another day.

     Eventually you start to dread getting into bed as I just lay there minute after minute and hour after hour with out sleeping,.When I told the quack that I was terrified of suffocating through stopping breathing she dismissed me straight away saying that you always wake up

      I will eventually have to have tkr but I couldn't go through that again with the automatic breathing reflex just slowing down and stopping,so many many times.

    One of the most frightening times of my life,obviously I must be one of the 10 % who suffer side effects from the drug. It is known for causing insomnia though.I stopped taking the painkillers and it took me several months to get a normal sleep pattern back.

    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 seamus_98118

      Posted

      I don't take any meds at all.  Don't even need them before or after exercising any more.  I refused oromorph in hospital and also tramadol; which I had 8 years ago for left TKR and felt out of it for weeks which is why I don't remember having the pain or discomfort I had with the right knee this time.

      Unfortunately I was a pretty bad sleeper before the op in fact can't even remember  when I last slept through the night...  got used to waking up so often.  It does drain you and I rest but don't nap during the day as I know this could affect me more at tnight.  I am 75.

    • seamus_98118
      seamus_98118 hazel14959

      Posted

      Hi Hazel it is a sad fact of life as we age we sleep less whether we need it or not and I must admit I can drop off within minutes during the day whilst sitting on my I
    • seamus_98118
      seamus_98118

      Posted

      Sorry it self posted.

      Sitting on my Ikea springy chair.Short of advising you to to take up long distance running the only thing I can suggest is the Concept2 rowing machine.Even with a leg that doesn't extend you can increase the pull distance.There is a fantastic website with people of all ages on the forum and also tables of peoples times for their age group,what I am getting at is that I do sleep better when I have used it.

    • seamus_98118
      seamus_98118

      Posted

      Sorry it self posted.

      Sitting on my Ikea springy chair.Short of advising you to to take up long distance running the only thing I can suggest is the Concept2 rowing machine.Even with a leg that doesn't extend you can increase the pull distance.There is a fantastic website with people of all ages on the forum and also tables of peoples times for their age group,what I am getting at is that I do sleep better when I have used it.

    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 seamus_98118

      Posted

      Seamus you don't know my hubby...he can sleep for the olympics, once his head touches the pillow he's away, clean out of it.   He has said if he ever had the TKR op he doesn't know how he would cope..  not sleeping would drive him potty!mad
    • seamus_98118
      seamus_98118 hazel14959

      Posted

      Hazel my Wife doesn't believe how easy it is for me to get to sleep,a quick five minute listen to the radio,switch it off and I'm in the land of Nod sleeping like a 72 year old Baby.I always tell her you must have a clear conscious and not a thought in the World but 
    • seamus_98118
      seamus_98118

      Posted

      self posted again!!!!

       I must admit it is unusual for my knee to keep me awake although it has at times.

    • seamus_98118
      seamus_98118 hazel14959

      Posted

      Nobody is perfect Hazel ,it is alleged by my Wife that I snore,well if I do I certainly have never heard it!!!!
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