Cannot sleep at night

Hi Liz,

I am 12 wks post tkr and still have problems with sleeping. I really turned the corner last week with my recovery, but sleep is continuing to be an issue for me.

Hang in there though, because it really does get better.

Keep up with your exercises, rest when you need to, elevate your leg, and use ice.

The feelings of frustration and regret WILL pass!

You will find a lot of helpful encouragement here on this forum.

Try not to let yourself get too discouraged. It was just a few weeks ago that I was regretting my surgery, now I am so glad I had it and looking forward to being pain free! Not completely there yet, but getting closer.

Let us know how you are doing!

Thought I should post a little bit more.

i am 68 years old and normally very fit.  The reason I can't sleep is the pain.  I get dreadful pains at back of my knee, inside of calf and the top of my thigh.  I feel I spend half the night massaging my leg, sometimes I helps, often it doesn't.

i take paracetamol and ibuprofen plus Tramodol.  I had the Tramodol down to just 3 tablets a day but gave just gone back up to 4 a day.  I am terrified of getting addicted to these as keep reading horror stories.

the bruising was horrific but I used Arnica cream and it is not too bad at all now but when I lie on my leg it still feels badly bruised.

It is 3.22 a.m at the moment and again I am wide awake.  Pain bearable, but put the lights off and lie down and it just flares up.

i got my op done in Derby.

any advice would be much appreciated and ask me anything.  I am new to this.

liz

Hang in there!  It does get better. I'm at nine weeks now and can finally lay on my side for a little while. I wake up every time I move at night so I still don't get good sleep but I seem to have longer intervals before waking now at least!  At 3 weeks I still slept in a recliner because it was too hard to lay flat. 

I go back for check up tomorrow and am anxious to see what the doc says about my bend but I think riding a stationary bike has helped me with the bend a lot. 

Keep exercising!

R

You are at one of those benchmark periods that most start having concerns. One of the problems, Dr's don't tell us what to expect at given intervals. Its sort of like becoming parents, you learn on the fly. You're handed a kid and sent home , with tkr, you're given a few instuctions, a walker, a riser for the toilet , a couple bottles of pain pills and a little instructional manual and pushedcot the door. The sleeping stuation will take time, weeks or even months. Try a pillow between your knees. You might to check out different thicknesses. Personally, I have found one a foot square and inch thick does best for me. I hope you are still using pain meds especially at night. Too many quit too soon because they are afraid of getting hooked. Taken properly you won't have that problem. Don't just lay th ere thinking its going away, g e t up, stretch, ice ,elevate ,massage & take your pain n meds if applicable. 6 weeks will be your next benchmark then 3 months. Don't be discouragd.....It wil) get better

Hi Liz

My TKR was 6 July and it took around 8-9 weeks before I had more than a couple of hours sleep at a time. I sleep on my side and that made things worse. Things will improve so do not be depressed this is a major invasion and recovery takes time. I found a codeine or two paracetamol an hour before trying to sleep did help, another version of counting sheep helped!!!

i tried to recall something enjoyable and followed it through (for me it was a round of golf from the first tee at my club - I can't remember making a full round so I guess it must have helped.

i am sure others will encourage you and agree the first 8 weeks or so are the worst but by then things improve. Regarding bending, 75 seems OK but you need to work at it and keep to the exercise routine, it's tough but perseverance will pay dividends. Best of luck and think positive thoughts.

 

Hi Liz, sorry to hear you're struggling. I'm 18 days out from TKR, also done in Derby 😃

I'm not sure how your primary health care works, not being a permanent UK resident, but if possible I would urge you to get a GP appointment to review your pain and sleep. I had terrible trouble sleeping with my first TKR in March of this year, coupled with severe pain, especially at night. My GP prescribed a low dose of Amitriptyline, which helps with nerve pain, and also helps to relax you a little. I have continued taking them, under GP supervision, and have only had one bad night since my second surgery on October 29th. I'm regularly sleeping 4-6 hours at a time, sometimes up to 8-10 hours in total.

I know people shy away from taking additional medication, but it's important to try and facilitate some quality sleep as you heal much better when rested. The same goes for pain relief - taken under medical supervision, you should take whatever you need. Please don't think about trying to come off them too soon, you won't be able to do your exercises properly, and your outcome will be poorer for it.

Interesting to hear you used Arnica cream. I used it for both my surgeries, along with Arnica tablets and Arnica massage balm. I did have some pretty fierce bruising, but it's faded really quickly. Like you, though, my leg still FEELS bruised, although there's nothing visible.

Reading you describe your pain, it sounds pretty much the same as mine. I also spend a lot of time massaging my thigh, back of knee, calf.....do you use anything to massage with? I use both Arnica Massage balm (more like a massage oil), which is very soothing and smells lovely, and Tiger Balm, which is very warming.

It must be very hard for you, being away from family and friends. I'm sure the friend you're staying with is doing a brilliant job, but are you perhaps being "on your best behaviour"? By that I mean are you resting as much as you need? Napping during the day? You may or may not be familiar with the TKR Mantra - "Dont stand if you can sit, don't sit if you can lie down, don't be awake if you can be asleep"! Although it's a little tongue in cheek, the sentiment is right - REST! Whenever, wherever, however, just rest!

I hope you manage to get some respite from your nighttime pain, and that you can soon start to see the positives from your surgery.

Terri xx

I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone of you.  What a lovely group of very supportive people on this forum.  Wish I had found it before the op.

i have just wakened up having a good three hours and feel like a new woman. I found a position, though not perfect, helps me.  I stuck my left leg out of the covers and had it dangling over the edge.  It seems to help the pain in my thigh and calf and with the compression socks on, your leg does not get cold.

On the subject of the stockings, were you all told to wear them for six weeks both night and day?

i am just going to have a cup of tea and read all your comments properly.

thank you all once again.

liz