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Irritable legs at night in bed

Posted , 11 users are following.

susyp
susyp

Hi loving this site finding it really helpful. I've posted a few days ago about not been able to sleep at night. I find it difficult to sleep on my back and cannot keep my legs flat so I tend to sleep with either my operatedcleg s knee raised or both knees raised.

Not sure why this is happening but I read until really tired and then try to sleep. As soon as I lay in my sleeping position my legs start moving about almost uncontrollably. They can't find a comfy position I have to readjust pillows etc and it can be hours by the time they stop.

Being sleep deprived is exhausting I'm now on day 10. I've tried sleeping tablets but I still go through the same procedure with my legs .

Has anyone else come across this or have any advise. I see my physio this Thursday

Thanks a very tired Sue

1 like, 36 replies

36 Replies

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  • CelsB
    CelsB susyp

    Posted

    Hi Sue,

    I'm really sorry you are experiencing this on top of everything else.  Did you have irritable legs before your THR?

    I'm afraid I can't suggest anything except pillow arrangements which you are aready doing, except contacting your GP, because there are treatments for restless leg syndrome if that is what it is.

    Early days though Sue, and I hope this settles down as you heal.  Get as much sleep as you can during the day, even if is is catnaps.  Lie on the the sofa with the telly on and maybe you'll drop off without thinking about it.  

    I really do feel for you.

    Cels xxx

    • susyp
      susyp CelsB

      Posted

      Thanks I've never had a problem sleeping I could sleep anywhere and rarely woke up in the night. It appears to be common though.

      My physio told me I can't sit on my sofa as it's too low to be safe . I miss it so much. Would love to lay on it I wouldnt go to bed then.

      I have to make do with an armchair I got for this operation it's like the hospital ones doubt I'll get a good night's sleep on it.

      It's strange if I try sleep through the day in bed how my legs stay still. Probably worn them out ☺

  • susan47173
    susan47173 susyp

    Posted

    Hi sue I think most of us have suffered with similar problems and for me 10 weeks on I still am restless during the night, there as been lots of good tips on here re getting comfortable. When my legs start I go through the bed exercises it seems to help get some control back, massaging muscles helps too. Your physio should be able to give you some advice. Hope you soon get a good night's rest

    Regards Sue x

    • susyp
      susyp susan47173

      Posted

      Thanks I'll try the exercises. Can't wait to be 10 weeks in.

      Take care

      Sue

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK susyp

    Posted

    I also had to keep raising my knees to get comfy at night - then laying my good leg (only) flat to the side, and my legs were irratable too and it's very difficult to find a position that is completely comfy.  If I remember, it started to get easier after a couple of weeks.

    Graham - 🚀💃

    • susyp
      susyp Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Hopefully it will get easier. This appears to be a common problem. Hate the nights.

      Sue

  • lisa17089
    lisa17089 susyp

    Posted

    Hi sue

    I too had trouble sleeping in my first couple of weeks. I'm 5 weeks post op today and still like it some nights now trying to get comfy. Are you on any pain killers? I was on tramadol and put some off it down to this when I looked up the side effects. I was that tired I actually rang nhs direct to ask for sleeping tablets. When I spoke to the nurse she told me there was lots of bad side effects with tramadol and other pain killers.i was twitching and couldn't keep still it was terrible, I was crying because I was that tired, I also just couldn't get comfy. I decided to ditch the medication as my need for sleep was greater than my pain. I finally managed to get some sleep I too slept with my legs bent and raised I couldn't have them flat.i am a lot better now though I still am quite restless with my legs at night. I hope this helps and I really hope you manage to get some sleep soon.theres nothing worse than sleep depravation.

    Take care

    Lisa xx

    • susyp
      susyp lisa17089

      Posted

      Thanks Lisa. I'm taking 10mg codeine and 500mg paracetamol in tablet form every 6 hours. I am still in pain on my operated leg and couldn't manage without them as yet. I do have stronger ones from the hospital 30mg codeine but don't take these as they make me feel nauseous. I think you might be right about the tablets causing twitches and I might ditch the codeine. The doctors gave me 7 sleeping tablets I now have 4 left and I can honestly say they make no difference to my sleep at night only name me tired through the day. I won't be asking for any more.

      Your close to your 6 weeks milestone now and hopefully you will be able to sleep in a comfier position.

      Let us know how you get on take care

      Sue x

    • lisa17089
      lisa17089 susyp

      Posted

      Ye I'm back on Thursday for my 6 week appointment, I've been naughty and have been sleeping on my non operated side even though they told me not too. I just couldn't sleep on my back, I couldn't get comfy and had bad pain in my bum cheek lol.i will let you know how I get on. Hope you manage to get some sleep soon, I know exactly how your feeling

      Big hugs

      Lisa xx

    • lisa17089
      lisa17089 susyp

      Posted

      Hi sue

      Just to let you know one of the side effects of codeine is trouble sleeping. Could you manage with just paracetamol? It may be worth trying

      Lisa x

  • Kate53CornUK
    Kate53CornUK susyp

    Posted

    Morning Sue,

    I have had two hips done and when I had the righty done I fretted about sleep non-stop. The less I had the more twitchy, in more than one sense of the word, I got.

    Day 10 is still very early, your body is still in shock and trying to re-locate nerves, tendon and muscles that have been cut, yanked, pulled and rearranged. To add to this we have to try and get some sleep on our backs, which for a lifetime side sleeper I found impossible.

    Until I managed to get myself over on my side my sleep was broken all night every night (sorry) by legs that couldn't keep still -  but I survived it, twice, and the second time was much better. I still didn't sleep but I changed my attitude towards it.

    Instead of staying in bed and waiting for calm legs and sleep that never came, I got up. I often pottered around and did something and then settled down on the sofa with my new, comfy blanket, a cup of tea and watched a film. Just this change seemed to do the trick. I laid on the sofa with plenty of supportive cushions behind me and just dropped off for another couple of hours.

    I became a naughty side sleeper after two weeks, gradually turning onto my side and found I could sleep for longer periods and my legs calmed down. 

    I am 5 weeks now and sleep through til about 4/5am. I still get up and catch up on a film but am a lot more relaxed about not getting enough sleep. I figured out that I am not using half the energy I was before so probably don't need as much anyway.

    It will end, you're not stuck with this for life and it will change. In the meantime grab a catnap where you can xxx

    • susyp
      susyp Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Thanks Kate I thing anxiety has something to do with it. I tell myself not to think about sleep so as not to bring on the restlessness but it creeps in. I read watch TV etc in bed and only try to sleep when my eyes are closing but somehow every night turns into the same pattern where I end up getting up and walking around in a daze.

      I can't sit on my sofa it's too low I have a high seat back armchair but I doubt I could sleep in it. I could try with cushions. Surprisingly I'm not as tired as I should be and like you say it's probably because I don't do very much. I think the key is to relax about it its not like I've got to go anywhere next day.

      Good Luck

      Sue x

    • renee01952
      renee01952 susyp

      Posted

      Sue, is there any way to put your sofa on blocks to get the proper height ?

      It is the getting on and off , of course - 

      I have wooden blocks of about 10 cm high - mine is a straight forward couch that came with the rental bungalow - 

      maybe someone can help you with i -  

      big warm hug

      renee

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK susyp

      Posted

      Sue, I think you have answered your own question there. You are worrying about sleep that you don't need.

      My sofa is also illegally low. I have a corner sofa and no room for a chair so had to improvise. From the day I came out of hospital I have been getting up and down from it. At first I used an arm and my stick to push up straight to standing and then developed a sort of roll off the edge and then up. I use an army of cushions and pillows to keep me in place.

       Re sleep - there is a Cornish statement that says "Madder do un", it means why are you worried about that, it doesn't matter. It is resting that is essential to healing not sleep itself.

       

    • susyp
      susyp Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Thanks Kate made me smile. I am definitely going to have chill out around the sleep situation.

      Might even get on my illegally low sofa with an army of cushions too.

      Take care

      Sue x

    • CelsB
      CelsB susyp

      Posted

      My sofa is also too low, but as long as I stretch my operated leg out in front of me I can get on and off without breaking the rules.  I lay on it sometimes in the day because I can rest my feet on the arm to help the little bit of swelling around my ankles.

      I think as long as you are aware it's okay. 

      Cels xxx

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK CelsB

      Posted

      Cels, is right, as long as you are careful. and you will know straight away if you can't do it. Always keep your hips straight, no twisting. At first I stretched my leg out, as Cels said, leaned back and hooked my op leg up with my good one and then pushed back into position using my good leg.

      The relief of lying on my sofa was amazing, much better than bed for the first 2 weeks. If you keep the rules in your head and do everything really slowly you'll be fine.

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Kate & Cels are right here - use common sense (we oldies know what that is, right?), it may be strictly speaking 'illegal' in height, but with care, and putting your leg out you can still abide by the 90 degree rule, which is so important.

      But no twisting or bending.

      Graham - 🚀💃

    • susyp
      susyp CelsB

      Posted

      Thanks think I need to try this

      Take care

      Sue x

    • susyp
      susyp CelsB

      Posted

      Thanks need to do this

      Take care

      Sue x

    • ann47958
      ann47958 Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Oh Kate so glad I read your message I had my operation 11 days ago and the illegal height sofa has beckoned will try it today as my heels are sore from resting on the bed
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