Tkr

I'm two weeks post.  Not sleeping is normal for a while.  Sadly our home is also our office and every time I fall asleep during the day someone phones or knocks on the door.  I feel like a zombie.  A lot of the pain is caused by stiffness and swelling.  I can't wait to sleep on my side once again.  I have panic attacks when I sleep on my back.  Hope you get some rest soon.  

I found a pillow from thigh to ankle helped me. They do say not to do it but it worked for me and as a nurse and having had both knees done, mine are fine now . I just made sure I did the exercises and still do them . I had one knee done dec16 and the other June 17. Hope this helps.

Pillow under knee, flat on back. You won't be able to sleep on your side just yet, and when you can,put a pillow between your knees. Bad knee on top.

I plan on buying a knee wedge pillow for my upcoming surgery (to keep my leg elevated).  Can that be used for sleeping at night also?  Does anyone have any recommendations on exactly what pillow to buy? PS. I am so nervous about the recovery, pain and sleepless nights that I keep reading about.

Hi

Unfortunately you are following the normal path. I did not really sleep properly for 12 weeks.

If did improve slowly from 6 weeks 10 weeks, then more normal  12 weeks onwards.

I continuously used a iced knee wrap, however once the ice was gone, it became an oven, pain and awake.

Air Cast ice bucket and knee wrap worth investing in, you can change the iced water in the knee wrap via gravity, without leaving your bed.

Good healing

I always had problem sleeping. I found a very thin pillow between the knees as my best aid but others have bought the full body pulled avAilable from Amazon. I really found my recliner to be my best friend when it came to sleeping anytime day or night. Mine isn't one of the big puffy marshmallow type chairs but a more upright with firmer cushions. Ice and elevation of course are mandatory to keep the pressure in the right places. Unfortunately this us a major complaint from a lot of folks and can last for awhile. Because rest is so important to healing, sleep anywhere, anytime u til you start seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. I've been through 11 surgeries and 5 complete rehab and even with that kind of experience I never found an easy way out.

Sleeping on back with legs slightly elevated by pillows very helpful. I have trouble being flat on back so I also elevated upper body a little too with back rest and pillows. Not ideal but it worked for me until I could get to my side. I am 8 weeks out.

Hi. Same here really. I am a side sleeper but managed to sleep on my back with pillows under my lower legs. Couldn't wait to sleep on my side which was at about 6 weeks with a pillow between knees . I am 10 weeks post now. A glass of wine also helped. !

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/trouble-sleeping-post-tkr--539591

Badda bing...badda boom.  Done...

Hello Laila,

Seems like yesterday that I was going through what you are experiencing.  I’m 10 weeks post-op and finally able to sleep on my side, sleep all night, and not take any more pills!! 

You are going through what every tkr recipient has to go through.  We’ve tried everything possible to get sleep, from sprinkling lavender oil on the pillow to wrapping themselves around a body pillow...by the way neither of these worked for me!  Like most, I slept on my back, my legs elevated with pillows, and grabbed every minute of

shuteye that I could.  It took a good 6-8 weeks before I could sleep through the night.  So, hang in there, sleep will come before you know it...don’t forget those cat naps during the day.

Best of luck,

Cherry 🍒  

Have you tried rolling over on your side and putting a pillow between your legs?