TKR and bedtime
Posted , 7 users are following.
I had a tkr on my right knee under epidural last Thursday 25/04. I was up using a frame the same same day and on sticks and sent home the following afternoon. I can get up and down stairs slowly and can bend quite well when sitting in upright solid chair however bedtime is another issue. Getting in is a struggle as my bed is fairly high, getting out of it not to bad but I cannot do anything more than doze on and off as just cannot get comfortable. The worse pain is in my quad and up into my groin once I move out of bed it goes.
Does anyone have any tips on how to help this just so I can get bit more sleep in my bed.
2 likes, 5 replies
Jeep15 Bellelouise
Posted
I had my TKR on March 12th and I still have problems sleeping very long! Have you tried putting a pillow under your knee? It might help! Good luck!
CHICO_MARX Bellelouise
Posted
Here ya go...
Post-TKR Sleep Tips
jenny61596 Bellelouise
Posted
I found night was the worst , couldnt sleep for longer than two hours , lasted for first two months then suddenly improved . Cant offer any suggestions other than patience , pillow can help but its normal , I would just watch netflix or whatever and sleep when I could
hope4cure Bellelouise
Posted
in many cases most who have had tkr on this forum have recommended sleeping in a lounge chair. they are adjustable and so much easier to get comfortable and move in and out especially in the first few weeks. some can rent them i was lucky and found a used one and its been a life savor.
lynn41926 Bellelouise
Posted
Bellelouise I feel your pain! I had TKR in left knee at end of January and thought I'd never be able to sleep again when I got home. Like you, my bed is very high so I slept in the spare bedroom on a lower bed for 6 weeks. Its very early stages for you yet, but you seem to be doing brilliantly. I went back to work at 9 weeks but I'm still taking things slowly, especially stairs. I still use a stick when I'm outside, just for confidence really. Bedtimes are rough, especially if you're not used to sleeping on your back, like me. I couldn't wait to be able to lay on my side, but even when I could, with the help of lots of pillows, I still couldn't sleep....I tried everything, reading, listening to music, surfing the internet, listening to calming sounds, and eventually trying Nytol - which only made my legs restless!!! In the end I just decided to go with it, accept that it was difficult to sleep when you cant get comfy, as I could always catch up on the sofa the next day...and it worked. Slowly but surely things got better. Please allow yourself to accept that things aren't the same - you've been through MAJOR invasive surgery from which it takes time to recover. Sleep when you can, don't expect too much too soon, and give yourself some TLC. Now 12 weeks on and each day I can do some little thing that I couldn't do 6 weeks ago! If you're in pain at night, take painkillers, use lots of soft pillows (lengthwise down your legs rather than just under your knee, and one at each side to support it). Give it time and you'll get there.....oh, and don't forget - exercise (very important but only what you can manage), ice and rest!