I had TKR on July 30th 2020. My recovery went well and I went back to work full-time 4.5 months after my TKR. But one major problem that is following me on a chronic basis is insomnia. I experience pain if I have been on my feet too long or walked too long but I take a couple of Tylenols and I am fine. So clearly my insomnia has NOTHING to do with pain. I am not taking any morphine or other type of pain killer.
The strange thing is that I have NEVER had trouble sleeping in all my 68 years excepting since my TKR. For a number of years I was taking Wellbutrin which causes insomnia or similar sleep problems but even through all the years I was on Wellbutrin I NEVER experienced any sleep issues. Since my TKR initially I thought it was the pain but after my pain became a non-issue my insomnia has continued and I cannot sleep without a sleeping pill. I have tried Melatonin 3 mg, no effect. I tried 6 mg Melatonin no effect. I stayed wide awake and then went back to taking sleeping pills. I cannot sleep without a sleeping pill.
I read somewhere that after major surgery like TKR that people experience sleep disturbances, but usually it's because they are taking pain killers and have issues because of pain. This is NOT the case with me. I also read that insomnia after major surgery may be caused by the type of anesthetic used. Elsewhere I read that insomnia is fairly frequent after general anesthesia. I was not given general anesthesia.
Can anyone on this website enlighten me as to what exactly is going on and causing my chronic insomnia. Any insights or advice will help. This insomnia has become a curse on me and my quality of life.
The strange thing is that I have NEVER had trouble sleeping in all my 68 years excepting since my TKR. For a number of years I was taking Wellbutrin which causes insomnia or similar sleep problems but even through all the years I was on Wellbutrin I NEVER experienced any sleep issues. Since my TKR initially I thought it was the pain but after my pain became a non-issue my insomnia has continued and I cannot sleep without a sleeping pill. I have tried Melatonin 3 mg, no effect. I tried 6 mg Melatonin no effect. I stayed wide awake and then went back to taking sleeping pills. I cannot sleep without a sleeping pill.
I read somewhere that after major surgery like TKR that people experience sleep disturbances, but usually it's because they are taking pain killers and have issues because of pain. This is NOT the case with me. I also read that insomnia after major surgery may be caused by the type of anesthetic used. Elsewhere I read that insomnia is fairly frequent after general anesthesia. I was not given general anesthesia.
Can anyone on this website enlighten me as to what exactly is going on and causing my chronic insomnia. Any insights or advice will help. This insomnia has become a curse on me and my quality of life.