TKR GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12

[CLaudia]

Hi Dori, I so feel for what you're going through. For the most part just one Tylenol PM does the trick for me. But last night I was really restless, tossed and turned, and finally decided it was knee achiness keeping me awake. I took one more Tylenol and that seemed to help. For me, lack of sleep is the worst part of this whole process. From all I've read on here, there is no one answer to the problem except time. Small comfort when you're exhausted. Hope it gets better soon.

 

[referee54]

ARRGHHH

I just can't seem to stop tossing and turning....all night long. I can't get in a comfortable position and when I do manage to drift off to sleep, I feel like I am waking up every hour. My bed covers look like a disaster area the next morning. This is beginning to wear me out....

Am I the only one with INSOMNIA??

What's the deal? Is it the knee still aching? Withdrawal from the narcotics? Not enough physical activity to tire my muscles out???

Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

In essence, no---you are not the only one with insomnia---many of us went through this---I was warned about it by to of my friends who had TKR's done prior to mine.

I certainly understand how you feel---I felt the same way. I would wander around throughout the night trying---hoping---to find a comfortable place to sleep. My bed, the guest bed, the couch, the futon, and finally, i would toss the futon mattress onto the floor.

It was not that I was in pain---I just couldn't ever get completely comfortable. It was very, very frustrating, and I dreaded the night---knowing that it was going to happen again tonight!

I tried Tylenol PM; I tried Benadryl; I tried herbal teas; I tried about everything---

I finally gave in and had my OS write me a script for Ambien---ten nights of that and I re-established my sleep pattern.

 

[Lori]

Thanks again for sharing, because when you do, it benefits so many. I'll keep all this helpful information in mind when I have my TKR in early June. Such good tips about having the pain meds handy & making sure the health care providers are on the same page regarding pain.

 

[GrandyGirl]

Thanks Tim and Claudia,

I think I am going to break down and take the Tramedol tonight with a warm cup of chamomile tea. This sleep deprivation is beginning to get the best of me. And you are so right...I am beginning to dread night time:hate-shocked:because I know that I am going to be up and down all night long. But it sounds like there is some light at the end of the tunnel and this, too shall pass.

Geez.


Dori

 

[referee54]

I really wanted what you want---not only to get a good night's sleep, but also to re-establish normalcy in my life---to do what I had done literally thousands of nights previously.

I learned to sleep when I could---naps are great! (I used to get upset about taking a nap when I was a little boy!)

 

[GrandyGirl]

I used to sleep like a baby no matter what else was going on in my life. I had a great mattress and I couldn't wait to lay my head down at night. Now I am almost afraid to turn the lights out because of the insomnia.

Naps are a good idea. Some sleep is better than none. Thanks!

Dori

 

[aretha]

Hi Dori,

In the first few months after my TKR I had an absolutely nightmare of a time sleeping, personally I wasn't the best sleeper before, but AFTER!!
I was like you would dread going to bed, stayed up as late as I could until my eyes wouldn't stay open, go up to bed, and still found I wasn't able to get off to sleep! I do sympathize with you, but hey, it did pass, and before I realised it I was sleeping better and better, so please realise that this is definitely part of the TKR process, more so for some folks, but it does pass and if you can't sleep, either read or get on to Bonesmart and "talk" to the others on line.

You are doing well otherwise, so will keep following your posts, and wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care

 

[helix-2000]

I am going through the lack of sleep so know where you are coming from. I think after the first nite home in which I did sleep and one other nite in which I got about 5 hours of sleep are the bext. Now I get naps through the day and night. Ambien has not helped so stopped using it. From what I have read sleep will come in time.

 

[Randi]

I still occasionally have 'one of those nights' and I find Tylenol PM just enough to let me relax into a peaceful sleep ...hope you find something that works for you.

 

[Josephine]

Dori - read this Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

 

[GrandyGirl]

Josephine,

This is a great article about why we have problems sleeping after a TKR. Somehow I missed it the first time around. It's worth posting again because being prepared for this can really help...and I wasn't. I was blindsided by the insomnia but now I feel that I will be better able to handle it. I'm about to take a nap now. Thank you.



Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[aretha]

Happy napping Dori!!

 

[GrandyGirl]

For the past 2 nights I have been taking Tramadol which was Rx'ed prior to my TKR and it has helped me sleep tremendously. I really needed some sleep and I hope that soon I won't need to take a pill to get relief. I don't mind a few sleepless nights but that was getting ridiculous and it was beginning to affect my overall health and disposition.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[GrandyGirl]

Hello Everybody,

This begins week 10 Post Op

I can FINALLY honestly say at this point that I am happy that I made the decision to have a TKR. Things are finally beginning to gel. I can actually get thru the day without feeling like I am struggling with pain all day long. The stretches that you guys told me to do to increase my ROM are making a huge difference in the ease with which I am able to move around. Today I walked in the park again for the first time since months before my surgery. It felt so nice to be out there on there again. I didn't go very far and I don't intend to over do it. But walking in the part again is a huge part of reclaiming my life. My gym bag is all packed and I plan to resume water aerobics tomorrow. I won't try to attend a formal session, just walking and stretching on my own in the pool. I decided to postpone working with a trainer at the gym for a few more weeks. I think it's too soon for that. But I'm happy with the progress Ive made. I rarely have to ice anymore because the swelling is minimal. I'm still using heat ocassionally to stretch my ligaments and tendons before exercising. And I'm sleeping OK again, with the help of an ocassional Tramadol.

Dori
aka GrandyGirl

 

[Jazyb]

Hi Dori
I am so glad you feel so positive about having the surgery. Your regime is obviously paying off for you and it sounds perfect - great report!

 

[GrandyGirl]

Hi Jo,

Thank you. You have been such an inspiration to me. We both have a ways to go...and somewhere along the way, I've got it to do it all over again on the other knee...but at least now I can believe that there really is a light at the end of this tunnel. For a while, it was really touch and go and I just had to believe what others before us kept saying. They said it would get better and it has!

Dori

 

[CLaudia]

Hi Dori, glad to hear you are sleeping again. The world looks brighter after a good nights sleep!! Sounds like you are really improving, I'm so happy for you. I think the 10-week mark is a major milestone where we really start to feel better mentally and physically.

 

[GrandyGirl]

Hi Claudia,

Things certainly seem to have settled down a lot. I feel that I can get "there" from here. Every now and then I still get a wierd pain or sensation but it only lasts for a moment and I can usually talk myself thru it or massage the area gently until it goes away. It's been quite an adventure. When I share it with others, I try not to focus on the bad parts...nobody but you BoneSmarties would believe me anyway:biggrin:

How's your recovery coming along?

Dori

 

[Jamie]

That's certainly wonderful to hear, Dori!!! Keep those good reports coming!

 

[GrandyGirl]

Well, it's almost 3 am so I can safely assume that the Tramadol isn't going to work tonight. It usually takes several hours to kick in and that's strange. I am not in any physical discomfort, I'm not stressed out about anything, I just cannot sleep tonight. Unfortunately, I think the insomnia may have returned for Round 2.

So I think I will probably stop taking the Tramadol (since it really isn't working anymore) and just bite the insomnia bullet...as much as I don't want to....and ride it out. From what everyone says, this is normal and it will pass in time. I will try to catch a nap during the day if I possibly can and if it gets really bad, perhaps I wll try the Tramadol again on down the road.

So I guess I'll pop into the Social Room since that's what it's there for and play a few games. I COULD clean up my bedroom, but that would make too much sense, wouldn't it???

Sigh................. NOT!

Dori
aka GrandyGirl