TKR Sleeping at night

[Roseangel69]

Had my right knee replaced 4 weeks ago August 18. I am usually not cold but after dinner at night I feel like a frozen popsicle. I see others have had this issue too. And so hard to get comfortable at night to sleep. Does this get better? Thanks

 

[Jcx]

@Roseangel69 Things do get better but it all takes time. Read the old post and use this forum to ask questions. The answers are all out there and take your medication as prescribed. Take care jcx

 

[Jaycey]

@Roseangel69 Welcome to BoneSmart and the other side of surgery!

Many of our members have this issue with feeling the cold after surgery. Yes, this does ease with time. Keeping your feet covered and lots of blankets and warm clothing helps. Soothing hot drinks warm and keep you hydrated.

Here are your recovery guidelines:
KNEE RECOVERY GUIDELINES

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary.

If you want to use something to assist with healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.

2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)
don't overwork.
3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these
the BoneSmart view on exercise
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
Activity progression for TKRs
The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery. While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[sistersinhim]

I think your body is concentrating on healing your knee and icing that knee contributes to your cold feeling. I had to go stand outside in the 90 degrees to warm up. I also bought an electric throw to use and help with those chills. As you heal more, your body will start to warm up. Don't worry, it is normal. In the meantime, wrap up in a warm blanket!

 

[JusticeRider]

@Roseangel69 I also felt very cold in the weeks after surgery. Especially with all the icing I needed to do. I got an electric heating pad and laid it across my hips and it felt sooo good.

 

[kneeper]

Yes, it does get better. Spending the summer bundled in a fleece blanket seems strange but I certainly did that a lot!

 

[Axx72]

Big sausage leg…and shriveled up buddy from all the icing!!

Couldn’t wait until suture was ready for the HOT TUB

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary!
Try a heating pad, that should help you warm up before bed.
Wishing you some warm cozy nights of restorative rest.
@Roseangel69

 

[Roseangel69]

Thank you so much everyone. I’m glad I found this forum. I hope it’s ok to post this. This is week 5. I didn’t freeze so bad last night. Again thank you.

 

[Roseangel69]

It’s been 5 weeks since my TKR. Sleeping is a bear. What are some suggestions for getting sleep. Elevate, pillows. When does the problem start to reduce.

 

[mendogal]

Sleeping is a super common problem!!!
- are you taking pain meds on a schedule? Even after weaning off the stronger prescription ones, I have found it essential to take acetaminophen on a schedule (For me it's two 500 mg three times daily).
- try sleeping in a recliner, or on a sofa, with legs up on three plump pillows, and see if you can manage a few hours at a time, then get up, move about for a while, and find a slightly different place to settle...or decide that for now, three hour naps at intervals, three times a day might be for a little while "normal."
-I was in despair and trying various remedies. What finally worked for me without the problems associated with "sleeping pills" was a two remedy combo: a commercially available herbal tea "sleep blend" containing valerian (Traditional Medicinals makes it in tea bags; I used a loose tea version from Art of Tea) plus a 3 mg sustained release melatonin. I slept six hours the first time I tried them and they remain effective. Take them an hour before retiring and then avoid bright lighting because the melatonin is most effective in dim lighting.

 

[Jaycey]

@Roseangel69 Read this article again Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it? Unfortunately sleep problems are a part of this recovery. Nap when you can - day or night. This will all ease with time.

You will notice that I merged your newest post with your original recovery thread. For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

Please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here. If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we will get it changed for you.

If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.

Many members bookmark their thread in their computer browser, so they can find it when they log on.

 

[Axx72]

Taking a magnesium supplement and or melatonin can help with sleep, bone and nerve health. Ask a professional to make sure u don’t have any contraindications with current meds u are on.

For the first year the most continuous sleep I got was prob 5 hours but most of the time in blocks of 3. When my knee was static for more than 2.5 hrs it became super achy and I had to get up and move. Still up super early in the morning.

It will get better. Little by little.

 

[Layla]

What are some suggestions for getting sleep

For me, Magnesium helps.

Magnesium supports the following:
Bone health
Healthy blood sugar
Cardiovascular health
Muscle relaxation and nerves
Promotes healthy sleep (falling asleep and staying asleep)

An article on Magnesium -
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/magnesium-is-a-star.20301/

Also, pillows! Lots of bed pillows! Different degrees of firmness. I pretty much surrounded myself with them for comfort and ease to plop a leg or arm on. I also have loved an inexpensive Body Pillow from Target that I’ve held onto since my surgery over six years ago. Gather up some bed pillows from around the house and see if it helps. Fingers crossed!

Happy Sunday! I hope you have a great week.

 

[Roseangel69]

Thank you everyone. I appreciate all the suggestions and comments.

 

[Layla]

Hi Roseangel,
I hope you're sleeping better these days. If not, I am sure you will be soon.
Stopping by to say and wish you a Happy Two Month Anniversary!
I hope all is well and I wish you a great rest of the week.
@Roseangel69

 

[Roseangel69]

Thank you. Am doing ok. I know a ways to go yet but doing ok

 

[Katt]

I finally started sleeping better ( and back in my bed) around 10 weeks. I found a body pillow made a huge difference.

 

[Roseangel69]

9 weeks post op. Went to Drs yesterday and all is on track. Rom was 105. And I’m good with that. Healing is going nicely. Sleeping is better.

 

[sistersinhim]

Sounds good!