Connect
← Return to Trouble sleeping after TKR: What helped you sleep?
Discussion
Trouble sleeping after TKR: What helped you sleep?
Joint Replacements | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (127)Comment receiving replies
I am now 4.5 weeks past TKR. In the beginning,
I had the insomnia everyone talked about. Until recently, I continued to use an alarm and wake myself up to keep my medication dosage even so I wouldn’t get behind on the pain. But the last two weeks- wow- all I want to do is sleep! I nap for an hour after breakfast, fall asleep again after lunch, doze with the TV in the evening and then go to bed at 10! According to my Fitbit, I’ve clocked 11.5 hours of sleep since yesterday! Friends warned me that they felt super tired so I wanted to ask this group— are you tired? Way more than normal? How long does this last?? I feel like a slug- but a very happy one! It’s cold outside and I’m curled up inside!!
Replies to "I am now 4.5 weeks past TKR. In the beginning, I had the insomnia everyone talked..."
i am 3 months post surgery and still healing but, but yes remember a few weeks 4-8 weeks out that i would sleep 12-14 hrs a day. For someone that only required 5-6 hrs of sleep prior to surgery. Your body is telling you something!
Hi @amytro. You sound very normal to me. I had my TKR in May 2018 and it I was sleepy as well. I think there were a few reasons for this and I believe I read about this as well. First of all surgery is a trauma to the body and sleep helps it to heal. I woke up a lot a night because I was uncomfortable. I hated that immobilizer that they make you wear. The compression stockings and the immobilizer made me hot. I am also a side sleeper and hated being on my back and not being able to bend my knee. Because of the way I had to sleep, I was not as comfortable and not as rested when I woke up. Doing PT wears you out!! For a while I would go to PT, walk in the door, and collapse on the couch. Also, getting around after a knee replacement is a lot harder. It takes a lot more out of you. Then the pain meds made me tired as well. It takes a while for you to build up your stamina. I had the pleasure of falling and landing on my shoulder while recovering from my TKR. So I had to have another major surgery in October to repair 3 tendons and a torn bicep. I am sleeping better now, but still not where I used to be. I still have trouble getting comfortable at night and I need a nap most every day. And now I am getting ready to schedule the other knee. One of these days I hope to get back to a normal sleep pattern. LOL!! Hope you get back to your normal sleep schedule soon!
Connect
@amytro. I have always craved sleep after surgery. I guess our bodies must take a lot of energy to heal.
JK