Trouble sleeping after TKR: What helped you sleep?

I am now 11 months post op TKR. I could not tolerate any narcotics or tramadol for pain so I took the maximum amount of Tylenol and ibuprofen for 8 weeks. I was not able to sleep for more than 2 hours for 3-4 months before waking up first with pain, then as time passed a general feeling of discomfort, not able to find a comfortable position. I spent about 3 months on the couch. At 4 months I began to sleep for longer stretches. Tried melatonin and benedryl . Did not work. Couldn’t get cannibus or I would have tried it (I live in NC). I now sleep pretty well since I can shift in different positions. I still use a very soft pillow between my knees when I lay on my side.

Have you tried Ambien? I had problems sleeping after TKR and Ambien worked for me. I have had sleep issues for many years but was worse after TKR. After about 4 months, my normal sleep pattern returned. Good luck!

I used olly it says you can take two only needed one ….works great

That’s just melatonin. Unfortunately melatonin didn’t help me sleep at all

I can relate! I am a 61 woman and had a TKR 6 months ago. I have not slept well since my surgery but it getting better and I used to sleep like a “rock” before surgery. I tried the pillow between my legs etc but no help. I would flip and flop and move the my leg constantly trying to get comfortable. I reached out to my surgeon around 3.5 to 4 months and his response to see my PA to rule out restless leg syndrome!! I have never had RLS and why would I get it in one leg only??! I want not happy with his response. I saw my PA and she said no way it was RLS. She wants me to get a 2nd opinion but I have not gone yet. She prescribed Pregabalin (to calm nerves) and Hydroxyzine (PA told me it is like Benadryl on steroids). I take both a night and after 6 months my sleep is finally getting better!! Good luck to you!!

Sleeping in a recliner really helped me. It kept me from putting my knee in so many painful positions.

Can I put those directly on the incision, I’m 2 months out
Thanks

I last about an hour and a half in my bed, then the pain in my right leg wakes me up. I have to get up, walk around, ice my knee to get the pain to go away. Many times I have to take Tylenol and oxycodone to alleviate the pain at night. This pain is different from any other pain I experienced after previous surgeries. But this is the first surgery that involved cutting bones, besides my bunion surgery. Which hurt but was able to sleep.

After surgery, I always take my ice to bed with me! After knee and hip surgeries, I had a Cryo-Cuff, with an ice/water reservoir to recharge it as needed - lasted all night. As I recall, I iced my knee at night for a good 3 months or more or I was awake and hurting.

After hand surgeries, I had soft icepacks (like they use at PT) wrapped around and secured with a bandage - had to change during night.

I am now 9 weeks from major shoulder repair (not replacement) - I rented a new kind of cooling machine that cycled on and off all night - recommended by my surgeon. It weas pricy but I had FSA dollars, so I went for it.

Originally was going to use for 4 weeks, but I kept it for 8. Now I still ice once a day and at bedtime with the flexible PT type large wrap. If I wake up I get a new one out of the freezer.

Can you figure out as way to ice in bed? Also, are you still icing and elevating a couple times a day? This can help with nighttime pain by keeping swelling and inflammation at a minimum.