Insomnia

I have experienced this after a knee replacement surgery.

Was wondering if your husband was given a spinal nerve block in the procedure or has utilized any SSRI medication prior to surgery.

Does your Husband take any medication to try to assist with the insomnia? The meds I have used have helped some, then, stop being very effective.

In my case, these were the dynamics. Risks of depression or neurotoxicity for this nerve block method were never discussed in the pre-op appointment.

This has been so severe that it has caused me to be forced out of work on disability.

I am sorry to hear that Your Husband is struggling with this. It is real, tends to realize that something caused a shift in the brain, possibly Hippocampus region. And, wouldn’t you know that some research shows that is the region that affects neurogenesis. So, neuro plasticity is the buzzword everyone uses with therapy, but there are some physical limitations if this area of the brain is compromised. I have been through a year of therapy and various medications, and unfortunately, no answers.

I know what he is dealing with and it is hellish.

I have had many surgeries, injections, ablations on my lower back. I get hyaluronic acid & cortisone injections in both knees every 6 months. Left hip is close to failing. Right hip has been replaced. Both rotator cuffs have significant tears.
I went years decades not sleeping well. Before the major crackdowns on pain management I was taking a Dilaudid, Ambien and Xanax every single night to maybe get 4 hours sleep.
When medical marijuana became legal, it saved my life.
The Indica strain does nothing but relax you and put you to sleep. It did take quite awhile for me to figure out the best dosage for myself. I’m not a smoker so that was not an option.
I take a capsule which usually starts working in about 90 min.
I eat a gummy which usually starts working in 20-30 minutes.
Last, I put 1 ml of tincture under my tongue which starts working in about 10-15 minutes.
Most nights I get a minimum of 6-7 hours. No grogginess the next day. So much better than pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately it’s expensive.

Flyjim:

Are all the capsules, gummies, and tinctures the Indica strain? Also, do you still take the Xanax or were you able to ween off the benzodiazepine?

These can be tough to get off of with prolonged use. I know everyone is different, but I and others have had withdrawal symptoms from the Benzos. Definitely the drug of choice for psychiatrists and other MDs. I know they are trying to help in a very desperate situation. It just seems that these mainstream medications can cause so many other issues.

No. There are different strains and hybrids. Sativa is the strain that is a great pain killer, and can increase your appetite, as in you are suffering from cancer and don’t feel like eating. There are hybrids that you may find help with many different issues.
Indica only makes you sleepy.

I still take one Xanax a day I’ve been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. I could probably not take it anymore but one a day is no problem. That’s a lot better than taking 3-4 a day.

I have struggled with insomnia for over 20 years before my TKR. It got worse after that. My regular doctor out me on Trazadone and it works great for me.

Well, first you have to obtain a medical marijuana card, which entails going to a doctor that is certified in it.
He will explain everything to you. There are several strains and hybrids.
The Indica strain is what you want to sleep. It’s a natural product. Not a pharmaceutical. No side effects. The only negative is that it’s expensive.