Trouble sleeping after TKR: What helped you sleep?

What I did after my total knee replacement was sleep in a recliner. The recliner prevented me from moving to my side. I had a rare complication after my surgery so I had to do this for many months.

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I took melatonin my niece gave it too me after first tkr …. I am 5 weeks out of my revision no sleeping started few weeks ago I starting taking melatonin…..now I might wake once or twice at night but can go back to sleep

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I give you credit. That's like sleeping in the old business class on an airplane. I did that many times and just woke up stiff, when I could sleep that is. Hope you are better.

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I am a member of the decreased sleep club after a TKR. I am only 3+ weeks out but have found a couple of things to help. 1) Sleep with my legs elevated on a wedge pillow I borrowed from a shoulder surgery patient. Picture below. Definitely decreases inflammation and I get compression hose on my leg, with assistance, first thing..2) Only sleep or ice with elevation lying down in your bedroom, do all your exercises elsewhere so you know that place is for trying to sleep, 3) Make sure you are drinking lots of fluids throughout the day. Initially I had issues with constipation and pain pills and my gut was contributing to keeping me awake. 4) My primary care Dr is having me try melatonin and Benadryl, not at the same time, but to see which one works better for me to aid with sleeping. I was taking a tramadol before bed not so much for pain but for drowsiness. Hopefully will be able to use just acetaminophen for pain and kick the narcotics so I can drive with my right knee.
Hope this helps and good luck with your recovery. Definitely not an easy process, especially if you are sleep deprived,

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I am better now. After 17 months of terrible pain I found an awesome orthopedic clinic that diagnosed my problem. They identified the reason for my awful pain on an ultrasound in just a couple of minutes. I had a rare extra bone on the side of my knee called a fabella bone. A very skilled surgeon removed this bone and I was better right away.

I saw many specialists who had no idea what was wrong but I just kept fighting for myself.
I hope everyone understands that you don't have to stay with the same doctor if you have a serious problem that isn't being resolved.

Thanks heyjoe for your well wishes.

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Im 7 weeks post knee revision surgery. as far as that feeling, my other knee felt like it just never fit with the replacement. as it turned out, 21/2 years later, i finally got a revision. I was not comfortable during the day either. AS far as night goes, what i did when i first got my knee done i slept in a recliner so i couldn't move. I put bolsters around every part of my body. I hope you feel better.

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