Make sure your arms lay on either side of you or curled below your head and neck. I soon learned that I needed a second bottle as I frequently filled the first bottle during the night. Its not one of the things they tell you prior to surgery. Share your journey with other people just like you on the Patient Community or post your question to Ask a Surgeon to get an authoritative and trustworthy answer from our ASPS member surgeons. I am finding sleeping on my back is the only option but it is very disturbed. You can also place another pillow between your legs to help support your back and chest. They're in their own bed. or post your question to Ask a Surgeon to get an authoritative and trustworthy answer from our ASPS member surgeons. You may not have any symptoms. Doc told me at the 3 week check up that I couldnt hurt my knee and I was good to go. I feel like a zombie. The first 10 days I frequently woke up sweating profusely (this may have been due to the medication). While recovering from knee replacement surgery, avoid participating in contact sports or sports that may lead to a sudden twisting or . I have tried to keep my surgical knee on top while attempting side sleeping, but it seems to fall down either in front of or behind the other leg (causing knee pain), even if I put a pillow between my two knees. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. Have been concerned about sleeping positions. Again, you should not worry if it is taking a few weeks before your body goes back to its normal sleeping patterns. The only time I seemed to be more pain free was in the evening and through the night, so I tended to stay up at that point because it was when I felt the best, but then I would sleep during the day. If you have a desk job with minimal activity, you can return to work in about two weeks. North East Indiana. Deep breathing exercises can be effective in allowing both mind and body to relax. For the first six weeks, you will be sleeping on your back in a slightly elevated position. I did, however, sleep a lot in the recliner during the day so the change of location to the bed was welcome. "A lot of it is: We just want to get patients out of the hospital and home again. Best sleeping position: reclined position, or sleeping in a recliner. I think you need to figure out what is causing the anxiety and depression before you can tackle it. and I have an adjustable bed. Thanks for the comment and wish you a speedy recovery. I am a 60 year old woman 2 months post op from left knee replacement. Have you talked to your orthopedic surgeon? As you recover, elevation while sleeping will become less important. However, if you want to make sure you dont hurt your shoulder during sleep (as you accidentally roll over on the painful side, or move your arm improperly), then you should definitely wear a sling during sleep. If you tend to put your arms under your head or one knee up when you sleep on your side, place a pillow behind your back and hips to prevent rolling out of a side sleeping position. I am 13 days from having bilateral knee replacements how can I sleep on my side, What a great article thank you for sharing. If insomnia continues to be an issue three to four weeks after your surgery, talk to your doctor. If your job requires heavy lifting or is otherwise tough on the hips, it is recommended to take off about six weeks to recover. Use your walker! As anesthesia wears off, discomfort creeps in from the sternotomy procedure in which your breastbone, or sternum, was separated or "cracked." You can also try taking melatonin, a natural product that is used to help people relax and fall asleep. This article is based on reporting that features expert sources. Youre correct, I suppose my experience and tips with sleeping arent as helpful to those who have both done. I just read all the stories from people commenting and have an immense amount of relief from them. Here are some further tips on how you can reduce post-op shoulder pain to get a good nights sleep; Getting proper sleep after shoulder surgery will be difficult. I did my best to be conscientious and stay on a routine. Just like with the previous two shoulder surgeries, sleeping after arthroscopy and acromioclavicular joint surgery also require sleeping in a reclined position. I dont feel alone. You dont have to necessarily sleep like this, since sleeping horizontally may also do the work, but it is more likely to put unnecessary pressure on the shoulder and cause pain. How To Sleep After Each Shoulder Surgery? I wake up each more and dry heave and even vomit as soon as I get to the kitchen in the morning. I wish I had seen your blog much earlier. I made the big decision to have knee replacement and I havent looked back. Youll have to experiment as time goes by. On the third night she came back to our bed and her being on her half of the bed never made me uncomfortable. Lucky for me I became a back sleeper 2 yrs ago when I had shoulder replacement and learned the recliner was my best bet and will help with the knee. I go back for my next check up on Mon. Although there are few restrictions, you should still avoid sleeping on your stomach even if that's always been your go-to position. All I read and my surgeon said it's normal and only time will help. I had bilateral total knee replacements on April 15, 2019. Bot procedures are incredibly effective. I have tried sleeping pills, pain pills, Xanax, meditation, I am seeing a counselor, I go for PT, I am doing acupuncture I am currently using melatonin and CBD oil. Anyone else experiencing this problem? Glad to hear you made it home safely. Can regular exercise after heart surgery help, too? Through trial and error, I found some new sleeping positions even if it was for short periods of time. Later in my recovery, I could sleep in two positions and during the 3rd week I spent a short amount of time on my stomach. I found your article very helpful and easy to read. It makes sense to check in with your primary care provider, he says, who may recommend you see a sleep specialist to protect your hearts recovery process. Even though your incision is covered, the first few days the wound is still healing and cleanliness is important. Any advise. During the first few days, I could only sleep on my back. Your websites terrific! Before you shop the pharmacy aisle, make sure youre not falling for these eight common misconceptions about OTC medications. I always tucked my good leg under the surgically repaired leg to support moving it on to and out of the bed. Avoid Caffeine: You should stop drinking coffee and consuming items that have caffeine such as tea, chocolate, and sodas after 3pm so that it can dissipate in your system. Connect with thousands of patients and caregivers for support and answers. An adjustable bed would help with finding a comfy position and with leg elevation. I was anxious as well. All good, right? Some people will recover quickly and it might take other people longer. My first two after 15 yrs came loose so Im just had my right redone. Adjustable bed would help with comfort and easy of getting in/out. Here are a few reasons why: Ideally, youll want to sleep on your back. I did not use reclainer did use special bed rest pillow heavy one it has arm support which helps to get up from bed. Is It Safe to Sleep With Gas Fireplace On? References Had my left knee done on 2/6/2020. I am so very nervous about my impending TKR surgery scheduled for Nov. 11, 2019. I could move my good knee in front or behind the surgical knee, however never on top of the surgical knee. Hi Kathleen I had TKR on my left knee on Oct 21/19. However, evidence suggests it is usually short term. Today Ill share with you how I managed to sleep after my knee replacement surgery and if side sleeping helped. So, lets get started! Tonight I am ready to try the bed again as I feel healed enough to sleep on my side which is my normal position. If you are struggling to find a healthy sleep schedule during your plastic surgery recovery, these tips can help you create a quality sleep schedule that helps promote quality healing and get you on the fast road to recovery. It seems the hamstring stretch and raising the straight leg while lying on the opposite side have the most Impactor I feel them the most. Thank you so much for your blog. It was an expense however I have both knees and another hip to do! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Early on I found that daily naps were useful on my recliner, however, they likely impacted my quality of sleep at night. Thanks for reading. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be normal again, but must admit I am walking without the cane except if its slippery out. Your body produces collagen at higher levels during sleep. As I mentioned before, the early workouts including the walks were tough physically and mentally. It's hard to move, you feel groggy and you're uncomfortably aware of any incisions. My leg looks less swollen this morning. Thank u very much for all your input made me understand that Im not alone in this. Sleeping was very difficult for me because Im a stomach sleeper. Interested in more discussions like this? It feels like there is a ton of lead in there. You waken from heart surgery with a fresh incision line running down the middle of your chest. The patient's commitment to rehabilitation. You have a lot of options, and thats a good thing. Consequently, many patients have a sleep deficit even before they undergo surgery. Updates, advice and lifestyle tips from the ASPS delivered directly to your email inbox. My prescription is a small dosage also. Wish you the best! Stay positive and keep moving, Dee I had my left knee done in May, it is great used motorize cryocuff from Aircast for cooling ice(make 16oz, and 4oz plastic containers for ice) it last longer than ice cubes, this item was very helpful for me. Thanks for any suggestions! Difficulty sleeping is a common problem. Boosts the immune system Quality sleep helps boost your immune system to combat inflammation, stress and infection, which aids in the healing process. Good luck with yours cryocuff is like small coolar, make sure you know what size cuff no returns. Bending is no problem. During the first week, make sure your walker is placed in easy reaching distance from the bed. Posted on Published: December 7, 2020- Last updated: January 9, 2023, Sleep Gummies: What You Need to Know and Where to Buy, How To Fluff A Pillow: Two Most Popular Ways (2023 Updated), Copyright 2023 Terry Cralle | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Terry Cralle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, How to Sleep with a Frozen Shoulder? Before surgery, I turned the bed around so the foot end elevated. Approved. However, as with any drug or medication you should check with your doctor first to see that it does not have any effect with any other medication that you are currently taking. By focusing on your breath, it can help take your mind off any pain or discomfort that's keeping you from sleep. I will be 80 on the 22 my birthday gift. Getting around well without sticks but sleeping on my back is a problem so glad to read the article and posts. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Sleep-After-a-Cervical-Neck-Surgery-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Sleep-After-a-Cervical-Neck-Surgery-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Sleep-After-a-Cervical-Neck-Surgery-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9585941-v4-728px-Sleep-After-a-Cervical-Neck-Surgery-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"