Pain at night following knee replacement

I had a total knee replacement a year ago and I have recovered well. Regarding the not sleeping I was told to get up and walk around for a bit when the pain was too much in the night and it really helped. I got used to doing it and the night pain soon eased. You can ask the GP for some sleeping tablets to help as paracetamol alone isn’t enough at night. Ice packs throughout the night helps too. Be patient you’ll start to feel better soon

I am recovering from a broken wrist - not the same I know. But the pain is worse at night definitely. Good luck. We must be patient - not something I'm good at!

My worst week was week four funnygran. I spent a lot of time muttering ‘why did I do this’! Sleeping was very difficult at that point. Being tired doesn’t help for sure. It’s a shame your surgeon/hospital didn’t advise on sleeping position as surgeons seem to have their own preferences.

My surgeon said fine to side sleep after two weeks as long as I didn’t have my weight on the operated knee, ie sleep on the non operated side. As instructed by the hospital physio I began propped on my back with pillows under my calf and knee to keep the leg as straight as normal night time fidgeting allowed. After a bit I found I was most comfortable at an angle, sort of three quarters straight if that make sense, with a pillow behind me to stop me rolling completely onto my back with the operated knee supported. Many pillows were involved .

Side sleeping was comfortable after about 6 weeks and a normal for me sleep pattern returned (rarely more than 5 hours). The surgeon was delighted at the three month check. Everything where it should be. My surgery was last September, I still get the occasional sharp nerve pain but most of the time I’m pain free and forget anything was done. It is early days for you, hang on in there, things will get more comfortable and sleep will return.

Glad to be of help Funnygran. You really do need to be sleeping on your back fir another few weeks,I have only just been told I can sleep on my side 8 weeks post op with a cushion, st better but it’s still uncomfortable, however I sleep.
The sleeping pills have been my saviour, it’s worth considering.

I rest my knee on a pillow and have done for years. It's to help keep my spine straight when I'm lying on my side.

I haven't had any surgery.

My two knee replacements were very successful, but I still sleep with a pillow between my knees. I hope your pain eases off soon funnygran (love the name!)

Aveline I’ve never been very good at sleeping on my back but will give it a go with my knee on a pillow. It’s reassuring to read that others have had the same experience after knee or hip surgery. Lying awake last night I thought about sleeping pills! Short term only but would be lovely to sleep for a few nights.
silverlining48 I’ll ask about phenerghan at our local pharmacy. Thank you for your comments.

Funnygran after only four weeks should you not be still sleeping on your back? I know that's hard but maybe it would be better than tossing and turning about. Also, your body is still recovering from a massive insult. If you need to sleep during the day then do it. Don't try to adhere to what you used to do yet. Give yourself time!

Would say I don’t sleep in the day however much I try. If I could I might say don’t worry too much but the night is long I know.

I am 8 weeks post hip surgery. It’s ok by day but still have pain at night. Can’t get comfortable tossing and turning etc but got some sleeping pills from the gp. They really help.
The ones I like are tightly controlled but I have phenerghan from the chemist which also work big maybe not as well.
You may not want to do this but I was desperate.

I had mine a week before Christmas. So I'm coming up to 6 months soon.
Agree sleeping is rough but it will get better. I too had pains but I was given a booklet with lots of answers to problems. I used a pillow to prop me into a good sleeping position.

I iced mine before I went to bed. I used the iced brace they gave me at least 4x a day I did that for about 4 months.

I also got a nerve pain, apparently the nerves are left to find thier own "home" within the knee.
I couldn't even put a sheet near my knee without getting the "electric shock" pain, luckily it was intermittent and only lasted a few days, that was the worse pain for me.

But down the road I'm good now, scar is heading amazingly well only half still Red the rest going white, area still warm so still mending.

I'm now on the list for my Hip replacement, they tell me July /August as I had a wait a good 6 months between x2 major operations.
Looking forward to be fully mobile again.

Don't worry it will be all be great you will get through this, each day it gets better but fully understand the pain.

All this will be part of your life's history in a very short while.
Take care.