Sleep problems

speedalong

Hi, I have OA - advanced in the hip and awaiting an op, less severe in the knee on the same leg and a THR on the other leg.

Sleep or rather lack of it is a big issue in my life ... (as in many of yours.)

I prefer to sleep on my side - but even with a big pillow between my knees this is becoming less and less comfy.

I fall asleep initially ok - daily living and working is very exhausting at the mo. But a few short hours I awake in lots of pain and then can't get off to sleep again. Is this pain due to being stiff and in one position? Is it because I'm now wriggling less because wriggling hurts? Because all I want to do is sleep - it is hard to analyse at the time.

Any suggestions?? Does anything help/work for you? Of course by the time it is time to get up for work - I could just nod off ....

Speedalong

dorcas

Hi speedalong,

Hey I know just what you mean....I haven't had a full night's sleep for weeks now due to the pain of arther in my knees, neck and wrist mainly. I can't turn in bed and the sound of me wincing wakens me too!

It's murder isn't it!? lots of peeps here have the same problem.

I take Amitriptyline and Tramadol at night but it's not effective once your body gets used to it.

Having said that if you haven't tried these meds it might be worth having a go?

I've heard that having a memory foam mattress helps but will have to save up for that!

I'm sure lots of other folks will answer your post and maybe give you better advice. Iris x

quietwaters

Hi Speedalong

I truely sympathise with you, as I'm sure a lot of others do too. I wish I knew how to sleep. I either drop off immediately, then wake up a few hours later and stay awake till morning (like you say, time to get up :roll: ) OR, I lay awake for hours till it gets light, then grab an hour or two. Wish I knew how to sleep, it would be luxury.

Hope someone can come up with an answer for you (and me!).
Good Luck.
Jay
p.s. I too am having THR 22nd July, cant wait.

Wonkylegs

I find that having loads of different pillows to prop up the different 'hurty' bits helps me on bad days.

I too like to side sleep but I have found that if I prop myself up with a certain arrangement of pillows I can happily sleep on my back on bad days.

I have found the Arthritis Care Southern Region's Relaxation CD helpful in relaxing me enough to get to sleep on the bad days. It only costs £5 and I think is well worth it - I have it on my MP3 player now so that hubby is not disturbed by it, and have it by my bed for times when I wake up.

you can find more info on this page
http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Selfmanagement/Managingpain/RelaxationCD

bubbles

It is certainly a problem, trying to get comfortable, pain, knowing you need to sleep and cannot. I have a bed topped with memory foam, which is a great help to relieve some of the pressure points, I take a shed load of drugs, including sleeping tablets, they don't always work, but they help a lot. Your body does get used to them, but I would not increase the dose. Have a talk to your Dr and see if they can help, even for a short period of time, to try and get you into a sleep pattern again.
xx Bubbles

sharmaine

Hi Speedalong

What medication are you on? You may need to see your GP to have this reviewed. We need our sleep to help us manage the pain through the day. You shouldn't have to suffer like this. I've just had a TKR (4 weeks ago) so I'm on different meds. My normal meds are: co-dydramol, diclofenac and amytriptline. The amytriptline helps to relax your muscles and aids sleep.

Mind you I also made changes with regards to my bed/bedding. We've just ordered a new bed. I found putting a memory foam mattress topper really helped to cushion my joints and made me feel more comfortable.

See you GP maybe you need something else to help you along. Someone said to me recently that you need to stay AHEAD with regards to pain and I think this is very true.

Regards
Sharmaine

speedalong wrote:

Hi, I have OA - advanced in the hip and awaiting an op, less severe in the knee on the same leg and a THR on the other leg.

Sleep or rather lack of it is a big issue in my life ... (as in many of yours.)

I prefer to sleep on my side - but even with a big pillow between my knees this is becoming less and less comfy.

I fall asleep initially ok - daily living and working is very exhausting at the mo. But a few short hours I awake in lots of pain and then can't get off to sleep again. Is this pain due to being stiff and in one position? Is it because I'm now wriggling less because wriggling hurts? Because all I want to do is sleep - it is hard to analyse at the time.

Any suggestions?? Does anything help/work for you? Of course by the time it is time to get up for work - I could just nod off ....

Speedalong

frogmorton

Hi

Lack of sleep is awful - you dont say whether or not you have anything to help??

A fair few of us are on amitriptyline at night. Is it worth you asking your GP for some to try?

I hope you solve the problem soon - there really isnt much worse

Love

Toni xx

only49

hi not sure if this is any use but may be it might help, what about melatonin you can get it from agestop.co.uk my son has it as he autistic and has the same trouble dropping off as these kids do have irregular sleep patterns, http://www.agestop.net/agestop/category.aspx?CID=89 here's the link for it, have a read about it all and think about and i am sure you could even ring the number on the website under contact us and ask, just a thought might help.

sylvia

speedalong

Thank you everyone for your advice.

Hi Iris, I have a memory foam mattress topper and it used to do the trick. I still miss it when away, although it is no longer solving my sleep problem. I did try tramadol several years ago – but suffered from side effects.

Quietwaters – you have your date well in advance!! I don’t have a date yet, just a letter to say I’m on the waiting list.

Wonkylegs – I will definitely get hold of the CD, I currently use podcasts off chill radio – that I download off the internet and play on my mp3 – they only last 3 mins but are a good way to relax. They are designed to use at work etc – not that I ever had to time to use one there!!

Bubbles & Iris & Sharmaine – I take solpadol (paracetomol and codeine 30/500) I can take 2 at a time but they knock me out and that is no good for functioning the next day. Taking one with an ordinary paracetomol used to really help (full dose of paracetomol, half my allowance of codeine) but I think like you say, the body gets used to the drug.

Sharmaine – prob should go to docs again. I also read someone on the forum about staying ahead of the pain – might be where I’m going wrong – I tend to take the minimum and reactively rather than preventively.

Speedalong

speedalong

Hi Sylvia, hadn't thought of that. My (foster) son has autism too. Thanks for info. Think it is more of a pain issue, but will take a peak.

Speedalong

tkachev

Hi Speedalong
I am in a very similar position to you. I had 1 THR last year have been told I should be on the list for other hip and have pain in my foot as opposed to knee.I sleep well initially but then wake up and cannot get back to sleep or continuously keep waking up until it is time to get up. I am not suffering severe pain but enough to disturb me. I am tired throughout the day and badly want to sleep so I can do housework and help children when they are home from school and bath them but I am wrecked.
I think it is the pain that wakes you up and in my case I am thinking of things so cannot relax to get back to sleep.I recently tried tea which had a warning will make you drowsy, but I woke up once every hour.
The early sleep hours are the most important and best quality I have read recently.
Regards a very tired Elizabeth.

bubbles

Hi speedalong
Your body does get used to drugs, especially pain relief. 8 co codamol 30/500 per day, sometimes eases the pain, more often than not, it is still there, nagging away. Anyone not used to them would be knocked flat on the floor with that amount of codeine, the same with Tramodol, not to mention the rest of the pharmacy :shock:
It isn't always the best idea, but a nap in the day is a must for me, about 4-5 pm I am totally jaded and my OH is following me around watching that I don't fall, as ones legs are giving out. An hour or so is about right, sometimes I don't sleep, but resting on the bed just eases things a little. If you do fall asleep then all well and good. You have to take the chance when the waves of tiredness come over you.
xx Bubbles.

speedalong

Hi Elizabeth,
That’s interesting about the early hours of sleeping being the most important – that must be how I’m surviving then!
We'd not be without our kids - but they do make life more exhausting!! Have you tried relaxation CDs for when your mind is racing - I downloaded some short 10 mins visualisations from chill radio online - that are great at bedtime. Also I sometimes write down a list of what pops into my head at bedtime and that can help too - as then I can let it go instead of mulling it over.

Hi Bubbles – the nap thing would be absolutely great – I reckon I’d nod off with ease – but it’s not possible for me, once I get in from work I have my (foster) son to deal with and he has autism. He is 18 now and goes to bed as late as me … and often I’m fighting to stay awake until he is settled. I don’t work Mondays and as long as it is not school holiday or one of his inset days – I manage to get a bit of extra sleep then.


Speedalong

tkachev

Hi Speedalong,

I like the idea of the list.My son is also autistic and did stay up late but I have got him to sleep 9.30 ish this past week and mean to continue.He sleeps in my room so i can monitor him but I know that isnt keeping me awake.
The one thing that did help me sleep was 3 glasses of Baileys and I was straight off but dont want to make it a habit!
I did find a website about sleep tapes/cd(through Autism site) might give it a try.
Elizabeth

speedalong

Hi Elizabeth,

I think 3 Bailey's would probably work for me too!! How old is your lad? Asleep by half nine hey?! Enjoy.

The chill podcasts are free and downloadable from

http://www.creationpodcasts.com/index.php?cat=chillmeditationpodcast

Speedalong

tkachev

Hi Speedalong,

My son is 10.I have 2 kids in my room as daughter has slept with me since birth when I had the mother of all flares!I cannot keep getting up to monitor them.Although i am awake a lot it is the moving about I cant cope with.At least i can see what my son is upto if he is in my room.
Oh is not happy though.........

Thanks for the link!Will take a look 2moro.

Elizabeth

speedalong

Hi Elizabeth, why don't you get OH to buy you one of those baby monitors that enable you to see as well as hear the baby ... then you could consider working towards moving the kids into their own room again, when you felt the time was right. That way you could see what they are up to without having to get out bed.

My house has thin walls and I can hear every movement of S ... unfortunately ...!!! I do wonder if I disturb his sleep too with all my sleep probs.

Is your son at special school or mainstream? (sorry can't help being nosey what with having S and also being a teacher ...)

Speedalong

tkachev

Hi Speedalong,

I have 2 boys on spectrum and the one in my room is at a special school.The other loves his own space(he is at mainstream).OH wants them in their own rooms now!My daughter is NT but has been in my room since birth as metioned in previous post.

I do think it will complicate my life if they were in their own rooms.I am exhausted by time they get home from school and I am not able to even bath them in the evenings nowadays. I would certainly worry about my son and keep wanting to get up to check on him.The other problem is the thin walls and neighbours over the other side of the house.My son is noise sensitive and any music/TV sends him into a frenzy.He wont wear ear protectors.There is an option of building up into the attic space so his bedroom would be over the unattatched side of the house!
The monitor idea is a very good idea.It would help in all areas of my life!I am starting to worry about the summer nights and having to supervise my son for hours in the garden when i just want to sleep!

Best wishes
Elizabeth

hileena111

Hi
I sympathise with all of you....I'm almost 6 weeks post op THR and have been sleeping on my back for 6 weeks {in theory} I have a slightly curved spine and am sleeping a couple of hours a night and thats it...poss doze a little bit off and on until its time to get up. I'm on paracetamol and tramadol...trying to wean myself off the tramadol I'm very stiff in the morning because I havent moved an inch during the night. I see the consultant on Monday so hopefully he will say I can sleep on my side {I dont know}and thiongs will get back to normal.

Love

Hileena

tkachev

Hi Hileena,

I slept really well post-op! I still had 2 kids in the bed but had operated leg on the childless side!

Nowadays I cant sleep but have probs with other hip and foot.
Slept through until 6 last night. Hooray!!!!!!!

Elizabeth

speedalong

Hi Elizabeth,

I slept really well post-op! I still had 2 kids in the bed but had operated leg on the childless side!

Wow - that was brave!! one of the things I worry about is after my op - because S still loves snuggling up for a cuddle now and then - maybe we'll manage then after all ...

PS didn't realise they slept in your bed too ... thought they just shared the room ... I share with the cat and she takes up plenty of room ... don't know how you cope!

Hi Hileena,
I remember the not sleeping on my side thing from last hip op -n'mare. When is your check up? Ask if you can sleep on your side with a pillow wedged between your knees so your leg doesn't lean over the midline.

Speedalong

hileena111

Hi Speedalong...My 6 week check up is Monday and that is the first thing I'm going to ask him......can I sleep on my side {even if its the op one}

Love
Hileena

woodbon

Hi, As a lot of the others have said, amatriptline is a good way of helping with sleep, my GP gives me 20mgs and most nights are fine. Before, I would get off OK but wake about 3am and feel awful, sometimes even getting to sleep would be hard. I used to sleep on my side, but have got used to sleeping on my back, as the pain in my neck and shoulders became too much the only drawback is that, my husband says I snore on my back! :oops: Also, I find a memory foam pillow is great for me. Hope you soon find some help.
Love Sue

speedalong

Hi Hileena, good luck with your appointment - let us know what the consultant says.

Woodbon - thank for that, I do think I will go to GP - over Easter hols ... if can get an appointment ... can't do any harm ... pain is getting worse during the day too.

Speedalong

hileena111

Hi Speedalong
I'll post on Monday evening or Tuesday morning and lety you know what happens at the appointment

Love
Hileena