Post Hip Replacement Surgery
Three weeks ago I had hip replacement surgery with a spinal epidural block. RLS symptoms stayed away during my hospital stay & I felt relieved. Ten days after returning home RLS symptoms started with a vengence. Its now been over one week where symptoms have been out of control. Nothing that worked in the past for relief had helped & some nights I can only sleep a few hours. I walk around crying. My iron & magnesium levels are good. Oxycodone has been increased by 2.5 mg nightly but its taking me hours to fall asleep. I feel so depressed anxious and exhausted. My hip surgery has been a great success & I am walking better each day. I really do not know how to help myself now. I'm aware that the body creates inflammation to heal damage and RLS does not like that. I'm going to start taking vitamin B12 tomorrow plus Probiotics for gut health. My sanity is frazzled and I feel very alone.
Thank you for your kind response,
Laurie DYes I agree. I lay there willing myself some sleep but before long I'm being attacked and so its out of bed for the first of many more times throughout the night.
My heart aches for you,
. Sleep should be something you look forward to, especially after surgery, not something you dread. I hope your nerves calm down soon and that you are able to find some relief. Please keep us updated. We will be thinking about you. - Lori (Team Member)
Hey there -- I saw your post when you were preparing for the surgery, and how worried you were at the time. I'm so sorry to hear about how much you are struggling. We are here for you.
Just some basic questions so that I can understand better: Is your care team (surgeon and also the doctor who treats your RLS) aware of how much pain you are in right now? Did they offer any solutions?
One thing I did see from a post in our archives about hip surgery is that, for that person, weighted blankets helped calm the RLS symptoms as they recovered from surgery. Everyone is different, but it might be worth a try.
I am thinking of you and please know you can come here any time, day or night, to vent. (The best way to do that is on the "Forums" section of the site.)
And don't be afraid to reach out to a therapist who specializes in chronic illness if you are having difficulty coping and need additional support. You are going through a lot and it's ok to need help!
Sending gentle hugs to you. -Melissa, team memberMy doctor & sleep specialist are aware of how out of balance my symptoms are. Oxycodone's the only remedy right now that works for me in the early hours of the morning. Just checking in. I will keep my fingers crossed that as time goes on, you will settle back to where you were prior to surgery. I am relieved you have access to oxycodone. Too often, the people that really need it (like you!) are denied it. Hugs. -Melissa, team member
Dear 8ee879,
I am so so sorry. Restless legs are pure, seemingly unending, torture. But, know you are not alone and many of us feel the nightly (and/or daily) agony. I think part of the the problem for me is hoping I fall asleep, and then start thinking and hoping that the bugs crawling inside my legs will not start. Then, 'oh here it comes' and the ugly symptoms arrive. I am taking magnesium and iron; I try not to take oxycodone, then when it arrives, eventually I do. I feel that I am a prisoner in my own body. I have prayed and begged my higher power to make my symptoms go away. Please post if you find any new kind of relief. Thank you.
LaurieMDHi
. I really hope that, over time, you find something mentioned in this community that you can talk with your doctor about that helps. Gentle hugs. - Lori (Team Member)
