Limb Lengthening Forum
Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Discussions => Topic started by: Nestor on November 16, 2019, 04:49:02 PM
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Hey guys, does anyone have any suggestions for sleeping positions? My legs have been in agony past two nights and I've been unable to get any sleep. I tried a pillow under my knees and a rolled up blanket under my ankles but nothing works. I've heard its like this during lengthening, this seems like its gonna be hell if I wont be able to sleep for the next few months. How do you guys manage it?
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wait what...why?? what do you feel exactly
do you feel like your bones are broken and theres a solid nail inside or something else.
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I did tibias (externals and LATN), this is what helped me:
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=64389.msg167290#msg167290
I don't know wether it helps with femur LL. By now, multiple weeks after LATN surgery, I don't need all of it anymore. Still it's not completely normal and easy.
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I did LON, still in lengthening phase have turned around 3cm by now, I had issues sleeping initial days of surgery and also during initial days of lengthening, i started working out my upper body with weights so i could tire myself it helped in my case
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I also remember that after hospital release my femur muscles were aching so I couldn't sleep well. What helped was stretching them by stacking pillows and lying on them. (The pillows were right under my hips.)
Imagine this position with pillows under the butt area. You can additionally try to stretch even more.
https://imgur.com/a/eQ5scZm
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You will be sleeping on your back for for the first month which is the worst. By month 2 I started sleeping on my sides which made it a bit easier. I’m nearing the end of distraction now and I have dull pains everywhere and extreme tightness so it’s uncomfortable as hell.
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Thanks guys.
@Great321 I'll try your suggestions maybe propping up on lots of pillows might help. I stretched a lot yesterday and had a deep tissue massage before bed but the pain still keeps coming.
@EZ Did you get more solid nights sleep after the first month or is this just how it is until distraction is finished? I honestly dont know how I'm gonna get through this if I can't sleep for 10 weeks :-\
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depending on how far off you are in your surgery, the beginning stage is the worst when it comes to sleeping, got to make sure you have your norcos or strong killers in handy and a comfortable bed, I would put a pillow under my knees and would help a lot with the pain while sleeping. Usually it's not that bad after week 3-4 you start seeing major improvements and are able to sleep more comfortably.
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Thanks Movie, glad to hear that. I was worried that I'd be facing months of sleepless nights. I'm only about 2 weeks post surgery so hopefully things will improve in the next couple of weeks
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Are you taking norco + Tylenol pm together an hour or so before bed? If not you should because that would help a lot with pain management and being able to sleep. Another thing is try not to be on your back at least a few hrs before you go to sleep, the longer the better. I found that on days when I would spend a big amount of time in bed on my back, I wouldn't sleep well at night because my back would get tired quickly and coupled with other pain or discomfort I was feeling, it would add up to be pretty annnoying.
Other than that I really can't think of anything else that helped. After about week 4 things do get much better so you just gotta wait it out.
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Hi Tiggy, I take Tramal & Lyrica one hour before sleeping. I will try your suggestion of not lying in bed before going to sleep, I usually will watch a movie or something before turning in, that would make sense that my back would already be tired from laying on the bed all that time. Really hope things improve, feeling like a bit of a zombie at the moment
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Yes, sleeping is hell up until weeks after lengthening is complete. What helped me tremendously is a foam device I bought on Amazon that lets you rest your legs below the knee in an elevated position. This is necessary due to duckass. I also couldn’t sleep on my side as I usually do until many weeks after lengthening due to pain.
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Thanks man, could you send me the link for the foam device? I've tried every position with pillows but nothing works
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXPM2CN?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Search for “ Restorology Elevating Foam Leg Rest Pillow” if the link doesn’t work.
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Cool man thanks, hope it helps, past few nights have been really tough going
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@inchesmatter just wondering what's the key difference between the foam pillow and just using regular pillows?
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I think you could use regular pillows, if they are high enough and not so soft that they sag under the weight of your legs. The foam maintains its shape and is quite high. You’d have to stack several pillows to get that height. Either way, it’s so much better than nothing. It’s a life-saver. I’m still using mine after 3 1/2 months after stopping lengthening, since I still have duckass and lying on my back still isn’t comfortable enough.