Next part of this ongoing knee saga: RLS, or Restless Leg Syndrome.
But first, my Christmas cacti are blooming! They are not as full as some years, but who cares? I had 4, but gave 2 to my daughter-in-law. They all are from the same parent plant that I have had for about 20 years, I think. I don't let it get too big. What a joyous sight on these gray rainy days. (Not that I am complaining about rain! Not after this past summer and fall.)
But, RLS:I have been trying to figure out the problem that keeps my sleep so disturbed. I can get to sleep, and then this sensation starts in my legs that keeps me waking up, tossing and turning, uncomfortable, and to settle it down I had to get up and walk.
It is not easy to describe the feeling. I have said it is like when a limb starts to "fall asleep", as it's called. Kind of a tingling, buzzing, all-over sensation is the best I can do. Sometimes it's accompanied by leg cramps, and/or nerve pain called zingers (by those that know).
The past few nights have been particularly bad, so yesterday I was asking Google for answers. That's when I learned about RLS. And yes, it is yet another occasional fascinating side-effect of knee replacement surgery. There is no known reason, except the possibility that RLS is triggered by blood loss during surgery. (Wait. Blood loss? I guess I sort of knew there would be some, but now I am wondering how much, exactly.)
After reading all I could find, I came up with a few things that might help. First I ordered a magnesium/zinc/D3 combination supplement. Then I dug around in the medicine cabinet for some Restless Leg pills I bought a while back, when I first had this weird feeling in my legs. It went away and I thought I was done with it, so I never took the pills. Next, I made sure to drink lots of fluids, to do my exercises and to ice my knee before bed. I also positioned a pillow so that I could use it for leg support in the bed if needed.
Did all that help? Well, I did sleep a bit better, and had less pain, but I was exhausted when I went to bed so maybe I would have slept anyway. I got a 2-hour stint in, and a couple 1-hour so while broken up, at least I slept.
I was supposed to go to the doctor today but the claims adjuster for the van was coming so I canceled. I have a call in to the nurse, and hope she has some recommendations for relief and sleep.
Each person who has knee replacement surgery seems to have a different path to recovery. Larry's was pretty smooth both times. Mine has been...bumpy. I am so glad I had it done in October, as I think it may take me 6 months before I can look back and say yeah, I'm good now. Which will be just about in time for garden season.
In other news, the claims adjuster confirmed that the van is totaled (duh). So now we wait to see what they think it's worth. It's a 2014, with 140,000 miles on it, so I doubt we can expect much--although for a Toyota that mileage means it's just broken in. Meanwhile I have begun looking for a replacement, which apparently is not going to be easy. Even used ones seem to be out of our reach. I told Larry that we may have to end up with a beater, as we are fast getting priced out of the good car market. Who actually pays $40,000+ for a new van? Apparently a lot of people, which boggles my out-of-touch mind.
Onward an upward, friends!
Hey Susie, I know exactly that feeling of restless leg syndrome! I have had some luck with putting a pillow on top of my legs when I go to sleep. I don't know if it is the extra weight or heat but sometimes it works. I am wondering about getting one of the weighted blankets...just haven't convinced myself yet. Hope you get a good night's sleep soon. Love you , Theresa. Can't figure out what I did wrong to use my Google account!)
ReplyDelete...your cactus is a Thanksgiving cactus. Christmas cactus has rounded leaves while yours have pointed leaves. Yours are beauties!
ReplyDeleteI drove in a parking lot a few days ago, and all along one side were huge SUVs...a total of a dozen, different colors but all the same huge boxes. Should have taken a picture it was so unusual. Hope you find a good van. I was glad my insurance paid well when I totaled my Toyota, and I had help finding another one (male friends to go with me to dealerships after I'd looked on line.) The used one, less old than the first, cost four times as much! I can't see paying for a new one at all!
ReplyDeleteChristmas or Thanksgiving the blooms are beautiful on the cactus. I have one that is limping along and had only one bloom, but that was still appreciated. If it's not one thing, it's another. Hope you find relief for RLS.
ReplyDeleteThe blooming cacti are so beautiful. Hope that you will get some good and better sleep!
ReplyDeleteMy cactus is still blooming. I picked up a small segment that was outside a store on the ground and brought it home. It took a long time once I put it in water but then it started to grow roots. I got two plants now and they both are doing well.
ReplyDeleteHope you can find a replacement vehicle. Used vehicles here are priced so high, I'm glad I don't drive. Good luck and have a great day.
It is crazy how little things affect us at night that we gloss over during daytime. Believe it or not, I sometimes get a sudden, sharp pain in my toe at night. When it happens it keeps recurring, and I can't really sleep through it, especially not knowing when the next stab is coming.
ReplyDeleteI occasionally have a night of what I call "leg twitches", sometimes fierce cramps. I have gotten relief by drinking a slug of Gatorade Zero. I've also been told that pickle juice will solve it and I tried that for awhile. Don't know if that helps but there you go. As for car prices, I find them as awful as you do. We have a 2013 Nissan Altima that we bought just 12 years ago and it only has a little over 52,000 miles on it. Obviously we don't travel any more. It still looks good though, when I remember to get it washed.
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