4 weeks post-op and can't sleep - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

gsouth · 07-27-2003, 10:36 AM

Now that I'm off of the pain pills I cannot sleep maybe 3 hours a night..Has any one else had this problem..My ns told me while I was still in Hospital not to ask for any more pain pills than he was giving me..I'm taking muscle relaxers but not regularly as before...My shoulders and neck hurts when I lay in one position for a little while..Please any help needed..
gsouth

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ACDF June 30 ,2003 c5/6 c6/7 w/hardware and donor bone.

more · 07-27-2003, 11:23 AM

I also had problems sleeping after coming off the pain meds - I took Tylenol PM at night to help me sleep and it worked. I read this on one of the internet sights I found to try the tylenol.

Good Luck!!

AngelicMoon · 07-27-2003, 12:01 PM

I am going into my 4th week post op as well. Still taking pain meds AND sleeping pills. I am having difficulty sleeping(the most at once is 2 to 3 hours), but I am also having alot of difficulty with recovery.

I do know from past medical issues involving pain meds that it is normal to not sleep after you quit taking them(withdrawal symptoms). Your body will get back into it's own sleeping patterns soon enough. Hope this helped.

DebbieMc · 07-27-2003, 03:09 PM

Hi gsouth,

I'm right there with ya. At first, all I did was sleep, now I feel lucky to get a good night's sleep. I'm calling the doc tomorrow about it, but for now, I can tell you that a doctor told me when I had meningitis (years ago) that it's perfectly normal for sleep patterns to get messed up with any long term illness or recovery. So who knows...I'm going to ask the expert tomorrow (for sleeping pills!)

DebbieMc

gsouth · 07-27-2003, 03:55 PM

Thanks for all of the replies. I've tried tylenol PM but that didn't work..I'm going try MSM to see if that will work for me..If that doesn't do the trick I will also call my ns to see if he will give me something..My NS is really strange about giving meds. He just won't do it..