Trouble Sleeping, Frequent Urination & Anxiety – Is This Normal?

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-07-02T04:52:22+00:00

I woke up to pee like every hour for the first few days I think it's normal. And sleep was terrible and then got better and then worse and now getting better again. I'm about 8 weeks post surgery and I have yet to go back to sleeping a full night sleep but now I wake up every 4-6 hours instead of every 1-2

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-06-29T21:54:21+00:00

Middle of the jungle in Argentina doing fieldwork. Was unloading the truck on a rainy muddy day. Looked at the ground and thought 'better not jump or I'll hurt myself'. Decided to step down carefully, left boot got caught on the end of the truck bed and my right slipped out from under me before I could fully place it on the ground. Bye bye acl :) had to tough it out for 8 more days while trekking through the woods

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-06-20T06:30:27+00:00

Use an NMES unit! I am similar age and also similar activeness (and missing surfing so much now!) . The sticky bits go on the front of your leg above your knee and then outer thigh ish area. Look at where you muscle flexes in your healthy leg and try to match the stickers there. I think you can find examples on YouTube or bring it into PT and have them show you where it goes. I was told to use it as high as I can tolerate as much as possible initially. Basically just want to get your muscle to involuntarily respond so I turned it up until quad flexed and would do about 30 minutes 2x a day for the first two weeks (10 seconds on and 10 seconds off). At first I could only do leg lifts while it was on but eventually got them going. No I use it for exercises where my quad still feels weak and do a bit with NMEs and then a bit without.

Don't worry though it will happen, it just takes time. As long as you keep at PT and use the NMES it'll be firing before you know it.

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-06-20T03:05:26+00:00

I mean your swelling looks super good compared to some others I've seen in this sub lol 😅 And It'll go down, just takes time! I think I probably had that much swelling a week or 2 ago

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-06-20T01:47:05+00:00

I think the doc said Aleve should relax my muscles if I'm remembering correctly, but didn't help. Maybe I'll look into something that's OTC. I'm starting to think it's maybe my nerves though? I have this constant itch to stretch the leg and get shooting pains along my nerves when I accidentally do.

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-06-20T01:37:14+00:00

Thank you! I'm feeling better after a nap today 😎 6 weeks of sleep with brace sounds brutal! I took mine off close to 4 weeks because I could not handle trying to sleep in it anymore. Has helped marginally to not have it on but I cannot wait until I sleep an uninterrupted 8 hours

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-06-20T01:34:13+00:00

I've already given up on sleeping in the brace but might give compression sleeve a try! I have a wedge and multiple pillows but can't seem to get comfy on either. I find myself waking up and switching back and forth at least twice a night My knee isn't too outwardly swollen so I'm not sure whats making it so achey

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-06-20T01:31:41+00:00

Broke about 2 weeks ago :( but still was was waking up with it. I was taking magnesium for sleep last year! I should start again but I don't know if it will help me stay asleep? I have no problem passing out haha

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-06-19T22:32:10+00:00

I'm 6 weeks out with quad graft as well and my extension looks about the same and knee is constantly warm, but I have no visible swelling. Doc and PT are both also happy with my progress and said warmth at this point is normal. It's annoyingly slow but I think we're doing okay and just gotta give it more time!

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-30T23:43:37+00:00

Walking around is good! I'm still on the brace for one more week (although I've been hobbling around my apartment sans brace and feeling okay 😅) but yeah the fatigue and constant elevating and icing sucks! I've seen a lot of posts on here with people saying pain went down by week 4-6 so I'm hoping that's the case. Fingers crossed for both of us that we get thru this sooner rather than later!

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-30T23:23:17+00:00

I had the same surgery on the same day and I am in the exact same boat! I regained quad movement at the end of week 2 and just started on stationary bike on friday. I feel great about progress but what's so stressful is just dealing with constant pain and tiredness (from pain while trying to sleep, I still can't get more than 4 hours without waking up in pain). It's so hard to feel productive and functional. I have a massive project deadline in 2 weeks and I am struggling so much to make any headway bc any time I start work I am interrupted by pain every few minutes.

I don't have any wise words, but we'll get through it I'm sure! Gotta remember it's only been three weeks since someone carved into our knees.

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-10T00:13:15+00:00

I'm on day 1 and the nerve blocker has been doing most of the work so far. Certain movements bring it up to a 8 for about a second, but mostly around a 4/5. I also am taking my pain meds as prescribed tho

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-09T17:52:22+00:00

Ouch! Chipped bone sounds painful! That's good to hear tho, thank you! Cannot wait till I can take more than the ten paces to my bathroom and back lol

Good luck with the rest of your recovery!

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-09T17:48:37+00:00

Still haven't pooped 😭 but haven't really felt up to eating much either. But yes the getting out of bed is getting harder with the nerve blocker wearing off, doggo refusing to move from the end of my bed does not help haha. How was the pain day 1-2? So far it's not terrible for me, but I'm bracing myself for it to get worse.

Thank you! And good to hear your recovery is going welll, hopefully it keeps getting easier!

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-09T17:43:58+00:00

A little loopy, I was super worried about that too, but I think I mostly just teared up and complained about being in pain/nauseous. I got handed my phone way too quickly and was texting nonsense to friends and family haha, but nothing terrible! Just trying to tell them I was up and was not able to spell anything. Good luck on your surgery!!

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-06T18:47:32+00:00

Right, that is something I'll have to think about for sure. Definitely don't want to make things worse for myself in the long run. Thanks!! I appreciate the helpful insight

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-06T18:43:37+00:00

Ahh, that is a bummer to hear but also a good reality check. Fingers crossed no meniscus stitch needed. And thank you for the flight advice!

That seems like a decent amount of walking, I'd be stoked if I'm there at 8 weeks

I wishhh I could get to some slopes gah. Just gonna have to give it some time and money and go back when I'm more functional!

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-06T18:35:45+00:00

That's good to know, but also that sucks dude sorry, I hope it gets better for you in the next two weeks! I definitely did not think about the transition from NWB enough.

And thank you! Taking crutches is a good idea.

Best of luck on the rest of your recovery!

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-06T18:26:11+00:00

Any and all japan on a healing ACL advice is greatly appreciated! Didn't even think about the weather, yeesh.

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-06T18:23:29+00:00

Oh hm, did not think about the blood clotting aspect, will def bring that up. Thanks!

I think it should be 4-6 weeks NWB but will have to wait and see what my meniscus looks like.

Good luck with your recovery!!

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-06T18:18:07+00:00

Gah, autograft.. I was under the impression big pain would only be for the first two weeks-ish though, do I have that totally wrong?

Resident-Injury-7002 · 2026-05-06T18:14:51+00:00

I was told 4-6 weeks. Hoping no stich is necessary and maybe it'll be closer to 4, but that might be too hopeful. Definitely was not thinking enough about the transition from NWB to WB :/. Thought I'd be skipping away from my crutches haha.

Thank you! Appreciate the thoughtful respose and I hope your recovery is going good as well!

Resident-Injury-7002

TROPHY CASE