1wk 4d Post TKR - Is this normal?
Posted , 11 users are following.
I'm posting here for my dad (age 55), he had a right TKR 2/26/15 and has been recovering at home (discharged from hospital on 3/1/15). From the physical standpoint, the physical therapist says his progress is excellent compared to what she is used to and he is able to walk with a walker with minimal pain. He is not taking any pain meds, just a blood thinner (prescribed by the hospital post-op as a preventative measure for blood clots) and his Lisinopril for high blood pressure which he has taken daily the past 3 years. I have a question however about the symptoms and what everyone here has been going through early on post op. He has changed quite a bit mentally from what I am used to. He gets very tired very quickly and gets very irritable at times. He keeps saying he just wants it over with and wants to feel normal again (mentally) but I am worried about whether this is a normal feeling? He says that it almost feels like he has ADHD where he cannot focus or concentrate and he is very forgetful which is not normal for him at all. The at home nurse and physical therapist don't seem too concerned when prompted with these symptoms and say he will feel normal again in a few weeks. Has anyone had any similar experiences? Please share your experience and advice on what you recommend to help him through this feeling. Thank you!
2 likes, 13 replies
lynn08926 mmillerx
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patsyrose mmillerx
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You just need to be sensitive to what he's been thorough...it's a difficult and sometimes long recovery from major surgery. It's very wearing trying to do the exercises too...and some days will be better than others.
Patsy. 26 weeks post-TKR
susan20089 mmillerx
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archemedes mmillerx
Posted
Faced with this type of surgery many people just switch-off and concentrate on getting themselves back to full strength.
This can be a little alarming for those around the patient, but the main concern should be that the healing process is proceeding well, and if it as in your father's case, I'm fairly certain that his mental condition will not be far behind.
PollyBB mmillerx
Posted
Don't worry! Everything sounds to be going fine. It is normal to get tired after major surgery and it is frustrating/irritating not to be able to do everything one is used to. Also he probably feels that he has lost some of his indepence as he won't be able to drive/go out on his own. Things will get better.
lesley21458 mmillerx
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Tucks mmillerx
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martinarvelo mmillerx
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The American way of writing the dates foxed me for a moment! Yes, perfectly normal at this early stage. The tiredness is probably caused by lack of sleep, which is common to nearly everyone after this operation. You say he isn't taking any pain killers. . is that because he has no pain or is he just trying to be brave, or perhaps there's a medical reason? If none of those, then my advice would be to take pain killers, which helps so much to be able to concentrate on the necessary exercises. Still walking with a walker sounds possibly that he is nervous of walking with crutches, and most of us had to overcome initial fear of putting weight on the new knee, negotiating steps etc. . The physical therapist will address this I'm sure. . . I think most of us on this forum have felt depressed, surprised at the level of pain and frustrated by the inability to live life normally . .and perhaps being a man he hasn't had the option of a really good sob occasionally. Believe me this is a very hard operation, and what he needs is a lot of love and understanding. It's very early days. If he could read this forum himself, I;m sure it would do him a lot of good, because he would see that he is NOT alone, that we have all been there, and that as far as I know we are all finally coming through it . . .
daphne31042 martinarvelo
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caroline46398 mmillerx
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sky1996 mmillerx
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At 4wks he has a ways to go still.
mmillerx
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For those who asked, he has not taken the pain killers since he was discharged simply because he does not like the idea of them - and I did not want to push him to do something he does not want to do. It's hard seeing him like this because his personality was always so positive and uplifting and happy before the surgery, however he is low and very short with answers. I am doing every thing I can to keep him comfortable and happy, and treating him with the utmost care and keeping him stress-free. It helps to try to put myself in his shoes as if I were the patient.
He did get the staples removed today and I know he was very nervous about that yesterday, but it went well, only 2 out of the 27 caused him to cringe. Right now he is comfortably sleeping.
Again, thank you everyone so much who chimed in with support and advice, this is a wonderful support board and it helps so much to know we are not alone!!
susan20089 mmillerx
Posted