5 weeks post TKR - shopping trip - not ready yet :(

Posted , 13 users are following.

I'm now 5 weeks post surgery - Surgeon is very happy with me and doesn't want to see me now for another 12 months, so I thought, yep I'm fine, ready to go out and be normal again ... I'm not on meds anymore so off I went.

Drove into town, went to the supermarket, Target, Post Office and a couple of other places, and went home again and crashed on the couch for the rest of the day.  I was out for a couple of hours and this was the result?! Slept until dinner time, hardly ate, felt like I'd been hit by a truck and felt aweful!

Anyone else experience this on their first day out?

Maybe I'm just not ready for this yet.

1 like, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • Posted

    Oh yes, and many times after the first trip.   Just best to give in and rest.  As we've all said many times, it's a rollacoaster ride. Hang on and you will get there in the end
  • Posted

    Slow and easy is the name of the game with TKR, you did quite a lot on your day out, I don't drive so that doesn't concern me but going from shop to shop for a couple of hours, did you rest and have a drink of coffe/cake anywhere,re- charging those batteries.    I am 18 weeks po today and though I feel really well, no pain, no meds, I do know not to do too much.  Rest after a day out, still exercise and if needed ice pack.   Don't over estimate what you body can do, it will tell you next day which is too late and has you suffering.   You will get there, my left knee done 8 years ago is no problem at all.     
    • Posted

      Thanks Hazel, I've got that to look forward to! Great to hear the old 'new' knee is no problem. I can't wait for that!
  • Posted

    ya sounds so right i think when your at home and doing a few things you can sit down when you feel like it but when the trip to the shopping centre seems like your ready can really be like climbing kilamajara i remember the first trip to the shopping centre normaly it would take 5mins tops to get there it might as well have been 5 miles i took it easy  when i arrived in shopping centre i found the first seat and sat for 5 mins then did my few items i went there for and went to sit for a futher 5 mins and dreaded the return journey home which i had to do when i got home i went to the bedroom to rest and couldnt believe it took so much out of me but the good side it gets easier and easier with the odd hickup of a few steps back soon you will have less steps back and more forward  like my nurse said to me before i left hospital your new knee wont be yours till a year has passed that is when you will believe its your own and its so true .doctors just want you to toddle off and move on to the next one you have to live with the new knee not him but by the sounds of it you are doing great so be proud of yourself  its been such a short time you will have to be patient its a major op so it makes it a major recovery best of luck to you
  • Posted

    Been there done that, I guess when the doctor said he was happy with your progress, you wanted that to mean you could pick up where you left off,I am 12 week post op and doubt I could manage all that without paying the price ! your recovery is going to be long and slow so learn from my mistakes and take it easy, best wishes
    • Posted

      Thanks Dotty Lotty, I went again on Friday and accepted the offered wheel chair this time. I had fun, enjoyed seeing all the stuff I did, albeit from a different height which was an interesting experience, and would do THAT again!

      Cheers,

      Lindy

  • Posted

    Heavens yes!  five weeks is very soon to be back to normal . .better to take it a little more slowly!  But I doubt very much whether you have done yourself any damage that a bit of rest won't put right.  My first time out  (apart from visits to the specialist etc.)was just a visit to the supermarket, about three miles from home, and by the time I had gone up and down all the aisles I was very ready to go home!  that was around six weeks, I think . . .
    • Posted

      Thanks Martinarvelo ... yes I think it was too soon.

      Never mind, I've learnt, been again since and used the wheelchair. That was a great treat!

  • Posted

    Maybe you did too much too soon?

    This is a long hard road to recovery.

    Take things a bit more slowly, I'm sure I could not have done all this at 5 weeks.

    It does get better, I promise.

    Take care and keep in touch

    Praying for you

    Love Sarah xxx

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