At a very low ebb after TKR before christmas
Posted , 12 users are following.
Since my TKR before Christmas, I have never had a full nights sleep, I have no appetite , have lost weight and my pain and moods are all over the place, I am trying to be positive and know it's probably early days, but constant no energy, and not able to drive is really not going down well. I feel my get up and go has left me. I am due to have the other knee replaced ASAP and really don't know if I can go through it again
0 likes, 13 replies
Snoozy69 susan1960
Posted
Hi Susan you've come to the right place we've all been there and have an understanding how you are feeling. It's very normal to lose your appetite and not sleep so don't panic about it. Your appetite will come pack it's just due to the meds you are taking, sleep when you can don't fight it, i just watched loads of box sets even in the middle if the night and then I would cat nap during the day.
I felt like like I was under house arrest being stuck indoors not able to go out shopping or visit people but at 7 weeks my consultant said I could drive if I could do an emergency stop so I finally had freedom.
The recovery of this operation is mentally and physically demanding and it is very normal to feel low in mood, I went to my GP saying I had problems with nerve pain at night and then I reached for the tissues and had a bit of a melt down. She prescribed me amitriptyline and she said it would also help with my mood. I have slept really well since taking this and I'm a bit more positive than I have been previously. My recovery is still up and down and I'm 4 months post op I've finally excepted it's going to take a long time to make a full recovery which has kind of took the stress out of it.
good luck with your recovery, just do your exercises, try and eat well and hydrate, take any pain meds and talk to people about how you are feeling, even on here if it helps. The most important thing is to be kind to yourself x
susan1960 Snoozy69
Posted
Thank you so much, guess I hadn't realised how big an op this was, have a smallgrand daughter have to get well so I can enjoy playing with her as she grows up. Your support means so much
natalie04381 susan1960
Posted
Hi
This is so me also, I'm 2 weeks post op and I've lost 9 1/2 pounds, no sleep and cry all the time, I'm worried I'm not able to bend my knee to 90 degrees, my physio wanted me to bend it that much 2 days after surgery. But still only doing 70 degrees, she scared me by saying I would need a manipulation if I don't get to 90 , which has been playing on my mind constantly. This forum is great as everyone is in the same boat and the support is amazing on here .
Snoozy69 natalie04381
Posted
Natalie at 3 weeks my flexion was only 60 degrees at 7 weeks I got it up to 85degrees with a lot of hard work and tears. I had to up the pain meds to achieve this. My consultant left me for a further 7 weeks to get it to 90 degrees and I managed it just but it was really swollen on the day I saw him. I've had my flexion as high as 110 you just need to keep working at it, you don't get rewarded for the amount of work you put in so expect disappointments, but overtime it will improve so look at months rather than days with the progress you have made. Don't look at manipulation as a frightening thing, other people that have had the procedure done said it benefited them and it wasn't as bad as they thought x
susan1960 natalie04381
Posted
Good morning, the support on here is great, lifting my mood and realise all what I'm feeling is quite possibly normal, I'm lucky in so much I have managed 120% movement in knee, so. Once I can get stronger my pushbike is waiting for me, I still have good moments of positivity, and will keep in contact with the group, as together we can get through this, good luck and a friendly hug to all on this long journey
marilyn10235 natalie04381
Posted
Hi Natalie, oh dear oh dear! These physios can be so nasty!
At 2 weeks po you are still so early in recovery. Too early to put such pressure on yourself.
Get over the operation, it's a brutal op, you had your knee sliced & diced! You can be forgiven for needing to rest & get the knee working properly!!
I had my 1st TKR, right leg, done in Oct 2016. I couldn't quite bend to 90 at 6 weeks! It was a long hard slog to get the flexion! Extension was good from the start but flexion awful. Luckily my physiotherapist was a human being not as someone said last year a physical terrorist!! She helped me to get some flexion & by the time I went for my 8 week check with the surgeon I was managing about 92! He was pleased with that, as far as the NHS is concerned as long as you have 0 extension & 90 flexion the op is considered a complete success. For walking 0 extension is crucial for walking without a limp!
MUA is actually considered as a last resort, but physios seem to like to threaten people with it! I can't remember the numbers but it is actually a very tiny proportion of people who have TKR that need MUA. I believe it's about 5% but may be +/-??
Your bend will develop, mine did. I'm now around 120.
So don't despair, & don't let a physical terrorist get you down!!
Do your exercises, ice, elevate, rest & hydrate, you'll get there. Rest is as important in the 1st month as exercise.
TKR recovery is a marathon not a sprint.
Come back here any time you feel the need to rant or just for a chat. There's always someone online who will respond. After all lots of us spend our nights trying to take our minds off the pain!! Stay in touch.
Marilyn
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julie6664x susan1960
Posted
Hi Susan
I had my op on the 11th December,and like you I am only sleeping max 2 Hours at a time up and down in the night because of so much pain. I’m the opposite regarding appetite I got made redundant 3 weeks before surgery and just so bored and keep eating😩obviously not being as active is also not helping.
I’m still on all my original medication and sleeping tablets that are useless.
still in so much pain and the knee just stiffens suddenly.
I honestly worry that it is never going to feel normal again,I also need the other knee done but do not feel I want it because of my experience.
I hope things improve for you good luck xxx
bobbymac57 susan1960
Posted
Hi Susan, I can totally relate to what your going through. Like you I wondered if would ever get better and if I would ever be able to get a full nights sleep again. I am 9 weeks today and about 4 nights ago I finally slept thru the night so it does get better but like so many others have said expect setbacks. I can tell my knee is getting better with each passing week but then I'll have a couple of days where I can barely get off the couch. Just the faith that it will get better and you will be glad you did it. Good luck!
Tomins susan1960
Posted
I am at week 11. Snoozy 69 has given wonderful advise... It will all happen ..all in good time. I felt so much better as time went on. At week 7 i woke up and knew I could face sitting and riding on the exercise bike. (just back and forth... not going around yet) at week 8 I mastered cycling backwards..(only backwards couldn't go forwards) At week 10 I went forwards... At the start I counted the number of rotations...By end of week 10 I was going forwards for 12 min. Physio pointed out that was a huge accomplishment... from counting rotations to going for 12min!
My surgeon said... YUP Forward improvement is what counts! I am not his best pt. nor his worst. I too went on a low dose of amitriptyline. It was a miracle. Within 2 days I was sleeping better and my pain was less and less of an issue!... You can do this! I too need my other knee done but my first knee experience is still fresh in my mind! PAIN DEPRESSION CRYING ...... and now soooooo much better,
Oldfatguy1 susan1960
Posted
You are still in the infant stages of rehab. Just stay with the program, be faithful to pain meds and icing. This is a long process and as its so often stated...a marathon not a sprint. Healing is not lineal, its up and down and sometimes a flat line. Drs just don't tell you exactly what to expect therefore we become nervous about our progress. We are all different so don't let others progress be your guide. Stay with this group as everyone is very helpful and the advice is solid.
jenny80029 susan1960
Posted
Lots of excellent advice here, so not much to add, but it is very early days. It will get better and you will look back in several months time and breath a sigh of relief that the hardest part is over. This is hard, but it is not permanent.
marilyn10235 susan1960
Posted
Hi Susan, know how you feel!
I had my left knee done 16th Dec so around the same time.
It is hard in the early weeks to deal with pain, fatigue, exercises & everything else! Recovery & rehab 2 things we have to do at the same time!
When I had my 1st knee done in 2016 I used to put pillows all around me in bed. I felt more secure & my leg was supported from the side. I slept like that for weeks until I found I could sleep more naturally again. I know some people have slept in a recliner chair. Whatever makes you feel a little more comfortable & secure may help you sleep. I haven't done all that this time with knee no2! And yes I said never again with the 1st! But the fact that once you start to feel normal again you realise how much pain you're in on the unoperated knee & now it's gone in the operated knee! It becomes a no brainer!!
I did have the 'why did I do this to myself once again' cry several times this time. But on the whole so glad I had it done. My leg is getting stronger I can walk with hardly a limp & if I really concentrate without a limp! Toe, heel & lift leg, it's a mantra!! Getting off the sofa is a doddle! Not a pain.
You will get there, do everything you should & believe!! You'll do it.
As for the other being done ASAP, I would really consider recovering from this op a little more 1st. I had 14 months between both ops but wouldn't have even thought about it under 8 months.
Recovery can be hard,as you are finding out, & rehab just as hard. Give your body a chance to recoup before going into another TKR. Only you will know when you are up to it again, don't let your surgeon tell you when he thinks it's ok. He doesn't know your body, you do, listen to it.
Also don't think of what you can't do now, think of what you can. Little things that were hard & painful to do but you can go now. I look back on the arthritis pain that was there all the time but has gone. Celebrate when you achieve small goals. I remember getting to 90 bend last year & really enjoying the fact! I told everyone who came near or by!! If you don't blow your own trumpet no one else will!
Rest, ice, elevate, exercise & keep hydrated. Also make sure you regularly massage BioOil or similar into your incision scar to make sure it's completely flat & around the knee joint to help get rid of near surface scar tissue. Warm the joint before exercise, ice after exercise. It all helps.
All the best.
Marilyn
XX
susiemah susan1960
Posted
It it is a marathon, we need to focus on the long game and a new lease of life. Fingers crossed I continue to recover and you do. Cry when you need to, rest as much as you need and I enjoyed Frankie and Gracie on Netflix to cheer me up. My daughter is looking after me she is only 28 and tmrw we are staying in our PJ and watching a box set, you should do the same and fit in the physio around your watching schedule. Do relaxing things if you can and get into a routine. Regular physio especially hydrotherapy really helped me and my mood but finding the right one is important. Prayers and love xxx