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Depression after knee replacement

Posted , 16 users are following.

jackierae
jackierae

I had my knee replacement surgery 3 weeks ago tomorrow.  I find myself feeling depressed and sad because of tge constant pain and ache in my knee. I’m doing exercises and they say I am doing well, but the constant pain is getting me down and I feel like crying a lot. 

1 like, 36 replies

36 Replies

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  • carri98750
    carri98750 jackierae

    Posted

    I'm in my 19th week for both knees. My pain seemed to last a long time. At the 6 week mark they were wanting me to start weaning off my pain meds (Percocet) and there was NO WAY I was ready to do that. I struggled with it because I didn't want to get addicted but I was really hurting and I was being very conservative with my meds. Looking back now, I would and should have taken MORE during the day so I wasn't so run down and down right in pain at the end of the day. I didn't wean off my meds as I knew I could not get by at all without controlling the pain. Thankfully my doctor continued to let me get  refills and then I requested a step down to Norco. I started to really turn a corner in how I felt just before the 3 month mark. I was even able to wean off the Norco. And I still have that same 1 bottle that I saved and take one occasionally when I know I will have some major pain (like when I mop my floors) or have to get some things done that require to be on my legs longer. All this is to say, there are new laws now about opiates and by law they try to "encourage" you to wean off of them at 6 weeks BUT you don't really have to if you are not ready to. One of the Orthopedic nurses told me that. So take your pain pills on a regular schedule. You will know when you should skip a dose to see how you feel. Be patient and know this pain and frustration and sadness is only temporary. When I know something is temporary, I can endure it so much better. Plus these kinds of sufferings makes us better people. 

  • brent77382
    brent77382 jackierae

    Posted

    It’s a long hard road to recovery with ups and downs but the bottom line is it so worth it in the end,I’m eight months on and over the moon with my knee,I need a second TKR in January and have no quarms about having it done. Make sure your getting your sleep if your not sleeping go to your GP and get some sleeping pills to help you for a couple of weeks it did and what a difference it made to me.
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