Is this a typical day for anyone else...?

You are very down, please try to get out and about. There is always someone worse off than you.  

 

Morning Mary!

it sounds like you're very down with it all, but today's a new day so try and change your day like Joanne did. I'm only 3 weeks down the line and can relate to the sleepless nights which I hope will improve! I end up having a nap during the day at the moment to catch up! Have you tried shopping on line as that would make you feel that you're independent, then your daughter could visit you to to socialise, or you could go out for a short walk with her? Could you email friends to get them to visit or pick you up to take you out or to their house for a coffee? Sounds like you badly need a change of scenery from your home. Take care and try and attack the situation and you'll get through it.😄

Hi Mary

are you sure that's your life at the minute...it sounds pretty much like mine.

i'm off to see GP soon ...I haven't had a full nights sleep for weeks ...and now Ito top it all I think I have sciatica ...I'm no GP but I've had it before and know the symptoms 

and that's my rant for the day ...

Oh Mary, this op can have such a huge effect on your body and your mood. It seems that you're not getting your sleep pattern right. It's so hard to do everything when you're feeling tired. I assume you take painkillers before you go to bed? Can you get comfortable in bed? I find a pillow between the knees helps me to be able to lie on my side. I also put a heat bag behind my leg. 

If you could get up earlier it might give you more time in the day to get dressed and go out for a short walk perhaps? I did that from 2 weeks - out on our street in my sexy stockings and 2 crutches😊 It's surprising how some fresh air can lift your mood.

as others say, I wonder why you're still using crutches? Do you still see a physio? 

The exercises are a must but you also need to start doing some normal things like going to the supermarket with your daughter perhaps? I started driving at about 7/8 weeks and it was fine - nowhere near as bad as I'd feared. That gives you back your independence a bit. 

I hope everyone's comments have helped you a bit. Perhaps you need to chat with the professionals too - your GP, physio or consultant? Try to do things a bit at a time - perhaps get dressed today? Keep in touch with us. Jen x

Mary, do you think you might be depressed?? TKR does have psychological effects. Maybe you need to see your Dr about something to help you sleep, and tell your dr how you are feeling. I find when icsm down I try to plan something nice to do each day to have something to look forward to. TKR us indeed a difficult op, and I don't think you are feeling anything unusual. Maybe you need to try to be a bit proactive though and not let the knee rule your life and plan some things you enjoy. much easier said than done I know hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for all your kind words and advice. I had a bit of a bad start after op.... bad reaction to anaesthetic... morphine .. and muscle spasms meant I couldn't get out of bed eat or drink much for 3 days.   was in hospital for 8 days.   

.I have tried without crutches and fell twice... I think it's a confidence thing... I had no one to one physio at all for 8 weeks ... apparently I" slipped through the net".. I went privately to one who was shocked I wasn't further along in my recovery.... I did have a lot of muscle wastage due to not being able to walk much for around 2 yrs prior to my TKR.. I got a call  this morning to go for intensive physio... so hopefully things will start to improve.. also seeing gp this afternoon.... will keep you posted...

Thanks again...

You may have to try and make some changes in routine

 I found that after a couple of hours in bed the pain would wake me and I would start the routine of getting up, eating ice cream and cookies, watching TV etc. I found myself exhausted and miserable. So I changed. Still waking up in pain but would get up tale a pain pill, get the ice pack on, sit in my recliner with relaxing music and generally back to sleep, sitting up, and spend a good portion of the night that way. I wasn't in bed but at least I was resting. Drove my wife nuts for awhile but she soon realized that was the way I had to roll or life was going to be miserable. Because of other issues with the leg I was a long time getting back to a full nights rest in bed and normal routine during the day. Also helped cut back on pain meds.

Hi there Mary you poor thing you! It is so easy after this op to feel you are never going to feel normal again. I am 82and 13weeks post op. I have cursed myself daily for having this op. I have felt as you do most days , nothing to look forward to except night and again no sleep. I have learned from doing this blog that everyone goes through these feelings. They will pass Mary, but for some it is later rather than sooner. I have been out walking without any aids for the past 4weeks, I am sleeping better and my knee is a lot less painful. I still have bad days and I am still weepy perhaps 3/4days a week.but I know I have turned the corner and you will too my freind. Chin up tomorrow may be better take care you will be in my thoughts from tucks

"...NO POINTN IN GETTING DRESSED..."  WHY NOT  !?....SAYS IT ALL...YOU HAVE A CHOICE HERE...YOU MUST CHOOSE A HEALTHY ROUTINE...WASH, DRESS , EAT HEALTHY GO OUT MOVE  EXERCISE , ICE , ELEVATE...ITS ALL HARD WORK ...NAP WHEN YOU NEED IT  NIGHT ROUTINE IS DISRUPTED..SO REST WHEN YOU CAN...MOST OF ALL...MAINTAIN A GRATEFUL HEART...YOU HAVE YOUR MIND ...YOU HAVE ABILITY...WE HAVE GOOD HEALTH CARE....BEST WISHES TO GET A LIFE..!...ANITA 12 WKS POST TKR