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Knee replacement 5weeks ago

Posted , 5 users are following.

patsy88437
patsy88437

I had a knee replacement 5 weeks ago on my right knee but I have a swollen right foot and both my hands are swollen ,I can get up off sofa without help,not sleeping and feeling very low 

2 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Tucks
    Tucks patsy88437

    Posted

    Hi patsy, sounds as if you are retaining some fluid I think you need to see your GP and perhaps get some water tablets. This awful feeling of feeling low and down is really debilitating , I have been there and I understand your distress. You are going through the really bad stages of the op and not sleeping is lowering you even more. I had to resort to a low dose sleeping tablet and it really helped. Night times can be so bad. I cried and cried for hours on end but that has stopped over the past 2weeks. It's such a hard long road but things will begin to slowly improve. Chatting on this sight is so helpful, you know you are not on your own out there. Hope you feel better soon from tucks
  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo patsy88437

    Posted

    Hi Patsy: you are just a week behind me, and I still can't get up easily from the sofa . .I have to turn around and push myself up with both hands.  In other ways I;m doing OK though . managing stairs up but not down!  there are so many little things we have to relearn and at times I think all of us have felt really low and depressed. I know I have. Like tucks, for the first three weeks I was a positive watering can . .blubbering sometimes for really no good reason except that I just felt so awful!  the first three weeks I found absolutely terrible  . .no sleep, pain, depression . . but when I went back to the specialist I absolutely insisted that he give me better pain tablets and sleeping pills, and from that moment on I can honestly say that I have noticed a difference. . more energy (because I'm sleeping reasonably well) more decision to keep up the exercises (because they don't hurt quite so much .  . )  I don't know if you have good pain control, but if like me you are on paracetamol and ibuprofeno, it just isn't good enough.  I never wanted to use sleeping tablets, but they are a godsend with this operation, and after the first ten minutes or so in the morning that woozy feeling wears off.  give yourself a break!  Use all the help which is available in terms of pain control. I should ask about the swollen hands. . I haven't heard of people suffering with that.  Swollen foot is pretty normal though . . .I won't tell you to cheer up, because that's like telling someone with a broken leg to go for a run, but I do hope things are soon better for you!
  • susan20089
    susan20089 patsy88437

    Posted

    Aahh patsy, I know exactly how you must be feeling but it will get better.  I took Nytol to make me sleep as gp wouldn't give me sleeping pills.   Do get some advice shout swollen hands and better pain relief.  Don't worry too much about exercising over sleep.  You need the sleep to heal, believe me.  I hope you feel better soon, another few weeks and you definitely will so hang in there.   This is an awful op and recovery.
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo susan20089

      Posted

      What is the matter with these gp's!  What the devil are sleeping tablets for?  Unless there is some serious medical reason why you shouldn't have sleeping tablets, what is their magic plan?  My mother's doctor gave her the worst possible advice when she asked for sleeping tablets during the long process when my father was ill with cancer.  'Oh, I don;'t like prescribing sleeping tablets' he said.  'Try a glass of brandy every night before going to bed.'  six months later my mother was an alcoholic.  Damn doctors!  I wish knee operations on them all!  well . . only joking. . . 
    • susan20089
      susan20089 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Unfortunately on the good old nhs it all boils down to money, not what people need.   
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo susan20089

      Posted

      The problem is that without a prescription ou can't buy them, can you . . .I had to get really quite insistent (well, let's be honest . .rude!) to my specialist before he grudgingly gave me prescriptions for sleeping tablets and painkillers. . and it's not as if they were national health prescriptions. I had to pay for them, and was very pleased to do so!  I go back to him on Wednesday, and I need more. . . . hope I don't have any real problems with him!!!!
  • patsy88437
    patsy88437

    Posted

    Thank you for all your answer I just hope I feel better soon sending you all get well wishes 
  • Mikefen
    Mikefen patsy88437

    Posted

    Hi Patsy,

    I will be at 5 weeks tomorrow and I can fully understand that you feel low ! I have been so frustrated at times especially as my seelping pattern has been rubbish. It is getting better but I have devloped a new pain in my right arm from my wife thumping me for snoring !!!

    I have found that the swelling in my knee is getting less but it does increase if I try to do too much. I am surprised that your hands are swelled too and I would ask the GP and your physio why this may occur. Keep you head up it will get better ! Whenever I felt sorry for myself I thought about the inspirational soldiers coming back from war with missing limbs who get on with life, it soon changes your mindset.

    Stay positive and good luck.

    Mike

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