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Life after knee replacement

Posted , 9 users are following.

JunieR
JunieR

I am now 3 weeks post op of total knee replacement. I'm doing well, stopped taking all painkillers on day 5 after op. I sleep quite well, with minimal disturbance. I don't feel tired, as in sleepy, but if I do the smallest things, I feel exhausted. Instead of my usual short daily walk, I decided to walk around the supermarket with my husband for the groceries, I was only there for 15 mins  & felt ill, I went back to the car & left my husband to deal with it.Is this common amongst others, or should I maybe get checked out ?  From Cornwall uk

3 likes, 31 replies

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  • freestork
    freestork JunieR

    Posted

    Hi Junie yes it’s totally normal. Your body has been through a major trauma and it will take time to heal. Take each day 1 at a time rest, sleep and keep doing your exercises. Wishing you a speedy recovery 
    • JunieR
      JunieR freestork

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply...Feeling a lot more reassured now. 👍

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 JunieR

    Posted

    Check your iron intake. .. are you eating foods with plenty of iron in them?

    Could see GP and get your blood checked also?

    Very common to have this extreme energy drain though.

    All your energy is going into healing your knee!

    I think I managed to put 6 plants in a herb container, around 4 weeks post op. Sitting down most of the time. Nearly didn't manage to finish it....sooooo tired!,

    Had to lie down for a couple of hours afterwards!

    Energy improves for many folk around the three to four month mark. Mine was nearly normal at six months. At 8 I had plenty, now I am almost at the one year mark and back to normal.

    You may like to go to my profile by clicking on the image next to my name. I kept a journal of my own knee replacement journey, and I have been told by several people they found it helpful to read, or skim through. It has a lot of useful suggestions and information. Hopefully it might be useful to you.

    • JunieR
      JunieR jenny80029

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply & your comments, very reassuring. I will definitely have a read of your journal. 😊

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX JunieR

      Posted

      Hmmmm...good idea.  Hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers are the keys.  Have them checked first.  Just taking iron could be very constipating.  However, lack of energy in the first few months is totally normal.

      Question...  Have you ever done blood work and told that you were "slightly anemic"?  Has it always been like this?  If so and if you are of Mediterranean-country descent, there is a blood oddity called Thalassemia Minor which reveals itself as lower than normal hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers.  The trait has to be verified by a "Sed Rate" blood test.  The condition results in abnormally shaped (never fatal) red blood cells that do not uptake the normal amount of iron from nutrients and NO AMOUNT of iron intake will change that.  You also can't donate blood because of the red cell abnormalities.  However, the genetics department of any medical school will likely call you on a yearly basis to give some blood for their students to study.  Most people who have it don't even know.  The only danger is when two people with the trait have a child who then has a 1 in 4 chance of developing Thalassemia Major which is fatal.

    • JunieR
      JunieR CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thank you for the information, but I've never suffered from Anaemia, & lost very little after the op, & always been fit & well, that's why I was surprised to feel the way I do. I'm a true Cornish girl with lots of Celtic blood. 😄😄

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX JunieR

      Posted

      Just remember that this was a brutal operation and it takes a lot out of you.  I was still sleeping 12-14 hours on a lot of days even at 2-3 months.  It takes three things to survive this: time, work and patience.  You will feel a whole lot better in the days ahead.
  • Ally01381
    Ally01381 JunieR

    Posted

    i had a similar issue  i started to drink more water and it helps
    • JunieR
      JunieR Ally01381

      Posted

      Thank you for your comment, I will definitely take heed. I must admit I don't drink a lot..... they had to give me a saline drip in hospital !  👍

    • Ally01381
      Ally01381 JunieR

      Posted

      I drink more water every day . I save money . I notice that water has low calories as well
    • Ally01381
      Ally01381 JunieR

      Posted

      I notice if I add some lemon to the water it helps me with my acid issues that come up from time to time
    • JunieR
      JunieR Ally01381

      Posted

      Thank you, I will endeavour to drink more. 👍

    • JunieR
      JunieR Ally01381

      Posted

      will make it a bit more palatable too. 😄

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX JunieR

    Posted

    Even at 12 weeks, I was sleeping 12-16 hours sometimes.  Asked my doc.  Her quote:

    "All the energy in your body is being directed to healing your knee.  Listen to your body.  When it wants to rest, rest.  When it wants to sleep, sleep."

    Got it???

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