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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

31 Replies

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  • Ally01381
    Ally01381 JunieR

    Posted

    I had a similar issue three years ago. I started drinking more water every day and it helped me

    Wishing you a health recovery

  • lyn32416
    lyn32416 JunieR

    Posted

    Hi JunieR. Use this time, post op, to renew and regenerate yourself. Eat very clean, hydrate, a little walk each day, deep breathing in fresh outdoors, gradually increasing walking effort (hills) and time. Read up on recovering from major surgery. Nourish yourself and sleep as much as you need to. Even after two years, I need 8-9 hours sleep after 6 Kms of walking. Nurture yourself as much as possible. You've been fortunate but your body knows it's been through turmoil. Good luck. x

  • Snoozy69
    Snoozy69 JunieR

    Posted

    You're doing absolutely brilliantly. My dad was Cornish came from a small place called millbrook had lots of happy memories there of childhood holidays. I found during my recovery sometimes it felt like I hit a brick wall and all my energy was spent. I just had to sleep so I never fought it just rest when you need to. I'm 5 months post op and I still like a nap in the afternoon x

    • JunieR
      JunieR Snoozy69

      Posted

      Thank you, I think from reading everyone's comments,i just need to give it time, it's still early days for me. The trouble is when something is new to yourself& you have a niggle about something, you blow it up into something big then start to worry thinking something is really wrong. That's why these forums are great, learning that you're not alone, others have experienced it too. X. ( I've never been to Millbrook, but if I'm right I think it's near Saltash, I'm from mid Cornwall, St.Austell area. 😀 )

  • kelley94988
    kelley94988 JunieR

    Posted

    I ask this question last week and wonderful support came my way.  I am 10 weeks post op- excellent results but the extreme exhaustion has been my main concern.   It will get better each week but I think 6 months to a year is what it will take to be yourself again.  I totally understand.  Very difficult for goal driven people like myself 🙃

    • JunieR
      JunieR kelley94988

      Posted

      Thank you for that Kelley, nice to know it's kind of normal to feel that way. X

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX kelley94988

      Posted

      Look into my eyes...deeper...deeper...you are feeling sleepy...sleepy...

      This is the most brutal of all surgeries.  I was still sleeping 12, 14, 16 hours even at three months.  Doc said to listen to your body.  When you need to rest and sleep, do just that.  There is no race, no timetable, no schedule.  Just healing...and some people take longer than others.  Do not compare yourself to anyone else or any imaginary timetable in your head.  Just sleep.

      There seems to be a pattern: Three months and the really bad pain is mostly gone and the meds decrease; Six months and you realize you have more energy and can do more things; Nine months and you are feeling a lot more like "yourself"; One year is celebration time.  It's kind of a "general" overview and everyone is different but the pattern seems to apply to many people.

      However, all of this is predicated on the assumption that you have done the ROM work to get to 0 / +120 and that you have seriously worked at rebuilding the strength in your atrophied quads, glutes and core.  Without that work and commitment, you will never have the strength to do stairs normally or walk without a limp. Time, work and patience are the keys.  You have to put in the effort to recover...it doesn't get better on its own. 

  • cynthia89958
    cynthia89958 JunieR

    Posted

    A lot of great advice here. It takes 6 weeks min for just bones to heal, not to mention the other tissues can take months so you still have a heap of healing activity taking place and as pointed out, your body is directing the energy there. You are doing well with other aspects  I never slept for weeks and weeks and had lots of setbacks, so I did not even think of going far from home. Months later, I still get tired faster than in the past. If worried, see your doc of course.
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX cynthia89958

      Posted

      Try the post-TKR exercise program...

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/post-tkr-exercising-565527

      You will get all your strength and energy back.  Designed by a real professional.  This is recommended when you've got most or all of your ROM back, are off all the meds and are getting around better.  Now it's time to rebuild your atrophied quads, glutes and core so you can master stairs again.  The commitment must be for a full year...it will be sooooo worth it!!!!!

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