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So tired after total knee replacement

Posted , 158 users are following.

pam39536
pam39536

I just wondered if anyone else just feels so tired.. I am 6 weeks today post op .the op went well and I am progressing well. But I am just so tired. How is everyone else feeling ? 

23 likes, 349 replies

349 Replies

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  • dode
    dode pam39536

    Posted

    Hi Pam. I'm only 2 weeks post-op tomorrow so I'm still a baby in knee replacement terms! I'm tired a lot of the time and have a nice snooze every afternoon. I don't sleep much at night though - still too much pain. I've lost 20lbs in weight since my op as my appetite seems to have gone south, but for someone who was 16st 10lbs that's no bad thing! Good luck.
  • pyesangel
    pyesangel pam39536

    Posted

    I am just 5 weeks PO today and still get very tired and don't sleep well at night. It's part of the TKR package. I slept almost 24/7 when I got home from the hospital for about the first week or so. Since I've had to cut way back on the pain meds, the tiredness had subsided some.  Most days I want to take a nap but try to find something to occupy myself, so I don't. I'm in bed by 11:30pm and if you knew me, you'd know that's REALLY early for me. Don't forget, your body has been through a LOT!
  • peter97889
    peter97889 pam39536

    Posted

    I am 5 weeks post op. My knee is doing well althoug it is still somewhat painful and swollen. My biggest complaint is how tired I feel after a few hours of activity. My Dr. Says this will get better in time. 
  • deb19001
    deb19001 pam39536

    Edited

    I am so glad that I found this forum. I was really concerned about the tiredness. Now I know that it is normal. I am hoping that it will be gone by the time I have to go back to school in Sept. I couldn't imagine teaching in this condition. I am just a little over 4 weeks post opp.
  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 pam39536

    Posted

    I sleep a couple hours and then I have to pee or I have pain or my ice bags are dripping and waking me up or my Icy Hot for my lower back needs put on again. This goes on all night.

    I find myself drifting off during phone conversations, while writing in my journal, while watching TV, and when company comes and I fall asleep ever so briefly right as I am TALKING!

    MIGHT be the Oxycodone in the Percocet. Might be sleep deprivation throughout the nights. It is weird, and it is RUDE!

    • margaret58307
      margaret58307 cheryl90571

      Posted

      I am 76 years old and nearly 2 weeks post-op a TKR.  Although I read up as much as I could pre-op, nothing has prepared me for the pain and nausea following the surgery. However, the combination of Cyclizine and sips of tonic water has dealt with the sickness and a firm husband firmly steers visitors to call around my afternoon rest times.  Friends will understand if they are true friends.  I still am struggling to cope and seem to make an awful lot of 'animal noises' when the pain is worst and apart from attempts at the simpler exercises and two or three walks down the garden each day , I listen to my ageing 'bod' and do what I can.

      bless you, Cheryl, we're all in this together and WILL get though it!! I splurged and treated myself to four large physio gel packs which almost 'wrap round'.  I found they were just too cold from the freezer so my husband freezes them  and then leaves them in the fridge til I need them.  AND THE don't drip.

      God bless TKR friends.  Keep in touch. X

  • lee58466
    lee58466 pam39536

    Posted

    Hi Pam,

    So refreshing to hear from all us folks still struggling.I  had my surgery 4 weeks ago today, and most of the day I feel like thw walking dead. I suspect most of that has  to do with withdrawal from Occicontin/Percoset. One is little warned of such side effects, or at least I wasn't. The operative words seem to be: Next Patient!

    Anyways, such a relief to know I'm not alone. Thanks for your sharing.

    Best,,,and speedy recovery,TOTAL recovery,

    Lee

  • bob06839
    bob06839 pam39536

    Posted

    hi Pam. had replacement july 8th, and its hard for me to get up and exercise the knee, I also feel very tired. Knee is hot and I am running low grade fevers. I have to walk and take the bus  for PT so I am not doing it but I do all the workouts to help,  my recovery I just wish the cramping in my calf and the muscles around the knee would stop so I could sleep.

    Plus the other knee is also in need of replacement, and then my right hip.

    Anyway I pray alot and trust that this will go away soon.

    Please take care of yourself and hang in there.....Bob

  • esanford
    esanford pam39536

    Posted

    I am 8 weeks post op and still have problems with fatigue and hitting wall with any level of physical activity
  • shirley43993
    shirley43993 pam39536

    Posted

    I to am six weeks down and get so depressed at the thoughts of getting up in the morning after a not so great night to the thoughts of a day of trying to stretch the knee as often as I can and the pain is far from fun. then by mid afternoon I'm dead and by 7pm I want to be in bed so I can start the cycle all over again. I just keep wondering what on earth I have done. Some how I have to change my mine set..
  • esanford
    esanford pam39536

    Edited

    Thanks for commenting...  It feels good not to be alone.  Also, things are going to get better.  What is beginning to work for me is physical activity.  Get out and walk a bit and increase.  Do one of your favorite hobbies everyday.  Just keep doing it and work through the lethargy and pain.  One of the great improvements is that I am able to drive my manual shift Acura again. And, by all means keep up with your physical therapy both at home and at the therapy center.
  • jackie39273
    jackie39273 pam39536

    Posted

    I agree with John.  Keep up your physical therapy dilligently and do things you love.  Going outside and getting fresh air feels so good.  I'm at 2 1/2 months and am really starting to feel a difference.  Hang in there and do the therapy.  
  • nancy04437
    nancy04437 pam39536

    Posted

    I am 7 weeks post op TKR. I'm 61 Yrs. old. Working 20 hrs a week, doing a load of laundry a day, fixing a meal and I am DONE for the day. On the couch due to fatigue. My doctor told me that fatigue could be caused by the anethesia. She said for

    every half hour under anethesia, it takes a month to recoup your stamina. My surgery took 1 1/2 hrs. So I should be " off the couch" in 12!!

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 nancy04437

      Posted

      I'm not sure if there is any hard and fast rule about fatigue. I DO KNOW that so many things about this surgery vary greatly from person to person.

      There are SO many variables! The condition of the person going into surgery, level of PAIN experienced by the person, sleep habits of the person, reactions of the person's body to the trauma of surgery, medications, anesthesia, mental preparation FOR the surgery, the surgeon, hospital methods...so many variables lend themselves to EVERY situation being different!

      I am retired and not putting in a regular workday. I can rest when I want. I don't think you can do that, so when you get tired you have to keep rallying and working UNTIL you can rest later on. That is a very hard thing in itself, I think, and may be yet another reason you can't seem to get relief.

      I take a multiple vitamin each day. I have for about forty years! You may want to see if that helps you.

      Drink LOTS of water to help flush out toxins from any residual anesthesia.

      Be kind to yourself, and give yourself permission to keep recovering. Your body is talking to you. Listen and let it guide you.

      Wishing you much better days ahead!

    • esanford
      esanford nancy04437

      Posted

      Nancy, I am 66 and having the same problem.  Before surgery, I was very vigorous I.e. own a business, like to fish, photography, hiking etc...  I am 9 weeks after surgery and become fatigued daily.  What is helping me is to do the rehab exercises daily first thing.  I do one of my old fun things for an hour or so like fishing or walking a mile daily.  If I am sleepy after that, I lie down and let sleep take over until I awaken refreshed.  Before I went into surgery, I let my staff know that if they wanted jobs, they had to run my business.  So I only go in for a few hours a couple of days per week.  If there is a problem, the phone is always there.  The bottom line is that this is healing time.  You have to give in to your body and do the rehab, rest and heal...

      all the besr

      Ed

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