So tired after total knee replacement

I am tired of TKR recovery! I am almost 6 weeks out and my other knee will be replaced in 4 days. I am going to have manioulation on the first knee done the same time they replace my other knee. I do all the exercises and still use cpm machine but can't get rom far. So depressed.

Hi Pam et al:

I am very grateful I found this site.  I live in the USA and had a TKR one month ago.  I am 73 years old and in pretty good health. BUT, the pain was the most excruciating pain I have ever felt.  I can't take narcotics or most medication because of a celiac condition, so was on a mild pain killer but still had very upset stomach.  My iron level is low and because I am on coumedin to prevent blood clots, cannot eat the healthy greens and foods that are in my usual diet.  After one month post op, last night was the first night I slept without pain or pain killers.  I am in outpatient PT three times a week and do my exercises at home three times a day.  It is very exhausting and after reading this wonderful blog, it seems that SLEEP is one of the big healers, at least in my case.  Up until last night, I have not slept at night for once month.  Thank you all for your input.  I hope mine was helpful to all of you.

Hope you all are doing well since your surgeries. I had a knee replacement May 26th and was back to work June 13th. I also am having issues with being exhausted in the middle of the day and not sleeping well at night. I have to put a pillow between my knees to get relief from pressure on knees. I thought sure I was low on iron but I'm not. PT is going good very tired afterwards. I turned 50 in March and in April the Dr. Said my knees look like an 80 year olds knees. I've been care giver to both my parents since 2006 until they passed last October 2015 and this past March. Guess it is time for me to work on myself now.

It is interesting to see posts from people at various stages of post-TKR. I've posted here before in the earlier months. I had a TKR on my left knee in May, 2015. As others have said the first few months are very hard with pain and fatigue and generally feel yuch! However, it does pass. For the last four months or so I've felt much better and now don't suffer the bouts of fatigue. My knee is 90% flexion now. Not perfect but much better than it was and of course, no arthritis pain! I walk every day for between 35 and 45 minutes without pain. I get occasional swelling but that is normal. Taking medication is tough too. I take co-codamol tablets every day, usualy two twice per day (half of what I've been prescribed). They take the edge off the pain and of course my other knee will need to be replaced soon. For all those in the early stages of TKR recovery I'd say stick with it and once you get past the 8 months stage things will improve. Good luck to all!

Im 3 wk into total knee replacement and i feel the same.just always so tired even after a full nights sleep.x