Still tired at 10 weeks
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi
I am 10 weeks post rtkr. I have good days and some not good days. I went to my pt on Thursday and the best at this point for rom is 104. I still have some pain and numbness on half my knee. I feel like I’m carringing a led weight in my knee. My problem is, I’m pretty exhausted most of my days. I’ve asked this question awhile ago but thought I would be past the exhaustion at this point. I take over the counter B12. I’m excited to get back to work on June 18th but am wanting my old energy back. Is anybody experiencing this?
0 likes, 16 replies
martha08360 lynda18183
Posted
I'm 4 mths and change post op and left half of my left replacement is still numb. And your ROM is better than mine. And yes yes to the weight feeling. And sometimes mine feels like 1000 right rubber bands around it. Good luck to you!
lynda18183 martha08360
Posted
Thank you for your response. I’m hoping my energy will surprise me and come back sooner than later!
Best regards
robin15577 lynda18183
Posted
Hi Lynda!
I was exhausted way past 10 weeks. I know that you feel that's a long time but with regards to this surgery it is still early. My energy began to pick up in March on a more regular basis and my surgery was in August. Even now I sometimes tucker out as sleep is evasive every once in awhile. Don't worry it all comes together it's just a whole lot slower than we would like.
Listen to your body and rest when needed. Ice, continue any meds and exercise. It will all work out. Best wishes 😘
lynda18183 robin15577
Posted
Thank you for this information. I’m hoping when I get back to work everything will fall into place.
Best wishes
michele68649 lynda18183
Posted
jenny80029 lynda18183
Posted
I may have already posted this....I do copy and paste paragraphs sometimes due to my current whizzing around on new knee and only dropping by on forum for short snippets of time..
The tiredness is difficult, especially when you need to get on with more things!
I am now 12 months post op and have all my energy back. At 9 months I felt normal with respect to energy levels.
It sounds like you are doing really well. Well done!
My Rom improved a lot 12 weeks onwards and continued to improve up to the year mark.
Give yourself a round of applause and as much rest as you can.
Tiredness....yes
But it doesn't last for ever, even if it feels like it does. It is hard to pace things but I guess just try and put as many things which need doing on hold for later and deal only with the essentials. rest is an important part of the process.
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's got a lot of general information in it, and gives you one person's experience right from hospital to the 12 month mark!
pat86848 lynda18183
Posted
Hi Lynda I am 16 weeks & still very tired.My leg more often than not feels like a lump of lead and like you totally numb on right side of my knee.Having said all that apparently it is quite normal for some people.
I am retired so don’t have to worry about going back to work but I honestly don’t think I would have been able to at this stage.Good luck??
lynda18183 pat86848
Posted
It’s good to know there are others out there the same as me. I wish you a quick recovery.
MAT2018 lynda18183
Posted
sarah87162 lynda18183
Posted
My main question to you would be how are you sleeping?
I ask this because I had TKR 6 years ago and had a lot of trouble sleeping afterwards because of pain and discomfort.
Even now 6 years later I usually wake in the night (though not in pain and discomfort still!), which I never used to do. It seems to have completely changed my sleeping pattern.
If you are not sleeping well of course you will be exhausted.
Don't give up, it does get better this is still quite early days.
Take care and keep in touch
Sarah
lynda18183 sarah87162
Posted
I have taken Lunesta for the last several years at night. I have a job that two nights out of the week I get off at 10:00. I work on the other days during the day and off in the afternoon. Regardless, I have never slept well at night. My mind just doesn’t shut down. I currently take ambien to help sleep with no weird side effects. I’ve been taking this for about 2weeks now. It seems to help me get some good hours in for sleep. When I said I was tired it’s a real energy drain. Something I’ve not felt before this surgery. I do still toss in the night trying to find that comfortable spot. This whole tkr has me wondering if I did the right thing! I read every ones threads and hope I eventually get to where a lot of you all are at.
CHICO_MARX lynda18183
Posted
When I asked my doc why I was so exhausted all the time early on, she said: "All the healing energy in your body is being directed at your knee." Recommendation: Eat healthy, high protein, hydrate a lot, no artificial sweeteners, no junk food, lots of salads and Lean Cuisines, ice, elevate, do the ROM work and then the muscle rebuild.
Most of all, if your body wants to rest, rest. Sleep as long as you need to. There is no time schedule here. Your knee will be better when it's better.
Good days...bad days. Post this on your fridge..
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-reality-of-a-tkr-recovery-in-one-picture-626038
lynda18183 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Thank you for your words of wisdom! Yes my doctor said the same thing. So I’m hoping it corrects itself sooner than later. As the good diet. Yes you are correct. I try most days, but other days I just grab a bowl of cereal and some toast.
Lady1104 lynda18183
Posted
Yes, it's normal to be tired at this stage of the process. Your symptoms are the same as mine were at that point I'm 17 weeks post TKR and some days I feel like I have a lead ball in my knee and slight numbness also. I will take my prescribed pain meds some days. It will get better. Your energy level will increase also. I didn't believe it but it does. Hang in there.
linda84382 lynda18183
Posted
Your fatigue is absolutely normal. Your body is still healing. I am 13 weeks post tkr and my mind thinks of things to do but once I've begun I have to sit and rest. It just takes a ling time . I ran errands yesterday and had a very swollen and painful knee last night. Be patient. Hoping things go well for you as you return to work.