Tiredness following TKR

Can you delay your return? You must be so tired. Took five months for me to regain my stamina after one knee replacement! I think the tearfulness is related to tiredness, having had a major operation, and just the whole trauma of surgery. I do hope you feel better soon.

I had both my knees done within 10 mmonths of each other. I'm 9 weeks out as well and am also totally worn out. I had to go back to works 2 weeks ago as short-term disability decided they had given me enough. I am an adminiatrative person but am up and down in other office and parts of the building 30-35 times a day. I come home and collapse every day. The hardest part for me is driving. I had a manipulation done at week 5 which helped somewhat

Hi Dee,

I can't  imagine how you've made it this far...you are one brave woman.  I am only 2 weeks post op from my first tkr and I know how exhausted I am.

 As so many others on this site have commented, this is MAJOR surgery, not to be taken lightly.  The time you will most likely need for each knee to best recover can be anywhere from 6 months to a year.  Being a nurse requires many hours on your feet, plus the mentally capacity that it takes!  In order for you to do a good job as a nurse you need to be at your best physically and mentally.  Since you can't take additional time off, perhaps the best thing would be for you to clear your calender of unnecessary events and fit in whatever rest you can.  Continue to ice, elevate, and rest as much as you can.

Have you spoken to your physician about you crying all time, this is a very important issue that needs to be shared.  From numerous posts on this site, many share this same problem...it's part of the process that needs help.

Hang in there and know that many of us are pulling for you!

Blesdings,

Cherry🍒

So I had bilateral knee replacement on July 18th I'll be ready to go back to work September 11th drove today for the first time everything is going really good yeah I guess if you go back to work an 8-hour 9-hour day you're going to get tired I mean you should start doing some exercising walk around a lot walk around the block a lot it's also good for your knees anyway I mean that's all I can recommend I'm going back to an eight and a half hour day job I'm sure I'm going to feel it on my lower back I'm on my feet all day I mean it's just something that you going to have to work yourself back into just think no more sitting around the house all day start doing things around the house vacuum and cleaning keep yourself busy all day try and get back into your routine good luck let me know how it works out

Your body is using all of your energy to heal (wait a minutete, you're the nurse, not me). Its hard to make it go full speed because you aren't at full speed. I would see if you couldn't start part time and work up to full time. If not, plan on collapsing after work because chances are, that's all you'll be able to do for awhile

Hi Dee -- when we have major surgery we loose blood and the hemoglobin goes down. My went down to 9 after the surgery --  that is one reason that we get so tired and have no energy. After my TKR, which was 10 months ago, I complained to my GYN doctor - (during my annual check up -- not my orthopedic surgeon) She told me to eat 3 ounces of beef every day for 30 days. No more than 3 ounces.  Some people will not or cannot eat beef. But I did and I gain my energy back in a few weeks.  My hemoglobin went up to 12.7 within the month and I did not feel tired.  Your doctor can tell you if your hemoglobin is low. I also cried a lot because I felt helpless and I had pain.  I also continued to do my exercises. However, I am 10 months post TKR. I have other problems but I am not tired.  Take care and best of look for a speedy recovery. 

Thankyou all glad to hear other have similar problems, although I'm a nurse it's different when the nurse becomes the patient as I have. I will persevere as I need my knees for the foreseeable future and will discuss with my GP next week my issues.

Absolutely! I see you're a nurse and I just wish to talk from my own point of view.  I've had 30 ops and with each general anaesthetic I've been exhausted for about a year, especially after my 2 TKRs.  Again, from my own experience there could also be some post op depression. 

Hi Dee

Most that post don't go back so soon . You sound like you are doing pretty good I think . I may need a total on my other knee ( had partial )and looking for those that do well and can get back to work  sooner as I can't be out for 6 months like many .

I went back after my partial at 5weeks . It was very difficult . To handle I iced as often as I could at work . Came home and iced right away and put my knee up rest of night to help swelling . I Ate very good and drank a lot of water . And went to bed early .Your body will be in overload mode for awhile . Eventually the knee will be further along and you'll feel better . I also take vitamins and took extra B's during that time to help with the stress of it all . 

Best to you , your doing good job of handling it all , it is not easy .

Debbie

Thanks for recent comments, I would like to add that so far I've done not too bad I guess, I was walking without any support at 3 weeks post op, I suppose I'm just a little impatient and not good at taking the advice I would give to people/patients I look  after which would be "don't overdo things, it will take up to a year if not longer which is considerably longer than 9 weeks to heal and repair, and keep up the excercises" so I guess I need to follow my own advice and be more patient. I've been hoovering, cooking etc so I'm not being lazy either  so roll on when I feel less tired and tearful and can get on with my new life.

Oh My Gosh!! You are 9 weeks post op, and going back to work already?? I'm a nurse too....my surgeon said that given the job that I do.....6-9 months.  Are you able to take more time off? It still seems so soon for you to go back to work.  Good luck. And look after yourself.  

Thankyou am going to see how I get on and how I feel for a couple of weeks and will take more time out if I need to but need to work really.