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Tkr..tired after almost 2 months in

Posted , 8 users are following.

diane2018
diane2018

How long does it take to get back to yourself? I'm almost 2 months post op. Back to work p.t. and still don't feel like me😞

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • lyn32416
    lyn32416 diane2018

    Posted

    Two years for me and still not perfect. But pretty o.k. If you must work then you must. Try to rest as much as possible. xx
  • davidjk22
    davidjk22 diane2018

    Posted

    Back to work too soon. I went back after 6 months. You have to let your knee recover before you feel normal. No body knows how long recovery will take.
    • diane2018
      diane2018 davidjk22

      Posted

      Unfortunately. I have to work I can't afford to be out😖

    • michele_9787
      michele_9787 diane2018

      Posted

      Yeah I hear ya. When you get home from work make sure to ice ice ice. Hope you feel better your still real early in recovery. I’m 6 weeks post op acl surgery and hoping Work is an option in a month
    • trees1234
      trees1234 diane2018

      Posted

      I am in the same situation Diane I went back to work on a phased return at 4 weeks post op and full time at 6 weeks post op and feel exhausted all of the time. I’m now 2 months post op and by 3pm every day could just sleep. 

      I make sure I take my pain killers and ice and rest at home as much as possible. This hinders my exercising but I do what I can. I bought a multi vitamin and tonic from the pharmacy which is helping. I feel your pain. 

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX diane2018

    Posted

    Deep breath......  After reading around 4,000 posts on here, I can tell you that a whole lot of people reporting "I'm finally feeling like myself again!" do so at about the nine month mark.  If accurate, you have a way to go.  Finish PT for your ROM and then undertake the exercise program to regain all the strength in your atrophied quads, glutes and core.  This takes a while.  Then, when the quad is stronger, you can start to master stairs again.

    All of this takes time, work and patience.  The first three months are usually reserved for pain management and ROM work ending with your getting off all the RX meds.  Months 4-9 are generally the strength-building months while the "tightness" you feel starts to subside.  Most people go back to work in the 4-6 month range...very few sooner than that without painful repercussions.  You also start to get some of your balance back as the muscles rebuild. Months 10-12 are typically the finally recovery months where you're really ignoring the remaining issues and are planning you one-year anniversary party where you will dance again!

    Again, this is all very general; everyone experiences their recovery differently.  You cannot compare yours to that of anyone else.  Give up any timetables or expectations.  The knee will be better when it's better.  Very Zen.  Push it and it will scream back.  There will be advances, setbacks and plateaus...prepare for them all.  Just focus on your recovery.  Feeling exhausted is normal as all the energy in your body is being directed to healing your knee.  Eat very healthy, hydrate a lot, protein and carbs for the energy...walk...do your PT and home exercises.  It will all come together...promise.  I just passed 2 years...it gets waaaaay better...

    Click on my name and then "See All Discussions" for more topics...stay strong!!!!!

    • diane2018
      diane2018 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thanks Chico u r always so encouraging! I am riding the bike now forward and back peddling. My rom is @ 100. But u nailed it! The stiffness etc..what can I do about the sensitivity?
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX diane2018

      Posted

      If the sensitivity is to clothing during the day and sheets at night, I used a loosely wrapped elastic (ACE) bandage.  Better was a compression knee sleeve one size larger than I would normally use (so it wasn't tight).  Both prevent the incision and surrounding sensitive nerves from rubbing on anything.

      There's also Voltaren Gel (RX in the US) which I found to be a great topical anti-inflammatory and pain killer.  There is also OTC Aspercream with 4% Lidocaine or Lidocaine patches which will numb the nerves.  Most of that sensitivity goes away pretty quickly...just gotta get past it.

      This may help you achieve the 0 / +120 ROM...

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-rom-work-at-home-620053

      #3 will get you to zero straight.  Have a pillow ready to scream into.  Gravity is a b**ch!!!!!

  • carri98750
    carri98750 diane2018

    Posted

    I don't work and I'm sleepy and tired too. Some days something just hits me and I feel so achy and tired and sleep at unusual times. I'm 8 weeks post op. The meds make me tired too. I do not completely feel like myself either but I'm seeing a little come back. 

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 diane2018

    Posted

    The tiredness is difficult, especially when you need to get on with more things!

    Still early days! How is your sleep?

    I am now 12 months post op and have all my energy back. At 9 months I felt normal with respect to energy levels.

    So 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!

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 trees1234

      Posted

      Not allowed to post links on this forum, hence needing to put in my profile infomation, but if you copy and paste the address into a search engine it will come up.
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