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No energy and total knee replacement

Posted by katclub @katclub, Apr 24, 2019

2 weeks ago I had total knee replacement, coming along with PT, but have very low energy, taking a 2-3 hour nap daily.
Common ? The last few days I’ve been nauseous too. Thank you, I’m new to this group!

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | May 4 1:29pm
In reply to @peppertmint22 "4 Weeks out today TKR. I had a 4 x 3 by 1 inch thick bone..." + (show)
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4 Weeks out today TKR. I had a 4 x 3 by 1 inch thick bone spur that covered my knee cap and more. PT twice a week and last week she had me walk for 20 minutes around a parking lot which had different slopes/slants. First time in almost 2 years I have been able to walk this far, but since then I have been totally exhausted. I have never been a "napper", but Saturday I did nap for almost 1 hour. Everything I have read, seems to be normal at this stage. Will this total exhaustion get better?

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@peppertmint22 Yes, it will get better. Your body is working very hard to recover from the trauma of the surgery. And since you have been unable to walk much, you are probably deconditioned as well.
Be sure to let the PT know how your body responded. It might be more reasonable for you to walk 10 minutes, and gradually work up to 20 over a couple of weeks, or to split your walks and do 10 minutes twice a day.
Did you have any other adverse reactions to the therapy session like pain or swelling?

PS After I had 3 hip revision surgeries in a 3 month period, it took me several weeks to be able to walk the length of our street & back - about 1/4 mile.

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peppertmint22 | @peppertmint22 | May 4 6:42pm

Hi Sue,
Had PT today and described what/ how I was feeling. Therapist said exactly what you said. Back off and walk 10 minutes twice each day. We did a lot of stretching today and working on how to walk again correctly.
Haven’t had much pain at all with very moderate swelling. He said keep icing and stretching. It takes time and some days you feel like you have e gone completely backwards from where you were at, but that is expected.
Bless your heart on your hip revisions!

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | May 4 11:04pm
In reply to @peppertmint22 "Hi Sue, Had PT today and described what/ how I was feeling. Therapist said exactly what..." + (show)
Profile picture for peppertmint22 @peppertmint22

Hi Sue,
Had PT today and described what/ how I was feeling. Therapist said exactly what you said. Back off and walk 10 minutes twice each day. We did a lot of stretching today and working on how to walk again correctly.
Haven’t had much pain at all with very moderate swelling. He said keep icing and stretching. It takes time and some days you feel like you have e gone completely backwards from where you were at, but that is expected.
Bless your heart on your hip revisions!

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@peppertmint22 I'm glad you have a good, reasonable PT.
One thing I have learned after a dozen or so orthopedic surgeries is to listen to my body. Last year, I got into a "discussion " with a PT near my winter home after rotator cuff surgery. I wanted to follow the protocol ordered by the surgeon and modified to suit me by my Minnesota PT. He was dismissive that it was "ridiculously conservative " and I would never get my strength back. I told him the surgeon's 90%+ success rate had me convinced to follow his advice. Guess what? Fast forward a year - I have full use of the arm & shoulder with no pain unless I do something dumb.

And I second your PT's advice to ice - we're great believers at our house. After my last surgery I iced at least daily for 2 months, and have still been known to grab the ice pack when my hip or knee is sore.

Good luck as you continue your recovery. Depending on your age and how debilitated you were before the TKR, complete recovery can take a year. And up and down days are common, just keep plugging along.

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