Anyone else feel like TKR has aged them ?

Yes, I’m 72 , 11 weeks post op. I ended up with blood clots and two PE I haven’t had any Physical Therapy since finding them, I’m stiff and sore my ankle hurts and hips because I’m walking strange. Can’t change it now but I wouldn’t have never done it. I even look older in the mirror. My sister has done it twice she did great.

I'm 80, had a TKR of the right knee 3 years ago. Like you arthritis was the main culprit for the pain. I work, play and enjoy everything about my life on the farm including culling trees, plowing, planting, gardening, welding, etc. Home repair of all kinds are also on the list of tasks I'm needing to accomplish, so I think I qualify as being busy.
I went into surgery with 5 goals:
1. Walk and sit without pain
2. Sleep without pain
3. Walk up stairs without pain
4. Walk down stairs without pain
5. Get down on my knees without pain
Tasks #1, #2 & #3 all were good within the first few days and weeks. Task #5 was a little different because of the lack of feeling in the kneecap and the weird feeling it had I adapted the task by using knee pads. It took months to be able to do task #4 with some degree of success but after a year all tasks except #5 are now well within my wheelhouse. You have to remember that surgery is very hard on us more mature folks, even active ones. When not used even for a few days muscles tend to get soft, blood flow has decreased. I learned that the top portion of your calf muscles act like tiny pumps helping blood get back to the heart, hence keep walking.
During my 12 month checkup I told my doctor about my list of goals and how I was doing with each. He told me the knee replacement was the roughest of all the joint replacement surgeries and to give it time to heal. Today I'm even better with all except #5 and I'm OK with that. We've all heard that old saying "Everyone heals differently", so keep up your spirits, give yourself permission to be a little slower and take each day as they come and go live your life.

@steve161 Hi. I had knee replacement 18 months ago at age 66. I can do 1 thru 4 just fine. I still cannot do #5.

I’m 73 and coming up on 6 month anniversary of right TKR. Had both hips done in ‘12 & ‘13. Those surgeries went well.
I feel this TKR has taken so much out of my life. My energy level depletes way too quickly. I feel so many limitation that never existed 7 months ago. Sure I had a basically useless leg then, but now it’s pretty much the same with even less strength and often more discomfort. Getting a decent night sleep since this surgery is still nonexistent which is likely why I’m exhausted all the time. I’m independent, live alone in 2 story environment and this has, I assume, contributed to derailing a normal recovery and prolonging it. I can’t say I’m sorry I got this, but I don’t think we are properly prepared for the extensive recovery time. Plus a 90 day limit of opioid meds to control pain is a joke. Everyone heals differently, and that should be taken into consideration. One cannot function when in constant pain, and for me, it was causing me to spiral into depression. Thankfully that depressed state didn’t last long. It was the first time in my life I ever was depressed so yes, it did take me to dark places at times. I don’t want to revisit that and pray I can keep my other knee.
They offer classes to prep for surgery. I think they need to offer group sessions to help after too.
Good luck to you.

I’m 73 and coming up on 6 month anniversary of right TKR. Had both hips done in ‘12 & ‘13. Those surgeries went well.
I feel this TKR has taken so much out of my life. My energy level depletes way too quickly. I feel so many limitation that never existed 7 months ago. Sure I had a basically useless leg then, but now it’s pretty much the same with even less strength and often more discomfort. Getting a decent night sleep since this surgery is still nonexistent which is likely why I’m exhausted all the time. I’m independent, live alone in 2 story environment and this has, I assume, contributed to derailing a normal recovery and prolonging it. I can’t say I’m sorry I got this, but I don’t think we are properly prepared for the extensive recovery time. Plus a 90 day limit of opioid meds to control pain is a joke. Everyone heals differently, and that should be taken into consideration. One cannot function when in constant pain, and for me, it was causing me to spiral into depression. Thankfully that depressed state didn’t last long. It was the first time in my life I ever was depressed so yes, it did take me to dark places at times. I don’t want to revisit that and pray I can keep my other knee.
They offer classes to prep for surgery. I think they need to offer group sessions to help after too.
Good luck to you.

Just one additional thought. There are PT facilities that specialize in getting athletes back to their activities. If you are not using such a facility, you might one to switch to one.

@luvkitties, You didn't mention anything about your exercise program or PT after surgery. Our muscles especially after the trauma of surgery will start to shutdown and atrophy. 2 hours after surgery I was up and walked, although very slowly 20', out and back with a walker on day 1, then added another 20' to the distance on day 2, and within a couple of weeks I was using a cane, mostly for balance if needed, doing about a mile a day. I read somewhere that the top portion of our calf muscles acts like tiny pumps forcing blood back to the heart, a secondary benefit from walking. The right diet including plenty of protein is also beneficial to rebuilding muscle mass and the exercising releases endorphins helping improve your mental health. Lastly, as I've mentioned to others, give your self some time and the permission to be a little less capable in those tasks we've been doing in the past and live each day to the fullest. I'm 3 years out from my surgery and from time to time I feel a little less discomfort or a little more stronger is some way. My Marine Corps days taught me a very valuable lesson, we humans are very good at adapting and concurring those challenges that are before us.