TKR Opinion on supplements after surgery

[Tentcamper]

I've seen some products out there that supposedly help with healing (prebiotics, vitamin D, zinc and more). Has anyone taken extra vitamins after surgery? Do you think it helped? If so, is there a brand you'd recommend?

 

[Flashlight]

I started taking supplements after my breast cancer diagnoses. Have you had your vit D level checked? Medicare pays for it every 2-years. Mine was low in the 30's range. I do take Vit D3, calcium, vit c, Magnesium, B-complex. I take Kirkland (Costco brand). Yes, I think they do help I noticed a difference when I stopped them for a few days.
Good luck with your upcoming TKR!

 

[Layla]

Has anyone taken extra vitamins after surgery?

I took a supplement called Injury and Surgical Support Formula by NutriDyn. I took six tabs daily in two divided doses for one full month post op. Does it work? Difficult to know, but I don't mind taking supplements so I figured it was worth the cost which I didn't feel was expensive. I also drank Bone Broth daily for a time. I felt blessed with a good recovery which I am still grateful for to this day.

 

[Tentcamper]

Thanks! I live in Tacoma, WA so we get our vitamin D levels checked regularly. I don't normally take vitamins but I think I'll do it for this surgery. Anything I can do to make this recovery smoother is worth it.

 

[EalingGran]

I currently take zinc, vitamin D and probiotics since my recent hospital admission for unrelated sepsis three months post op.
I was taking zinc and a multi vitamin since my surgery in October 2022.
Not sure if any of this helps as I have had endless colds/ coughs in the last 6 months. There has been discussion on another thread about whether frequent infections post operation this winter have been due to post surgery reduced immunity or a more general post pandemic reduction in immunity. All my family have had repeated infections so there must be some more general effect. Although we do live with a small biohazard ☣️ ( aka my 22 month old grandson!).
In retrospect if I had the choice I would schedule surgery in the Spring/ Summer - so you may be luckier

 

[Flashlight]

I had read this about vit D 4-years ago that vitamin D directly affects how your immune system responds to infections and viruses. If you are always getting sick, it could be related to lower-than-normal vitamin D levels. I'm always outside and was so surprised that my level was so low. My younger daughter has had pneumonia every winter, so her doctor told her to start taking it as well. The b-complex and magnesium was recommended by my oncologist. There are some doctors out there that agree with supplements. My brother lives in Washington too and my sister-in-law has had both her knees done. You have had more snow than us this year (southern PA!)

 

[Geno1]

I am taking Advanced Bone Support supplements from Thorne Research. I don't know how much it will help, but I want to make sure my body has the raw materials it needs to heal well. This product contains:

Boron (Glycinate Complex)	3mg
Calcium (Dicalcium Malate)	300mg
Folate (L-5-MTHF)	166.6mcg DFE
Magnesium (Dimagnesium Malate)	100mg
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)	50mcg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate)	20mg
Vitamin D3	25mcg
Other Ingredients: Hypromellose Capsule, Medium Chain Triglycerides

 

[FionaW]

I’m taking vitamin D (high dose), vitamin C, vitamin B-12 (I’m vegetarian), calcium, folate and iron. I don’t know if they help, but my diet is poorer at the moment because I can’t cook, and it seems worth supplementing the vitamins and minerals that seem most likely to be helpful after surgery. I’m also taking a probiotic, because diet and painkillers are playing havoc with my gut!

 

[kneeper]

I didn't take any particular supplements but I did focus more on eating healthy. With my first knee I was given a nutrition handout that focused on wound healing. We have an article here that is chock full of good info:

Healing Phases & Nutrition

Healing Phases and Nutrition No matter what part of the body is undergoing surgery, the internal process for healing is pretty much the same! Surgically "traumatized tissue" (skin, muscle, bones, cartilage, tendons, etc.) does not just magically heal; rather, the body has to rebuild and repair...

bonesmart.org