Problems with exhaustion

[Nancy Harkey]

I am 7 weeks past surgery for right knee total replacement. Things are going reasonably well in physical therapy except that I hit a slump around the end of week four after surgery. The amount of weight I could tolerate in PT dropped significantly and I found myself constantly tired--could come home from an hour of therapy and sleep for two or more hours afterward, and still be very tired by early evening and sleep another 8-9 hours at night. This has gone on for several weeks now and Dr. finds no obvious medical reason. Is this a familiar story to anyone else? (Am no kid--in my seventies--, but normally active and a regular golfer).

Thanks for any thoughts,

Nancy

 

[carolinagirl]

Hi Nancy,
I am entering my 7th week post RTKR. I have found myself very tired at times, but nothing like you are describing. Are you on a multi vitamin? I know sometimes all the meds we are own can cause the feeling tired etc...
But your mention of your weight tolerance at PT going down sounds like a question for JO. I have never experienced anything like that.
I hope all works well for you. You are in my prayers.

 

[JudyS]

Hi Nancy,
I am 10 weeks out of a right hip replacement and 51. Yes, I still feel pretty exhausted. In the early days I could sleep a lot. Came downstairs , had coffee, read bonesmart, then back to bed!!!

Anyway , now I force myself to go to the pool at 11am, then swim, once I am home I am useless!!! I do force myself to do things, but for instance I have many things I need to get, errands and never do them!!
While swimming laps, I cannot seem to get my cardio fitness to improve either!!!

I am taking pain meds and feel they sure can be contributing

Judy

 

[beachcomber]

At 7 weeks both of you are VERY early in your recovery from one of the most demanding surgeries and recoveries possible. Your body has a LOT of healing and recovery to do and it is going to take MONTHS to be back to normal (up to year from what I hear!). I can't speak to the part about the weight tolerance--- but you are probably doing more as your recovery is progressing and your body is just needing more rest. I am at 8 months PO and it has been a long recovery journey. Rest when you need to rest. It gets better and it is sooooo worth it!

 

[Jamie]

I think you both are wise to be listening to your bodies. Rest is so restorative and when you need it, you NEED it. I agree with Beach that you are still fairly new to the recovery process and things will be better. Just keep doing what your body tells you in terms of rest and keep doing your exercises for strength and ROM.

 

[carolinagirl]

Hi Beach!
Speaking of tired, I went to the flea market with hubby this morning and did some walking around. Then on to Lowe's when I hung out in the garden area sitting in the outdoor furniture.
Next came Walmart. Went in the garden center, over to dog food, then I went out onto their patio and again sat in the outdoor furniture while I waited on hubby. Earlier I felt like I had been "whaled on" by the "tuckered out stick". Feeling better now. Nothing like a afternoon/evening nap and my faithful ice machine to make it all better! Sorry to hear about your foot problems. I am dealing with one of my own. I swear I get one area fixed and then another is waiting in the wings to act up. It's something all the time.
Hope you find some relief soon! Think I am headin off to bed, the Vicodin combined with the Lunesta is making me REALLY, REALLY sleepy!
Hope you have a good evening and get some sleep!

 

[beachcomber]

See--- you ARE doing more! That's why you need the rest. Rest and activity will help you heal and I think you are doing GREAT!
My foot is about the same. It feels like I am walking on a sharp rock. But I am stretching and icing and hoping for the best. I miss my long walks-- but have switched to my bicycle and now that my... ahem.... tender parts are starting to recover I will enjoy my exercise more again. I had an early meeting this morning and it was too hot later to ride but I plan to hit the bike trails tomorrow morning for sure.
Sleep well and keep up the great work!

 

[JenniferG]

Nancy, the old addage of one step forward, 2 steps back applies. Did you stop taking your pain meds? That could effect your ability to bear weight. For me, I notice that my pain doesn't always manifest as blatent pain. Sometimes it is extreme fatigue, crankyness or a general sense of unease. When I would feel that i knew it was time to take something and get some rest. Hope you feel better. Jen

 

[Nancy Harkey]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I am doing a vitamin/mineral supplement and not taking any pain meds except tylenol, so there really isn't any change in that area from what I was doing before surgery. Perhaps I am just expecting too much too soon!

Nancy

 

[JudyS]

Nancy

I was just thinking of you. I took my dog for a long walk this am, just got back at 11:30 and I can barely keep my eyes open!!
Judy

 

[Josephine]

Ummm - you stopped taking pain meds at 7 weeks?

You're kidding, surely!

Are you SERIOUSLY telling me you never have any pain whatsover? If you did I'd find it very difficult to believe you!

See, apart from the things others have mentioned, there is one thing that can make you tireder than all getout and that's pain! Not the excruciating, grind your teeth kind, but a low grade, wearing you down kind. This may not actually wake you but will most certainly cause disturbed sleep. You need to be aware of this and make sure you take something last thing at night at the very least.

 

[rejoyce318]

Nancy,

I totally understand the exhaustion - my THR was 5 wks. ago, & when people ask me if I'll have the stamina for school (Special ed teacher) in a couple of weeks, I want to run away screaming - but I'm too tired! ;D

Joyce

 

[Rowdy66]

I am now a week and three months post op and can remember well the sense of exhaustion I had at 7 weeks. Thought there was something wrong, but too tired to care. LOL. Anyway you guys need to give yourselves a chance to heal and rest as much as your bodies require. It will pass. This is a very difficult surgery, I had both knees done and while pain was not an issue the tiredness certainly was. It has only been recently that I have pepped up, so to speak. So give yourselves a chance and you will bounce back. I am in my late 60's and feel I did very well and am about back to normal although I still do see improvement every week in some form. I believe when they say it takes a year to fully recover they are probably right on. Good luck. Rowdy

 

[Nancy Harkey]

Hi Josephine,

Thanks for your comments. No I am not saying there was no pain at 7 weeks or six weeks (when I gave up Vicodin), but I had such fierce trouble with constipation--needing nightly laxative, stool softener, and morning suppository to get the job done) that I decided to just live with tylenol. Pain is not too bad now, except at phys. therapy. My knee bends well but extends very poorly, and the therapy for that is a killer!

Nancy

 

[Nancy Harkey]

Thanks, Rowdy,

Your news is encouraging. I am normally a person who has trouble getting to sleep at any reasonable hour (night owl), so craving a nap at noon and wanting to be in bed at 9 PM is so out of character that I have felt as though something must be wrong.

Nancy