Knee replacement surgery 5 weeks ago. I am so much better today than I was coming home from the hospital. That said, however, I still have much pain and struggle with bending the knee. My PT tells me I am doing great - have over a 120 degree bend and 1 degree on straightening the leg. I can ride the stationary bike for 10 minutes, but only after exercising the knee for a while to get it more mobile. My question is I experience horrible cold. I just can't ever seem to get warm enough. Further my hair is falling out. Has anyone else experienced this? Am I on target, or am I way behind in my recuperation?
Yorkeyrebel first just want to say that being 5 wks with a bend of 120 or more, you are doing fantastic!!! Congrats. I am 8 wks post op and only have a bend of 120. Lol But I'm not giving up. Even at 8 wks I still have moments of stiffness and some swelling, all which is perfectly normal. It can take up to a year to fully recover from a TKR. As far as your hair falling out, I'm not sure about that. You probably need to see another doctor for that. It may be nothing to do with the TKR. I'll be praying for you. Good luck with everything.
Hi,
My op was in June, during one of our hottest Summers. I could never get warm and sat with a cardigan on for months.
No hair loss, but suspect cold and hair loss are due to shock to our systems.
Lynn 27 weeks post op
Thank you for your kind words. I continue to work on my exercises and am seeing my PT twice weekly; however, I'm not sure how much longer I can do that. Those sessions get costly for a person on a fixed income!
Hi Lynn - sorry you have experienced the cold issue too. I can be found on the couch snuggled in a fuzzy blanket and a heating pad next to me trying to get warm! I was fold by a few people that the knee replacement could have resulted in such a shock to the system that it has affected my throid. Will have to ask the dr during my next appointment.
You are doings fantastic. That's exactly where I was with my first TKR. It continued to progress and you will. My second TKR is 15 days post op. I have physio on Tuesday And a lot of hard work to come as my bend as yet is not great. But I will get there. What I found with the first was that doing bends in steam room and/or sauna really helped. The heat eased the muscles and the bend came better. I suspect the hair loss is all part of your bodies responses to the stress that you have been through. We all react differently. Continue with the good work.
Robert
Thank you! Good luck with the second TKR. You are a brave soul to enter the second challenge after knowing what the first one entailed. My sister-in-law just had her left knee replaced for the 4th time! She had her right knee done a number of years ago with no complications, but the left knee has caused problems since the first surgery in 2008. I tell her she is a hero going through this 5 times knowing full well what the recuperation process is.
You may ask if you can just pay once a month just to use the machines. The place where I did my therapy let's you come in whenever you want to use the machines for $25 a month, as long as you were a client of Thiers. Its not near as costly and for someone on a fixed income or not its a great deal. So I would check it out..
I am about to make my appointment for knee number two.
This operation isn't chosen through choice, but necessity. It is so traumatic.
Lynn 27 weeks post op
Wow, thanks for the thought. $25/month is much better than $25/visit.
Wishing the very best on knee number two. Good luck!
Good luck on knee number two. Will be praying for you and your recovery.
You are doing VERY WELL! ..except for the hair falling out. Hood for you on getting on the bike. I found that to be great for getting back on track!
You seem to be doing very well, and I wonder if you could do most of your exercises at home without the physio? I am only seeing the hospital physio once a month (no cost) and she gives me sets of exercises to do at home, which are excellent, saves the bother of going to her and cost. As for your feeling very cold and hair loss, both are classic signs of an under active thyroid, others are, dry skin and fatigue. I would ask for a FULL thyroid test and see what that produces. Do let us know what your doctor says!
You're definitely going throught the usual symptoms of this TKR
I too was worried about my hair coming out my hairdresser said not to worry as you've had major trauma to your body and it will settle down.
17 weeks post Op and my hair is back to normal ...and No I didn't go bald ,...lol
Jean
Best wishes for your second op
and yes it's necessity not choice I know mine will need doing eventually.
jean
Hi Lynn
Good to see your posts again. Wishing you luck on #2! Are you still planning for March?
How are you doing now with your first TKR? Do you feel completely recovered?
Take care, Betty
The person who cuts my hair pretty much told me the same thing. Eventually this trauma will settle and your hair loss will stop. She also said not to worry - wouldn't lose enough to go bald. HaHa
I am going to ask the dr. at my upcoming appointment if I could continue the exercises at home. That would save $200+ monthly and would help. I have been told by other people that I am going through classic signs of an underactive thyroid. Something else to ask the doctor.
Hi Betty,
Yes, end of March after our daughter has returned to the US.
Can't say I'm fully recovered. That can take over a year. However, the knee isn't the centre of my universe as it had been for months.
At the moment, my husband and I are trying to cope with the most awful cough and cold. Colds have been particularly bad here this Winter, apparently and if our grandsons get one, then we most definitely do! Been coughing so badly I've lost my voice, not a good thing when I'm about to try to speak to our daughter in New Mexico!
Hope you are well!