I am now at 9 weeks after tkr, and have posted before how I have this debilitating fatigue, now I find I've lost 3 kgs. It may sound good to lose weight, but was not overweight to start with. Had blood tests for anaemia, all ok. The only thing different is I got an exercise bike, and do approx 4kms throughout the day, plus the other exercises. Anyone else have this problem?
THe fatigue is normal takes a while to go
I'm in the xtreme fatigue stage, 2-1/2 wks out. Rolling with it. Watching the wind blow the trees, not too much color here in Orange County NY.
I am 11 weeks TKR and have only just stated to overcome the debilitating fatigue. There's not much I could do but to roll with it and allow my body time to heal.
I also had weightloss, which has now stabalised. I have lost 8 kg, and was also not overweight to start. It hasn't helped that my husband and boys feel me I look gaunt and sick! I have found the weightloss to be very frustrating because my bones are sticking out, making sitting etc painful. I've now purchased a foam ring which I use. Just yesterday I spoke to a work colleague whose husband had bilateral TKR, and went from overweight to skinny., but she did say that when he was fully recovered, and his lifestyle returned, he regained all the a weight!
My PT has suggested I try a meal replacement like Ensure because I just don't have the energy or desire to eat.
Good luck with your recovery.
I lost weight after my TKR too, a similar amount. I read that our body uses over 400 extra calories healing, so that is probably why you're losing weight and fatigued. It soon stabilized and now I'm back to my normal weight if not slightly above, which I think is down to my not being quite as active still and that's down to the back rather than knee
I'm just over 4 months right post tkr . The sudden and total energy drain really took me by surprise and wad depressing. I'd be feeling sort of normal and then out of the blue I'd be oh gosh, just got to lie down. started reading about it and discovered it takes 3 months or more until you gradually get your energy back. I didn't lose weight, on the contrary i gained a couple of kilo even with exercising. Sitting around a lot for one thing, and my husband kept bringing little treats - the edible sort. I'm sure once your energy levels get back to normal, so will your appetite.
I expected to feel the energy drain with respect to the healing process. It depends what you have on your plate...I'm retired, widowed and live alone so I am content with reading, planning daydreaming. Of course I miss my activities but going in my surgeon told me to prepare for a big camping trip...boy was he on target! The folks at Dollar General must have wondered what I needed all those paper products for? But it panned out, those cans of low sodium chicken broth thank God. Saltines to stave off nausea. I gave up the painkillers 2 days ago because they destroyed me. spending 18 hrs in the bathroom trying to have a bowel movement - not fun, although it sure got my knee to bend ready or not. When it gets down to the nitty gritty it forces you to view things differently. That new winter coat I've been thinking about not so big on my wish list. My 52 y/o son was able to come home and be my primary caregiver, what a blessing. I offered to get him a trip to wherever when this ordeal winds down; wouldn't blame him if he went out for milk and kept running. I haven't exactly been a peach crying and moaning scuffling about. I thank God for my blesdings. Yup, I even have a vision for family holiday get together....
Roberta, i have to admire you, living alone and coping with all the pain and horrible discomforts. Brave lady. and of course, your wonderful son. It's a long haul, but it dies get better, little by little. keep up the exercises, they're so important. Allow yourself to rest whenever you feel like, don't overdo things. Crying and moaning - we've all done that. Be well and be strong.
I also lost weight following surgery. I attributed my weight loss to a blend of the loss of muscle tissue and a decreased appetite as a result of the drastic post-surgery lack of activity. My legs went from a nice lean muscle tone to toneless sticks. As I was able to increase my exercise (with PT guidance), and especially adding more lower body strength training, my weight, muscle tone and appetite increased. Now at almost 6 months post bilateral partial knee replacement, I am back to my normal weight and getting almost as strong as I was pre-surgery - but my weight was too low until about the 4.5 month post-surgery mark. Hopefully you will get back to your usual weight soon.
Hi Rita, thanks for your reply, its's good t know that losing weight is pretty normal. All in all I am in too much of a hurry to feel better. I seem to be suffering from anxiety and some depression which is causing some nausea, loss of energy and reflux, which I have never had before, because I cannot get my ROM to change. Probably got myself into a state. So I think, as everyone is saying, I should just relax and realise that I am slower than some others, which includes my sister and brother-in-law who seemed to go through this operation so much easier. Not good to compare I know.
Thanks Jenny, it's so good to be on this forum as you feel quite alone sometimes.
Hi Roberta, well here in Australia we are coming out of winter, but spring is taking its time. Wanting to get out and walk. I am at 9 weeks now and still have fatigue but I think it's my brain, got to get in in the right space. 2-1/2 weeks is very early in your recovery. Don't do as I have done and judge your recovery on someone else's, we are all different.
Hi Colleen, I'm sorry for you and understand completely. I only lost 3 kgs. Perhaps it is normal for us to be feeling like this. Anxiety is my biggest enemy, and this I have to overcome. Good luck to you, and keep us informed of your progress. I am 9 weeks now, and not looking forward to the right knee replacement in December!
Hi Lynda, Wow 400 extra calories! No wonder we lose weight. How is your back?
Hi Jane, Yes the energy drain is very surprising isn't it. Hos is your ROM at 4 months? Mine is only Just 100 deg. at 9 weeks. This has been my problem, thinking that it would be a lot better by now, but have to realize, we are all different I guess.
It's hard when we know others have had a quicker recovery and sometimes difficult for them to understand why we're slower at recovery, not that I'm saying your relatives are like that. It depends on so much. Each person and knee is different. I've heard even 2 knees on the same person will heal differently and it seems valgus knees take longer than varus knees. I'm preparing already for the other knee being worse. You never know it might surprise me!
Roberta, the best thing I've found fir constipation is golden linseed in Activia yoghurt. My dietician recommended 2 tablespoons of the seeds in yoghurt twice a day. It soon worked and now I need only 1 tablespoon in 1 yoghurt if I have a oroblem. It might be worth trying.
I have scoliosis and it's been a real problem walking since my TKR. I'm hoping it will improve after the next TKR. It's frustrating not being able to walk for more than 30 minutes before having to take a break, but I guess I should be grateful I can do that. Wish me luck!
Believe it or not here (in Israel) I've never had my ROM measured so don't really know how to measure it. I don't have problems with knee slides, squats - holdin gon to the railings, leg lits or pelvic lifts. However both my surgeon and physiotherapist are pleased with me on this score and I find I am certainly no worse off than I was before the op; in fact much better. I'm 72 and wasn't a gym/sporty person beforehand, but do my exercises daily. After over three weeks of going up and down stairs like a baby my home physio helped me to go up properly and a week later, also helped me to go down properly. Since then - no looking back. In fact both he and the surgeon said I should go up and down 'for exercise' not just because I need to get or do something. So I do. Before the op, going up to bed, when I was tired and less mobile at the end of the day, the stairs looked like mount Everest and I used the banister to help pull myself up. I probably need to have the left knee done as well, but I am going back to my my regular orthopaedic doctor at my local clinic and see what's going on. At my 5-week visit to the surgeon who operated on my knee, he asked me what about the second knee I said all in due course. There's a lot to be said for a bilateral tkr - one lot of pre-op tests, one lot of meds which play havoc with your body and one lot of the nightmarish pain of those first couple of weeks, not to mention the sudden energy drains and depression.
Lynda I feel for you with bad back. I took advice from all and sundry, and yesterday did 30 walk and 10 mins bike plus exercises, and had an awful nights sleep. Every time I moved it hurt. When is your next tkr? Is it January? I think I told you mine is December and worry that my left knee will still be a problem as it will only be 4 months along. Good luck to you.