TKR and blood pressure

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi

I'm now over 6 months post TKR.

Recently I decided to check my BP on my husbands monitor and found it was 140/73

Not bad considering, but prior to the TKR I had low BP - always around 90/60 I've tried it several times since and is always around the 140/80 mark.

Has any one else experienced a raise in BP this long after TKR or is something else the culprit here?

2

140/70 sounds reasonable to me. I think what would start making it higher is if you start worrying about it.

It is so long ago that I had TKR, 3 years now that I'm afraid I really can't remember but I don't think I experienced a raise in blood pressure.

I would keep an eye not only on your blood pressure but also on your heart rate.

My monitor records both.

Take care

Love Sarah xxx

3

Pain can push up bp as well as the excercise, lack of sleep and rest in general and improper hydration. You should probably see a doctor just to have it checked out. Watch your sodium intake and check out you diet to see if you have changed your way of eatiing (i.e., more snack foods which are high in salt, prepared foods like frozen dinners). Just as a guess, I would think your water intake has decreased and the excercise program along with this is causing dehydration to a certain point

4

You are so right on everything! I have muscle /tendon pain which is stressful. Although I'm trying to lose weight I'm eating a lot of junk and I hardly drink any water. Plus I drink a lot of coffee recently. I'll have to address these for a week or so and see if there's a difference.

Thankyou for alerting me to the possibly obvious. I hope you are recovering well from your recent infection problems.

5

Infection gone but have to wait 6 more weeks to make sure it doesnt come back now that I'm off antibiotics.

6

I really feel for you. You have gone through so much just to be mobile.

Whenever I feel sorry for myself and my leg I think of your journey and how much harder it is for you. Puts mine in perspective!

I do hope you're ok and ask goes well for you

7

Lack of water actually increases muscle pain . .so I have read. I know the theory, but I still forget to drink enough!  140 is a little high . . Mine was up to 210/190 when I got it checked, and with the proper medication I;m around 120/70 now . . .The TKR hasn't affected by BP at all .  still nice and level!

8

Thanks Sarah. Heart rate is always good - around 60 - 64

9

Hi Suzidownunder,

It's  Tony from down under i check my BP everyday due to BP and take medication and I notice most definitely when my pain threshold increases or I seem to be struggling from discomfort my BP goes up, I think it's because we are just working ourselves up inside and hence the BP goes up and knowing it's gone up would have you worried hence still being high.

Monitor it and take it either first thing when you wake up after a good night or when your calm, relaxed and things are going well you may find its ok don't get worked up about it as it may just be that but if it doesn't go down then yes get it checked up definitely.

Cheers

Tony

 

10

There's a lot to certain things causing bp spikes. A friend of mine had what was termed "white coat syndrom". When a nurse or doc in a white uniform or jacket took his bp it would spike. Same doc in a suit, no problem. He had that problem from the time he was in his 20's til he died in his mid 60's. He was one of those nervous, type A guys that worried about everything and held it inside.

11

I'm sorry to hear that I just googled it and had no idea that there was such a term also white coat hypertension..it makes sense thou when you think about it and can see that, that can occur.

thank you for the education of this as I had no idea.

12

The human body is such a delicate organism for all of the abuse it has to endure and the brain is definately the most difficult to get absolute answers and absolutes when searching for solutions.

13

I've also read a study which suggests that doctors should not ignore the white coat syndrome, as it is probably an indicator that the blood pressure also peaks to other stimuli, such as stress or pain etc. . .During my husband's chemotherapy treatment I finally passed out with 210/190 without realising my blood pressure was high . . .I've got it well under control now, but it never went back to normal levels once the stress of the chemotherapy was over, so I'm stuck with another three tablets a day to go with the six others!  I rattle if you shake me. . . . . 

14

Strangely, both my husband's and my blood pressures are higher first thing in the morning, and by the evening are much lower . . .but then, of course, we do take the BP medicine before breakfast, so perhaps that has something to do with it!!