I am at 6 weeks post op and thought I would at least be able to get back to doing some work and study from the recliner, but find I cannot put my thoughts together to concentrate very well. Anyone else notice this?
I am off the narcotic pain meds for 3 weeks now. My sleep is still sketchy--but find I am anxious during the day and have difficulty napping. Thank you ahead of time for any insight!
Hi, I too am 6 wks post tkr, I have great ideas to get back to normality and make plans when I'm lying in bed. The only problem with that is my brain and body won't synchronise so I'm left doing nothing mutch!!! This surgery is major and I must remember it takes time to heal both body and mind, so I'm just pottering around and reading light fiction, watching more tv than usual and generally being kind to myself.I know these feelings will pass and that I will get stronger both physically and mentally so I'm just giving time time to heal .
When I am stressed, I find it difficult to sleep, my mind just won't shut off. Maybe if you try a little meditation. For me, I like to meditate on a Bible verse. As I'm trying to quiet myself, things pop into my mind. I write them in a piece of paper, so I don't have to think about them. Anxiety can really make you feel stuck.
Wow ur off narcotics after 3 weeks I needed after 6-7 weeks dud you have TKR?
Hi Letha!
Welcome to the forum!😊
Oh YES, it surely took me awhile to get my body and brain coordinated after going off the narcotics!
I've worn contacts since 9th grade. I can put them in in the dark without a mirror. Following my TKR surgery it took me TWELVE TRIES to put them in, and I WAS using a mirror! This trouble continued for several weeks.
I would pick something up, walk with it, but then it would just fall out of my hand!
In PT at four weeks when I was released from homecare and could go to outpatient PT, I had to REPEATEDLY ask my therapist to give me instructions again and again. THEN, I would have trouble making my body do what my ears had heard my therapist ask me to do!
Concentration was challenging because I would often drift off to sleep without realizing I was doing it.
A couple months in things got better. It takes awhile to eliminate all the anesthesia and narcotic medication from the body.
Also, I think that we have gone through a TREMENDOUS trauma in our surgery! The body and mind is trying to return to normal, but things are FAR from normal after surgery!
It will get better!
Try drinking more water which will eliminate toxins from meds, anesthesia etc. Get as much sleep as you can. (My best sleep came in impromptu NAPS!)
Be well, and don't worry!😊
Letha I believe it's all normal. I prepared for my post op by getting my books to read and even bought a coloring book - all sorts of projects to keep me busy. Reality- didn't do anything - very little reading, no projects because my brain was in such a fog. Very weird to feel this way. I figured it was the narcotics. But it did go away - things are back to normal 😜 ! Hang in there!
All good info from our group. BUT don't underestimate the effects of sleep deprivation. Every hour we can get is invaluable but nothing heals our body and clears our mind like a good night sleep. This is difficult recovering from such a big surgery and knee discomfort trying to get comfortable. But it does get better. You may wish to try one of the OTC relievers like ibuprophin PM. They did help me and wasn't left foggy.
I am 8 weeks po from tkr and still need pain meds for out-patient physical therapy. That's the only time I take them now as I have been so concerned about getting addicted to them. Even with that they don't completely take the pain away. I guess I have just accepted that they take the edge off or should I say the sharp pain away. It surprises me too when some people seem to not need the pain medications.
I read all of the replies to Letha. I couldn't have written a different answer than all of you because I am also 6 weeks post op TKR and have the same complaints and challenges. I have to work on straightening my leg and it is so painful. I am still on one pain killer (Tramadol 50 mg.) a day to relieve in order to sleep. I think the most I sleep is 2 hours at a time. There is no bedtime hour anymore. I also take a pain killer when I go for PT.
Sleep deprivation, problem concentrating, loss of appetite, forgetting the exercises from inpatient to outpatient therapy, are the issues I have as well. I tried to learn a simple program on my laptop and couldn't concentrate on it. I find if I want to sleep, the only thing is binge watching a mini series from Netflx or HBO. I know it will pass but isn't it good that we are on this site. It takes away an element of fear for me. I told my PT that this was the scariest surgery I ever had.
Good healing to all of you and thanks for your input.
Let's all hang in there and in a year from now will share good results.
Hi Betty!
I was concerned, too, about getting addicted to pain killers. I wasn't getting a whole lot of relief from them, and it seemed that I was needing more pills more often.
After my two weeks of blood thinner shots were finished, I decided to go back to my Ibuprofen that had been my pain relief of choice prior to surgery. I was VERY pleasantly surprised that my swelling began getting under control. Once the swelling became less, I could move better and my PT sessions were more productive. Moving more helped me FEEL better, and my pain became much less. I never took another narcotic after that.
You may find success as I did with over-the-counter pain meds.
Wow. Thank you all for your replies. I feel much better knowing my symptoms are not unusual. I knew that is the focus of this forum--to lend support. But, I underestimated the power of it to make a difference. Thank you to all for taking the time to respond...truly, I feel a measure of relief from simply reading your posts.
I think that it is true that week's of interrupted and inadequate sleep takes a huge toll....emotionally, mentally, and physically. It makes handling the pain about ten times as difficult.
I was struck today at how it seems unusual for the physical therapists that I have observed to connect with patients on a holistic level. They are so good at knowing what exercises will get you from point A to point B, but never have they inquired about my motivation, adequate rest or nutrition, or feelings of depression/frustration/grief, etc. These other factors are so critical in recovery--I assume they know this and yet why do they never address these aspects? Anyone have a good PT out there who gets the big picture?
Again--thank you all for the words of support and hope. May we all conquer this difficult time!
My binge has been all the seasons of the TV show "Psych". I had never watched it before. It makes me laugh, which I find very therapeutic especially on bad days!
You are so right Marilyn. I'm here nearly 23 months post op and this group sure did see me through times when I was certain something was wrong. When we find out we aren't experiencing something abnormal, it sure helps change our perspective. The joy of knowing we aren't alone. I got sucked into some mindless computer games, and writing on the forum. Nothing like making you feel better than comforting another.
Letha, great deduction about PT not generally asking about our motivation, rest & nutrition or feelings of depression/frustration/grief, etc. I think I was fortunate in that my PT was an Indian who was drawn to the profession because of suffering his brother went through as he was growing up. That combined with some Hindu ways of thinking brought a good balance (though we had different faiths, we still connection on the full picture value). 3 months after my surgery I learned about surgical stress - no one I talked to had ever mentioned that as being anything to be concerned about...until I lost 1/2 of my hair! Never have I seen stress like that in my life. I was sure there was something terribly wrong with me. But when I went to the hair doctor (not sure what the proper name is), he listed about 7 possible reasons (a couple were right up my alley), but when he said surgical stress can result in hair loss anywhere from 3 - 6 months after surgery, it made perfect sense. I've tried researching it and find a bunch of medical mumbo jumbo that I don't really care to understand, but it's real.
Hi Keith--
Yes, I had a TKR and probably would have gone longer on the narcotics but the side effects were really getting to me. I quit them cold turkey, which was really dumb, and spent about 5 days feeling really sick. I won't lie--some days I think about taking one again when my leg aches so bad, but I really don't want all the other stuff that goes with it, so I haven't succumbed yet....and hopefully won't. Everyone is affected by meds so differently--if it is working and helping with rehab in the early weeks, then that is what is most important. Do what works!
Hi Moandrieu,
I just read your note about hair loss. There is a condition called alopecia. Some children get it at an early age but then there is a condition called alopecia areata...where hair falls out in differen areas and can happen at any age.
I found the best source to start with would be a naturopath. In many states they are considered medical doctors. So far in New York they are not yet licensed doctors. You can also go to a Holistic medical doctor who will test your thyroid. Mainstream doctors don't bother to test T3 which is very important in healing. The only reason I know about this is that I had my thyroid removed ten years ago and have struggled dinding out the richt dose of medication. They also test hormones in both men and women and that can be a factor. It's a coincidence that some of you spoke about sleep deprivation. Today i went to a naturopath who has been my source of strength during some difficult times. I lost 10 lbs. in six weeks and can barely do my PT. I told her I had to go off on all my supplements for almost two months including before and after surgery. I was taking hormone replacement therapy, pancreatic enzymes, milk thistle, and T3 supplements. I get from a compounded pharmacy. I told her I haven't slept in almost two months now. First thing she mentioned was progesterone which I tudually ake to help me sleep. I told her about the coumedin I was on for six weeks and her final answer was..."you look exhausted and need to detox on a metabolic supplement. She said people don't realize the shock that goes on in our bodies after this kind of surgery. I chose a powder vs. pill to make a drink with it. She also gave me liquid ginsing for energy and need to add one drop daily into drink.
Do you live in UK or US? If you go on the internet, you can search for homeopaths. It is out of pocket and insurance doesn't cover it, but it's worth it for good health.
Be well friends; sending healing wishes.
I hope this is of some help to you.
So my friends, now that we are finished with the medical part of out journey, we can now find ways to build strength since we need it to heal.
Went to pt this am I'm almost 2 months out and barely have 80 degrees therapist told me it's a good chance I will have to be put to sleep and they will bend my knee and I will have to go to pt every day for a while told me that is very painful so upset and depressed over this news this am!!!
Thanks Marilyn. It was a thinning that happened evenly over my entire scalp. I'd initially ordere Rogaine, but a friend told me as soon as I stopped taking it, the loss would return, so I cancelled my order before it shipped. The doctor I met with prescribed a liquid that I used on my scalp and biotin. Slowly, is tarted noticing all these little baby hairs growing in. After about 5 months my hair stylist said it was looking really good. This was a year ago. Now, my hair is as thick as it ever was. I still take biotin, because it's good for your hair and nails.
Great....happy you have god results with liquid and biotin
Keith--that is difficult news for sure. I have known several people who have had to have this manipulation done. Not fun. But, on the other hand, it will help you get to the end result of a strong, well functioning knee sooner. Those who I know that have had those post surgery manipulations are now glad for it. The in-between time is where our stamina is being tested. Know you aren't alone!
Do you have an ice machine? I don't think I could survive this whole ordeal without one. When my leg is aching, it soothes it within 5 minutes. The pain isn't always gone, but it masks it pretty well. It's also been a good reward for doing exercises--helps with the soreness afterwards.
Hang in there!!!