You're not alone. Having an orthopedic surgery can leave you feeling tired for weeks or months after the procedure. Here's a list of 7 main causes of fatigue after surgery: surgical stress, blood loss, medications, pain after surgery, energy of healing, dietary changes, and sleep disturbance.
You can't say how long you will feel exhausted after surgery, although it's normal to experience tiredness for 3-4 months following the procedure.
Three Months After Surgery
You may still be experiencing some minor stiffness in your knee. You may have some aching or swelling in your knee, especially after sitting for long periods or upon waking. You should be able to walk without a cane or walker. Your sleeping pattern should be back to normal.
It depends on the knee replacement
But the occasional twinge or moment of discomfort could well last 12 months. Occasionally it could be two years. For partial knee replacements – a much less invasive process – you can typically halve that.
By: Sunil Jani, MD, MS, Orthopedic Surgeon
A full recovery can take 6 months to 1 year or longer. After surgery, efforts are devoted to controlling post-surgical pain, establishing good range of motion, and increasing muscle strength. Once fully recovered, a person typically has less knee pain and better knee function.
Start with small, manageable steps over short distances and use an assistive device whenever needed. Gradually work your way up until you can walk longer distances without discomfort. Doing too much exercise can lead to pain and swelling, hindering your recovery.
Here's a list of 7 main causes of fatigue after surgery: surgical stress, blood loss, medications, pain after surgery, energy of healing, dietary changes, and sleep disturbance. Undergoing even a minor procedure puts a big stress on your body.
method: Rest the knee, Ice the area, Compress with a wrap or elastic sleeve, Elevate as much as possible.
Most people will experience a return in some or part of their sensation. This is probably because the nerve was simply stretched through the surgery. Or other nerves have grown and compensated for the other. If the nerve is purely stretched, experts would suggest that the nerve should recover in 6-12 weeks.
Two studies that used the PJP on total knee replacement patients found that only 32-39% of patients perceived their new knee to be like a natural joint; however, over half of the participants reported that their new knee felt either like a natural joint or an artificial joint with no restriction.
When Can I Do Housework? For the first three months following a TKR, stick to light chores such as washing up and dusting. Try to avoid standing for long periods e.g. ironing as it can cause your knee and ankles to swell. After three months you can return to other housework such as hoovering.
Long-Term Complications of Knee Replacement
However, around 20% of patients report chronic postoperative knee pain. Studies have associated this type of chronic pain with decreased function, increased inflammation and higher levels of depression.
Common causes of tiredness and fatigue include: not getting enough sleep or finding it hard to get to sleep (insomnia) an unhealthy lifestyle (such as having an unhealthy diet and not getting much exercise) stress, depression and dealing with life challenges, such as bereavement or looking after a new baby.
Get moving
You might feel that exercise is the last thing on your mind. But, in fact, regular exercise will make you feel less tired in the long run, so you'll have more energy. Even a single 15-minute walk can give you an energy boost, and the benefits increase with more frequent physical activity.
Tiredness, exhaustion, or severe and prolonged fatigue are common after surgery – even minor surgery. This is, in part, due to the effects of anesthesia, which often wear off more slowly in older people.
After surgery, your body undergoes repair and recovery, which drives a higher baseline metabolic rate and draws on your nutrient stores. So it isn't surprising such intense activity at a cellular level results in feeling tired after surgery.
Postsurgical pain is defined as pain lasting more than 3 to 6 months after surgery. The pain differs in quality and location from pain experienced prior to surgery, and is usually associated with iatrogenic neuropathic pain caused by surgical injury to a major peripheral nerve.
Your orthopaedic surgeon and physical therapist may recommend that you exercise for 20 to 30 minutes daily, or even 2 to 3 times daily; and walk for 30 minutes, 2 to 3 times daily during your early recovery.
It is important to work on your knee motion (bending and straightening) after knee replacement surgery. This will help you walk without a limp and get up and down easier from a chair, toilet or bed. You will be able to do this by: doing knee bending and straightening stretches as directed by your therapist.
While cycling is recommended as an effective form of exercise after knee surgery, returning to the bike depends on your post-surgery mobility. At around the six week mark, your physio or consultant may recommend you start riding a stationary bike.
After knee replacement surgery, you can gradually resume normal activities and there are no permanent restrictions, as long as you stay within your comfort level and follow the guidance of your healthcare team.
Kneeling is one of the movements that knee osteoarthritis can increase the difficulty of. So, many people want to know if they'll be able to kneel after their knee replacement surgery. For most patients, the answer is yes.
In traditional knee replacement surgery, the surgeon makes a long incision over the middle of the knee and cuts muscles, tendons and ligaments to get to the knee joint. When more tissues, muscles and tendons are cut during surgery, the recovery is more painful and the healing process takes longer.