Knee Replacement Recovery

Cotta

Hi,

My Dad who is in his 80's had his knee replaced four weeks ago, the actual physical side of it seems to have went well with doctors advising this has been a success. We are however more worried that he seems very tired as of late and is almost completely off his food.

Is it normal to feel this sick after a knee replacement and what is the normal recovery time?

We are obviously getting the doctor back out but I was hoping for a second opinion.

Thanks in advance.

Cyclizine

Yes, it is a major operation which places a not insignificant stress on the body. The physiotherapy and the unaccustomed exercise from the increased mobility can also make you shattered. Off food though is a little odd - is he still taking the painkillers? These can cause those kind of side effects.

As a side note - by 'getting doctor out' do you mean a home visit? If he is doing well physically then he should really visit the surgery, particularly if he's got family like yourself around to assist. Much easier to examine and assess patients in somewhere that's designed to do it!

Cotta

Thanks for that useful and in someway reassuring feedback.

I think as I live quite a distance from my parent's home and they can't drive, house visits are the better option.

On medication I believe he takes painkillers particularly at night to ease his pain and help him sleep.

sheramber

A general anaesthetic can affect the body for several weeks afterwards which could account for his tiredness and lack of appetite.

Also his body is still healing from the surgery.

He needs to listen to his body and get plenty rest.

Painkillers can cause nausea.


Maybe some nutritional foods such as Complan would be easier for him to take.

Cyclizine

He won't have had a general anaesthetic for a knee replacement and they don't affect the body for weeks after. The stress response to surgery however...

Katiehound

Cyclizine wrote: »

He won't have had a general anaesthetic for a knee replacement and they don't affect the body for weeks after. The stress response to surgery however...

Funny that. I had general anaesthetic for both total knee replacements- my choice.- (06/2016 & 12/2016-) In which case it takes a while for the drugs to work through the body.
However what I found was I felt 'weird' and couldn't eat for the first two weeks or so after and I put that down to the blood thinning drugs.

'Normal recovery'- what is normal?- almost how long is a piece of string! It rather depends how fit and mobile he was before the operation- because generally if you are 'fighting fit' before the op you are more likely to recover more quickly. Everyone reacts differently, there is "no size fits all"

I found swimming as soon as I was allowed after clips were removed made a big difference as it is non weight bearing exercise
I assume he has an upcoming 6 week check up with the surgeon?
How is the wound? If that is infected it can make you feel ill.

Hope he recovers well,but it doesn't happen instantly- it is a major operation.

Quentin

Certainly be looking at months (9/12) for full recovery and not weeks!

Cyclizine

The vast majority of hip and knee replacements in the UK are done under spinal anaesthesia, with or without sedation. It is a tiny dose of spinal drug that wears off after a few hours and if sedation is used it's gone before you're being wheeled out of theatre. The physios will have most people up the several hours later. In Canada, you go home the same day! He may well have had a general anaesthetic, but for an 80 year old a spinal is a significantly better option for pain-relief and immediate recovery. Modern general anaesthesia uses short acting drugs, which will have cleared the system in less than 24 hours. People often blame the anaesthetic for the tiredness/washed-out feeling in the days post-op, forgetting the surgeon has basically started the bodies natural stress responses to injury. The post-op regular painkillers are the most likely contributing factor here as well.

Shropshirelass

DH had knee replacement a year ago at age 78. He says, for first three months he had considerable pain and needed analgesia 3 or 4 times daily. This included codeine, oramorph and anti-inflamatories, taking dosages as prescribed. Side effects of pain killers included constipation (which causes poor appetite, tiredness and lethargy). Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be way around this, so you have to choose between pain and constipation. It took 6 months before he could get an acceptable balance. Eating lots of fruit helps.
His mobility has improved but is not perfect. Your father should be getting regular physio, this is very important.

wondercollie

Quentin wrote: »

Certainly be looking at months (9/12) for full recovery and not weeks!

My 64yo friend had one knee done the end of January, the second knee in June. Was back at work in November.

It's all down to the amount of work you are willing to put into the physio.

Murphybear

I had my knee replaced in 2011, still have problems. However, my problem wasn!!!8217;t normal wear and tear but result of nasty knee accident when I was 30 and had 3 knee ops then, my knee joint was a complete mess.

After I had it replaced I took part in a research study at the University where they were looking at how having knee replacements affected having osteoporosis. One unexpected result was that it took much longer to recover from a total knee replacement than most patients thought. Bad others have said, everyone!!!8217;s different.