8 Reasons you feel so tired after your total knee replacement surgery.

8 Reasons You Get Tired So Fast After My Total Knee Replacement

Difficulty Sleeping

Sleep disturbances is part of the recovery process. I have been a licensed physical therapist since 2006 and over that time I have never met a patient who told me he was sleeping like a baby the day after surgery.

Most patients are struggling to get comfortable and manage the soreness weeks and even months after surgery.

If you can’t sleep you can be sure that you will feel fatigued during the day.

Dietary Changes

After a total knee replacement surgery, you may experience a loss of appetite or nausea. It is common to experience constipation and/or diarrhea. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you are not likely eating as well as you normally would. This lack of nutrition may affect your energy levels.

I also know many patients who are diabetic may be experiencing difficulty managing blood sugar levels after surgery. The stress of surgery, lack of sleep, and pain are all factors that could raise blood sugar levels.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

About the author:
Hi, my name is Anthony (Tony) Maritato, PT. I am a licensed physical therapist and owner of Total Therapy Solutions. I have specialized in helping clients recover from total knee replacement surgery since 2002 and have created this video to help YOU.

Total Therapy Solutions
5900 Long Meadow Dr
Middletown, OH 45005
[phone]

[michelleoneal]

I'm eight weeks out and wondering why I'm so depressed. I had no idea this would be so difficult. I'm glad I found your video. Thank you

[oekodsr]

Lord thank you for helping me wondering why am so tired

[PBC]

I am going through everything you have stated. One month out from a total knee and still in pain and waking up every 3 hours. Thank you.

[cindythomas]

Crying as I write this 2.5 weeks out from left knee arthroplasty. Crying because I thought it was just me feeling so tired, depressed, angry. Others around me who have had this surgery (husband, mom, several good friends) say they were up and around or going back to desk jobs in 2-3 weeks! This made me feel like a failure. I cannot thank you enough for THIS "8 reasons" video! Your encouragement, and that of my very young PT giver, has made me feel so much better about myself. I am gonna do me from here out and stop pushing myself to appease my ego (and well-meaning post surgical friends) so I can kick this depression, eat better, feel better.
THANK

[zp]

My husband had a TKR on 11/7 they sent him home same day like 4 hrs after his surgery. Getting into the car for some strange reason his knee buckled and he heard 2 loud pops and he fell screaming with pain. The nurse was heading back when she heard it she came running to see what had happened. She looked at his knee and said oh, it must have just been a tight muscle and sent us on home. We wish we knew better and demanded to go back, but sadly took her word for it. Getting home while trying to go inside the house he literally just needed to pick his leg up one step and he couldn't and again with his walker fell hard. His leg bruised severely black. We went back to the doctor next day, they did an x ray and said he should be fine, but my husband felt something wasn't right as he wasn't able to lift his leg up like he did same day after surgery while still in the hospital. Fast forward almost 1 week after surgery his knee buckled while walking in the house and he fell hard and knee started to bleed through the sealed bandage. We called the doctor and went to the office. He was told he has a huge hematoma from falls and needs emergency surgery next day. During surgery they discovered he had ruptured his quadricep in 2 places and had to have that repaired. So basically when he was initially leaving the hospital and heard the 2 pops his Quad must have ruptured and that's when we should have went back but the nurse sent us on our way back home. Moral of the story, if something doesn't seem right leaving the hospital demand to go back and don't risk it because now what was supposed to be a 3 month recovery we are being told is 6 months to a year. He is in lots of pain, has to wear a leg brace for 2-4 weeks without bending his knee, has a bigger risk of not having normal ROM. But, we can't change what happened and are trying to be positive and just move forward. But we wish we had done more homework about risks and possibilities.

The big question is what could have caused his Quad to rupture so easily after his surgery? The doctor seems to think it's because my husband had had a bad knee for many years and that muscle has been very weak to begin with so it just gave out. We think he should have never went home so soon, but who's to know if this wouldn't have happened regardless. We don't know, it's very frustrating, but pray this heals quickly and he can go back to walking normal again.

If anyone has any advice or similar stories, suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. He goes in for his first PT appointment this Thursday and we are nervous. What are the changes of a Quad to rupture again? They said that if he does everything right, it's 5% and less so we pray it all goes well.

Regarding energy and pain, this video is spot on. If it helps anyone, here are some of the things my husband has been doing to help regain his strength and heal and hope this helps someone else.

Eats a green salad daily with a healthy protein.
I made homemade bone broth from beef marrow bones and chicken feet and make soups out of this, and froze a lot of it and use it as I run out.
I made kidney beans with beef and beef liver which helps increase iron and is full of vitamins for the blood.
I give him a liquid iron supplement which is non constipation type.
He also takes a good quality collagen powder.
I have bought 100% carrot juice which is full of vitamins and also a green juice. You can make your own, but if no time, these work great too. His bruising has greatly improved and he will be 2 wks out since his 2nd surgery and can tell his energy levels have slowly been improving. A good diet is definitely a must to follow if you want to heal faster and most importantly lots of prayers! We have so many family, friends and people at Church praying for him which I wholeheartedly believe in the power of prayer and while all of this has been so frustrating, we know that God is in control and that with patience, time, and prayers Jesus will restore his knee functions! For anyone going through anything similar, I pray you will find this message helpful and pray for you to heal quickly. Do not give up 🙏🏻

[edwinlaverty]

I'm 5 months out and wish I had seen this video months ago. At 14weeks was 104 flexion and 23 extension. Got a new P.T. at that point. Now 121 flex and 5 ext. This new P.T. I pay cash and his treatment sometimes last 2 hours. Did High voltage stimulation. Finally going up and down stairs. This surgery is BRUTAL and so many make like it's no big deal. That is not right.

[danieldonato]

I had THR 24 days ago and wow have I've hard on myself. Everyone around me tells me how great I'm doing, but inside i feel like a failure. I've never had these feelings before. I go to PT and get home, just to fall asleep for hours. Always trying to find that sweet spot. I never realized it would get me down like this. I appreciate your video. It has helped me to understand I'm not in a race and everything that needs doing outside can wait. What an experience.

[dianemyer]

You are the only therapist who talks about what recovery is Really like after TKR. Thank you.

[gracebrown]

4 Weeks post TKR. You are the first clinician that gets it ! Thank you.

[kareyingalls]

This video helped me so much by explaining what is normal after surgery. I’m 5 weeks post op, I am a fit, strong 63 year old female but feel like I’m swimming upstream sometimes! I realize now I’m not doing anything wrong it’s just the situation I’m in!! Thank you so much.

[macsmiffy]

Years ago, patients would go to a post operative rehabilitation hospital, where you were allowed to rest and recover slowly. Now, it’s up and out as quickly as possible, so the next patient can take the bed. Whatever system of health care in your country, it’s all about maximising the monetary value of the surgical bed. I will do physio when I feel fit enough, but more important is allowing my body to heal. That means rest and sleep.

[brandihorn]

I am 8 days out from TKR, and I feel like I’m already depressed. I am used to working 50-60 hours a week and going nonstop, so for me to be dependent on others to HELP me has gotten me truly emotional. I am so grateful I found your videos!! I have been a bit discouraged but I’m trying to keep an positive outlook. ❤

[lcpinco]

I’m six weeks out from surgery tomorrow. I so needed to hear this. This whole procedure was a huge challenge that I certainly didn’t anticipate. Thank you Tony. You’ve been my go to channel for the past 6 weeks.

[ernestopalestino]

“Dear Tony, I would like to express my gratitude for the amazing videos you create. Your videos are my favorite among all the TKR videos out there. I appreciate your straightforward and practical advice and explanations. I am currently on day 18 of my TKR recovery. I am 72 years old, 6.2, 180, and have always been an active person, participating in sports such as Track, Soccer, Tennis, and now, Pickleball. My recovery has been going well, except for the first eight days when my PT was hindered by the fact that the pain medication was not right. Once that was corrected, my recovery started to improve. I am now on my third week of PT and have achieved 95 degrees of flexion. However, I have been experiencing fatigue lately and was wondering why. This video is spot. Thank you so much for your help! You rock!!!”

[dittohead]

Glad this was in my YT recommend. I just said I’m not sleepy but I’m so tired. 🙏🏻 for healing. Everyday is one day better. I had no idea how tough this one going to be

[kerinbunstock]

Thank you! I’m six weeks out and one days after PT (like today) I will still take a two or three hours nap. I’m glad to find this is common. Everything else is going well, but no energy.

[marytesta]

I think with "drive through" major surgery they downplay after surgery fatigue etc. I had a right TKR Wednesday 9/6/23 and all the literature said you will have "some" discomfort. I expected that but I had excruciating pain 48 hours later. Had the home PT not warned me I would have called an ambulance. I have a very high pain tolerance and this was so far past my threshold I was shaking. Pain meds did nothing. Pain is exhausting and maybe more discussion is needed so patients don’t feel weak and deflated failures.
Great video addressing this issue!

[lee]

It's tough, 12 days in and my head wants to do all my chores, but my body just can't. I'm tired of saying "I'm tired", but I am! I pray a lot for help and healing. I still have a household to take care of even at 66 1/2. I ask for help, but it wears on everybody. It's not just us going through this, but those you live with, too. It's hard all the way around. One day at a time, and a lot of easy dinners.

[jbrown]

This gentleman is the best.
I’m into recuperating from my 2nd TKR over a three month time frame.
All is going well( again).
Every time I raise a question or frustration with my wife this gentleman’s site rolls up with an explanation of my issues. 🤗🤗

[lindawoolbright]

All so true!! I live in a neighborhood where if you throw a rock you’ll hit someone that’s had TKR. I trained for 6 months before surgery & expected a quick recovery. Experienced a tear in patella tendon during procedure that required bringing another surgeon in to perform graft repair from my hamstring. Came home in ankle to thigh knee immobilizer restricted to bed or sofa except for PT where I really couldn’t do anything. I’m now 6 MONTHS postop - still biweekly PT, still same pain as first couple days, still only 90 degrees, can’t drive, ride across backseat in car to PT, completely homebound. Diagnosed yesterday with nerve damage & looking at more surgery. I have top surgeon in my area, but that certainly doesn’t insure an easy recovery. This time last year I was running 5 miles 4 times a week. I look and act like a totally different person. THIS channel is the only one that brings me any hope or comfort that despite everything I might someday I get better. Thank you so much!!