Fatigue after operation

Yes it takes a time, but Molly coddle yourself, rest and relax. Good food and sleep - have a look on YouTube there will be tips there for sleeping with a grotty shoulder.

Then one day you will wake up and think “oh! I am feeling better”

Bodies take longer than you expect to heal.

Completely normal. There was a time when you would have stayed in hospital longer and then sent to convalesce. Now you’re out of hospital as quickly as possible and expect to get back to normal very quickly. It takes time, good food, gentle exercise and plenty of rest. Don’t rush it.

It takes a minimum of three months to give you a time scale but you should be a bit chirpier at six weeks.

For hip and knee replacements, the recovery process can take up to and sometimes beyond a year.

I had the same operation last year. I had to wear a large sling that kept my arm folded across my waist for six weeks and then when I went outside the house for another two weeks. Had to sleep upright for six weeks as well. It took me about three months to feel confident using my arm normally and a bit longer to recover from the surgery and not feel tired. Well worth it though as I now have no pain and almost normal movement.

The older you are , the longer the body takes to recover from the effects of general anaesthesia, blood loss, and all the drugs administered during and after surgery.

Feeling tired out is normal. Rest and take things easy. Even if you haven't got much appetite , eat small nourishing meals. If you don't feel like going out, just open a window and breathe in that clean fresh air. Get well soon.

When DD was in her late 30s she had to have a series of minor operations, roughly one every 6 months, and was amazed how long it took her to get over the exhaustion after each op. First time round she booked a fortnight off work. Thereafter she booked 3 weeks sick leave.

As I said she was a normaally fit healthy under 40 year old. You are 70.

Thanks. I long to be back driving and to my regular swims. Does anyone know if I will be able to go back to swimming?

It's been 2 weeks, I hope you'll wake up better soon.

Total knees take 2 weeks to be back to normal, in my opinion. I believe shoulders are much worse by location and movement.

Do your exercises, perhaps consult your physio.

Yes absolutely to be expected., shoulders take recovering from Rest, relax and don’t expect too much of yourself

Norah

It's been 2 weeks, I hope you'll wake up better soon.

Total knees take 2 weeks to be back to normal, in my opinion. I believe shoulders are much worse by location and movement.

Do your exercises, perhaps consult your physio.

Doing the exercises is essential to a good recovery. You could ask about swimming but it may be that you have to wait for any wounds to heal