Feeling low and extremely tired after surgery

bluelobster
bluelobster Member Posts: 18
edited 26. Aug 2010, 03:12 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi,

I am an RA suferrer, aged 31, female and have been on triple therapy for 5 years (MTX, SULPHASALAZINE & PLAQUENIL). Disease generally under control. recently i have been in constant pain with my left knee (this is where the RA started). Experiencing painful patella maltracking, losing weight/sleep etc. MRI Scan showed a ganglion which was basically pushing my patella to one side, causing the pain and swelling. Anyways, on saturday i had a knee arthroscopy and have had the ganglion removed. Needless to say it is now wednesday and i feel dreadful, really tired, weepy and in pain/uncomfortable. I have co-codamol and tramadol but i don't know if they are just making me feel worse with very little benefit pain wise. Is it usual to feel like this? I just want to shut myself away and not come out, no matter the amount of sleep it just doesn't seem enough.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Michelle

Comments

  • angie1973
    angie1973 Member Posts: 248
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I don't have any amazing advice I'm afraid, but I just want to send you a hug and hope that things will start improving for you.

    You sound like you need a lot of hugs right now.

    Ange..xx
    _______________________

    Only 99.9% possessed by the giggle monster.........the other 0.01 % just eats chocolate..
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Yes, it's usual. GA takes time to clear the system, and that pulls one down. It hangs around and does make one dopey. Your knee has been interfered with, and that will make it sore. This is going to sound daft, but I think it's a factor: the weather is bad, grey, dull and drippy (to say the least). Moulds are released into the air in spells of low pressure weather and they cause all sorts of problems with moods and grumpiness. That isn't going to help your drug-challenged system either.

    You have had the problem with your knee sorted out. That is a good thing. The drugs you take for your RA are being effective, another good thing. Keep taking pain killers to help relieve the post-op discomfort, they are a good thing, so don't deny yourself. Be kind to yourself for at least another 10 days: relax as much as you can, learn to enjoy trashy day-time telly, surf the net, post on here every 10 minutes, whatever - give yourself time to recover. Any procedure takes it out of one. Arthritis makes one tired too. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Michelle, you have had an op - you are bound to feel yucky, don't be so hard on yourself. You need to rest up and give your body a chance to get over it. You will feel sore and you have to get rid of the meds etc used too. It's time to wallow with good cause and you will start to feel better in afew weeks.

    Keep reading and posting - it will help fill the time and help take your mind of it.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,397
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Michelle,

    You need to listen to your body and if it's asking you to sleep do so. Your body's trying to get over the op and the pain you've been in so you need to rest.

    Take care of yourself.

    Luv Legs :)
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Michelle

    I agree it's 'normal' to feel the way you do after having knee surgery. you need to give your body (and mind) time to recover, readjust and mend after going through what is a significant trauma.

    Being weepy is understandable.... you haven't been sleeping are tired and have been coping with a great deal of pain...before the op, and since. Tears do help (not sure why but the do) and I shed more than a few after my recent op too.

    Do you have someone looking after you? I do hope so; you need to be able to rest and that means someone else bringing you copious amounts of tea and warm nourishing food. :wink:

    The only comment I would make is that if your post op pain isn't under control then perhaps you need to be seeing your doc to review what you are taking at the mo. I had to do that too and had my pain meds upped for a few days... but it really has to be on doctors orders and not self medicating.

    I do hope you feel better soon.... keep posting.... we are here to help. :wink::wink:

    Iris x
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Michelle

    I can't really add much to what the other peeps have said - it is still 'early days' since the op.

    Did the hospital give you any advice when you left about how much pain you could expect??

    Have you taken co-codamol and tramadol before? (I can't take either of them - they make me feel terrible).

    Please keep posting and let us know how you are tomorrow .. oh - and rest up, of course.

    Marion
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello bluelobster, I hope you had some quality sleep last night and are feeling OK-ish today. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben