Feeling the cold after TKR

Helenbothknees
Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
edited 24. Sep 2012, 15:56 in Living with Arthritis archive
I've been feeling the cold incredibly since my TKRs - now about 11 weeks ago. I've always been fairly coldblooded, but this is worse. It's particularly bad in my toes, but all over too - I've already put on my thermal underwear and two sweaters, and it's only September! Has this happened to anyone else? Any ideas why?

Comments

  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This isn't something I'm familiar with other than the usual few days back home after being in a tropical hospital ward. (And I'm a veteran of 3 TKRs :roll: ). Might it be another aspect of the codeine problem?
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Could be due to the metal you have in both your knees now and/or the shock that a major op gives our body so perhaps in a year or so it will have greatly improved or at least lessened.
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sticky and elna, thanks; your replies agree with what I've found out on Google so far. As a side effect of codeine, feeling cold is rare but possible (can't remember the percentages; though I did read it). It could well be the shock of the op, I gather. The metal in knees is discussed on other forums, but generally considered unlikely. Other possibilities seem to be anaemia if you lost a lot of blood (but not after 11 weeks, surely!), or poor circulation around the knees, which seems quite possible. Anyone have any thoughts on these, or other ideas?

    Maybe I should just ignore it and wear lots of clothes. But it's 10 degrees out there; how will I feel when winter really hits? :!: :!:
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :lol: well, I was wearing a fleece indoors but have just done 10 minutes on the exercise bike and now I am boiling hot and drunk a small bottle of water! :lol: I feel the cold quite badly and even if the rest of me is warm my hands can be frozen. :lol: They are not now though!
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • marrianne
    marrianne Member Posts: 1,161
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Helen Sticky Elna ,Yes I am cold 7 weeks in tkr.. especially my knees,Have now ran out of codiene Amytrip gaberpentine, mannageing with nurofen a couple a day but sleepless nights looks like my cat has thyroid trouble ,waiting for her test results ,£500 ......operation or tablets for life .Marrianne :)
  • marrianne
    marrianne Member Posts: 1,161
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    could be 8 weeks lost track :)
  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Marrianne, about your cat, the tablets are no problem so long as your cat will take them. I had a cat with thyroid problems and he took them for years, till he died at the age of eighteen and a half. I find the best way is to hide them in nice food, and Gourmet pate seems to work best; it comes in little tiny tins (or in boxes of 12 tins) at the pet section of most supermarkets. Cats love it! Probably better than putting the cat through the trauma of an op if he/she is quite old, though that's up to you and your vet of course.

    Sorry to go off topic, but cats I do know about !
  • arfaitis
    arfaitis Member Posts: 155
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Having had a few TKR's I too have suffered since, probably because of those bits of metal in there, I sleep in thermal bed socks, and have some top first class Uggs slippers.
    Good luck, but keep them moving.

    Arfa
  • marrianne
    marrianne Member Posts: 1,161
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Helen ,should know more tomorrow, she is 14 and you could be right about the operation ,At the moment my mind is on her and she is lovely at the bottom of the bed the warmest place ,think ........we can safely say summer is over ,despite my knees feeling the coldest I cant stand heat on them .Arfa as to the metal good point ......no blood supply only had one knee done credit to you both dont think I could go through it again .Marrianne :)
  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oddly enough my knees aren't cold, just the rest of me, and especially my toes. However, I've accepted it and I'm dressed as for winter - thermal underwear, thick socks, Shetland sweater. I was even too warm at one point today, bliss! I just hope my circulation sorts itself out before winter as I don't think I can wear that many more layers, and it's not that cold yet in reality.

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