Is it normal to be this tired after an operation?

[badger2005]

I came off my bike and dislocated and broke my elbow. At A&E they undislocated my elbow, and then 2 days later I had an operation where they put in a new radial head and also repaired some ligaments. This was all 2 weeks ago tomorrow.
My problem is that I am still weirdly tired. The bandages are off, I'm moving my elbow as much as possible to try to regain range of movement (as the surgeon told me to) - though not picking hardly anything up in that hand (as instructed).
But I can't get through a day without sleeping. I got up today, went to a church thing, bought a few things, did a little bit of cleaning - then so tired I had to go to bed and eat lunch there. Then I felt a bit sick - had a short sleep, eventually felt a bit better. Got up to do a bit of socialising (my daughter has a friend here and they wanted to play a game for 3 people - my dc are old enough that they can manage without me for long stretches but I feel bad about not being up and around!). Then felt exhausted and now I'm back in bed.
I thought maybe I was so tired because I was taking codeine for the pain, but I've now taken none for over 24 hours... so why am I still so tired?! And when will it end?! I need to go into work (long commute) on Tuesday for a short day, and I'm worrying about how I'll even manage to do that short day!
If any one has any advice or words of comfort, please tell me!

I believe you should listen to your body. Take painkillers as directed, yes codeine can be addictive, but as you’ll only be taking it short term I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s important to be pain free in order to regain full functionality of your joint as it heals.

You’ve been through quite a trauma and your body is healing. Don’t push yourself at this stage - it’s counterproductive in the long term.

I broke my leg a few years ago which required surgery. I must have slept 22 hrs a day for the first week, then gradually reduced that over a 3 mth period before going back to work on a phased return. But the first 6 mths I was shattered most of the time.

Take it easy.

Hi - sorry to hear about your radial head fracture & replacement. I'm actually 2 months post op having done the same & wondered if you'd mind letting me know your experience of the rehab/recovery process. It's such an unusual fracture & to need the replacement is rare too so any advice you can give would be very appreciated. Thank you

Having had a few broken bones in recent years op, codeine absolutely wipes me out and makes me feel ill for 48/72 hours when I stop taking it.

You might be better to try naproxen with omeprazole for your tummy. Does more for my paid without the side effects.

I hope you feel better soon and agree withnpp's that it's all part of the healing process.

Sure, I am happy to be able to give you an update.

I agree it does seem like an unusual thing to do - I couldn't find a lot of stories online from people who had done the same. Mine was a 'terrible triad' injury - which I think means you have broken the radial head, torn some ligaments, and dislocated something... I can't quite remember the details and it is not very reassuring to google!

But everything has turned out well really. I am now 7 months post injury I think, and I had my last x-ray and hospital appointment yesterday and got discharged by them. (Still have at least one physio session to go). I have basically all movement back - like I can bend my arm to touch my shoulder, straighten it, and flip my hand over and back. It's all not quite as mobile as my other arm, but so near that I basically don't notice any loss in mobility. And I think that I could get the last bit back if I returned to those physio exercises. This is a massive change because in the early days I felt that these movements were impossible - my arm just felt 'stuck' and trying to move it further felt so painful and kind of wrong.

But I got great help from the surgeon and the physio (the NHS have been totally amazing). With the physio exercises, I was absolutely committed for about 5 months, and did everything the physio told me to. It was pretty painful at times getting the mobility back but I pushed on mercilessly! Once most of the mobility was back, we turned to strength. I was committed to those exercises too, but in the last two months I've slacked off a bit and I think I need to work harder to even up my strength.

But basically now I can do all normal functional things like before. E.g. pour shampoo into my hand without it sliding out, play the piano, open packets, fasten a necklace behind my head etc etc. I can also do sport stuff. I find cycling harder than before because now I'm scared of falling off, and because the juddering is sometimes a bit sore, but I'm getting used to it. Climbing is okay - though I am now interestingly rubbish at it (according to my son I am doing the walls that are designed for 7 year olds parties!) - but I just need to rebuild that strength I think. I have occasional pain - just like an ache - after I've used it more than usual maybe, but nothing that keeps me up at night or anything.

Sorry for the long essay! But I hope this makes you feel hopeful because I was in such a sorry state (pain, very little mobility, zero strength, incredibly tired) and I didn't really expect to go back to normal. But with time it did. I'm not weirdly tired anymore. I think everyone was right that it was the trauma plus the codeine and it went away with time.

How are you feeling, and where are you at?

Oh and thank you RosesAndHellebores - I'm now out of the codeine stage, but your advice might help Jeccaruth.

I'm following this!

I had an op under general 2 weeks ago and I am exhausted all the time. I've been signed off work for 2 weeks and initially I could nt understand why as I felt fine but as the days go on I'm figuring it out! Just taking my son to school which is a very short walk, I need to lay down when I come home. I'm not taking any pain meds now but yes the tiredness and yes again, nausea can be overwhelming. I go out for a walk every day as I'm back at work next week and it can be quite physical at times so need to get back into being active, but right now I don't even know how I'm going to manage the walk there!!

Mine was abdominal keyhole surgery.

could be the shock of it all

I’ve found when I’ve had a general it’s that which knocks lumps out of me, even more so than the actual surgical procedure! Go easy on yourself, listen to your body and rest!

Being tired is normal. But you need to take painkillers on a regular, appropriate schedule - if you wait until you are in pain, then it is too late. The whole point is not to feel ANY pain!

I had some wisdom teeth out under GA when I was 16. Young, fit, healthy and active. I slept almost non-stop for 2 weeks! The thing that cured me was going away for a weekend with my youth group where I had no sleep at all. Seemed to get the last of the GA out of my system! That was nearly 40 years ago - I cannot imagine how it would affect me now, when I'm exhausted all the time anyway 😁

I had a cesarean section under GA at aged 21 and I didn't have much effects from it, I was back on my feet within days and felt great.

Ten years later I had my gallbladder out and oh my it floored me. It was exactly as you described, the exhaustion was unbearable at times. The first 2 weeks were the worst but then I slowly began to feel better, I was back to work after 3 weeks and back to myself after 6!

Just be kind to yourself and take rest when you need it. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I agree. Its so hard to get a good idea on how long it takes to recover from operations from the drs.

Eek this is scary! Having my first operation under GA soon and worried I'll be wiped out. Have had csections but with spinal.