Woke up feeling tired. Slight headache. A bit irritated.
I had a quick breakfast but didn’t exercise in the morning. I just didn’t have the energy. I also had physio scheduled for 10:30, so I decided to wait.
I arrived at physio already feeling off. Low energy, low mood. My vitals were not great. We didn’t push much and I came back home shortly after.
At least one good thing happened today. My Game Ready arrived. Oh yes!
There’s a small learning curve, but once I figured it out, I turned it on. Wow. What a difference. Super cold, strong compression, and immediate relief. The whole knee feels supported, calm, and better. Worth the money, no doubt.
Later, I went to my GP (luckily, the appointment was already scheduled). It’s still strange to see people’s reactions when they notice the crutches, a mix of pity and jokes. We talked briefly about the surgery and the past year, then he checked my temperature.
38°C. Fever.
That immediately raised concern. My knee felt warm too. Had it always been this warm? My mind went straight to infection. I started to panic.
He didn’t like the fever, but after examining me closely, no increased swelling, no redness, no sharp pain in the knee, he believed it was more likely a viral reaction rather than a surgical complication. Still, he didn’t take it lightly. He told me to go home, take Novalgina, rest, and monitor the fever closely. If it dropped, good. If it rose, I should call him or my orthopedist immediately. He also asked me to do blood and urine tests, which I scheduled for tomorrow morning.
We talked about my back pain and poor sleep. He reassured me that both are common after surgery and reduced mobility. He also did some acupuncture on my back to release tension. It hurt. A lot. But afterward, my back felt noticeably better.
We also talked about mood swings, another “normal but unpleasant” part of recovery when movement and routine are disrupted. I’ll see him again next week.
Back home, I took Novalgina. About two hours later, I felt better. Fever went down. Relief.
Tonight, the plan is simple: rest and sleep early.
Some days remind you that recovery isn’t just about the knee, it’s about the whole system.
Key Takeaways
- Fatigue and irritability can signal the need to slow down
- Not every day is meant for pushing or progressing
- New recovery tools can provide immediate physical reassurance
- Fever triggers understandable fear during post-op recovery
- Objective medical assessment helps separate panic from reality
- Viral symptoms can overlap with post-surgical concerns
- Monitoring and caution are as important as action
- Back pain and mood swings are common side effects of limited mobility
- Rest is sometimes the most effective intervention
- Recovery involves the whole system, not just the knee