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It makes sense, but it's something I've never thought about. In order to heal, my body is burning through tons of calories.

So, I've been eating the same amount I normally do, and I'm normally pretty active. But, I've been losing weight, even though I'm doing far less physical activity.

I found some sketchy sources, but this one looks pretty legit:

https://www.hss.edu/files/Nutrition_for_Healing.pdf

It turns out, I'm burning more calories than I'd normally burn - even though I'm normally pretty active.

That explains why I'm losing weight. I've lost like 12 pounds! Well, that's more like 14 pounds, 'cause I have about 2 pounds of titanium in my hip.

I haven't actually confirmed this with a physician yet, but the web and some not-very-sketchy sites seem to confirm it.

It makes sense. I just never really thought of it before.

So, if you want to lose some weight, just get into a wreck and break some bones!

I'm going to increase my caloric intake to about 3,500 calories a day and see where that gets me.
It makes sense, but it's something I've never thought about. In order to heal, my body is burning through tons of calories. So, I've been eating the same amount I normally do, and I'm normally pretty active. But, I've been losing weight, even though I'm doing far less physical activity. I found some sketchy sources, but this one looks pretty legit: https://www.hss.edu/files/Nutrition_for_Healing.pdf It turns out, I'm burning more calories than I'd normally burn - even though I'm normally pretty active. That explains why I'm losing weight. I've lost like 12 pounds! Well, that's more like 14 pounds, 'cause I have about 2 pounds of titanium in my hip. I haven't actually confirmed this with a physician yet, but the web and some not-very-sketchy sites seem to confirm it. It makes sense. I just never really thought of it before. So, if you want to lose some weight, just get into a wreck and break some bones! I'm going to increase my caloric intake to about 3,500 calories a day and see where that gets me.

20 comments

[–] [Deleted] 2 points (+2|-0)

Same thing happened to me after my knee replacement. Don't worry, it'll stop. Your body will catch up and you'll stop burning as many calories as you are now.

How does the hip feel, by the way?
[–] TheBuddha [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

Yeah, I've done some reading. With the fracture being so severe, and the bone being so large, my expected recovery time is 12 to 18 months. There are too many variables for them to be more certain, but I'm actually quite far ahead of schedule. I've even been able to take three steps!

They were awkward, ungainly, and painful - but I did it. That's quite a few weeks ahead of schedule. I admit, I'm kind of proud of that. I put a ton of work in.

I'm usually 172 pounds - almost on the dot, every morning. This morning, I was 156. I don't really have a bunch of body mass to lose, so I'll increase my caloric intake and see how much of a difference that makes.

Thanks for confirming that you experienced the same thing! I used their 'secure messaging system' to ask the physicians for more information. I'll see what they respond with.

And...

My hip... (I like to stick with calling it a broken femur, 'cause calling it a broken hip makes me feel old! It is a broken hip, of course. It's also a broken femur! A broken femur sounds much more impressive to me! ~grins~)

It's sore.

However, they constantly ask and record my pain scale number. If you're not familiar, they want a number from 1 to 10 that describes it. I'm frequently around a 7. A few times, such as during the manipulation for radiology, I swear it was 11! (I passed out twice from the pain while in the CT machine. Or at least lost consciousness. I assume that was my body's way of defending itself.)

But, today? Right at this very minute, I'm only at about a 4.

I'm pretty pleased with that. 4 is not too terrible. Even during today's PT, it was probably only a 6, except for a few exercises that were a 7,

That's a significant improvement!

How's by you today? Also, what'd they do to your knee? Replacement seems to mean a few things.

I had my right medial meniscus partially removed. There's some remaining, but it tore in a half-moon segment and I didn't want to bother with them trying to repair it, so they just cut it out. The repairs aren't statistically all that likely to work, so I just took the permanent(ish) route.
[–] [Deleted] 2 points (+2|-0)

Wow, Buddha. That's a lot to unpack.
:-)

I had a total knee replacement not quite two years ago. After several meniscus surgeries like the one you mentioned there was almost none left and the bones started grinding into each other until the tibial plateau cracked like a safety-glass windshield. (Pain scale of 10, for sure.)

Rehab is key, as are the stretching exercises they gave you. Keep at it and you'll continue to see improvement. I'm amazed at the progress you seem to have made already!

I'm normally about 190 pounds. After the surgery and initial weight loss I started to put on quite a bit of weight because I just couldn't be as active as I was. I bought a rowing machine, started eating better and drinking less booze, and now I'm back down to 200. Still some weight to go but I'll get there.
[–] TheBuddha [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

Nice! I have a "universal" machine in the basement and PT makes me use that quite a bit. The leg presses are the more difficult tasks. I started with just barely being able to apply any pressure to it when it had zero pounds added to being able to do 10 pounds for reps of 10 to 15.

Work and pain don't really scare me. If there's a chance that I'll make a full recovery, I'll make a full recovery.

That's the attitude that I have to maintain - even if I sometimes don't believe it myself. This PT is much more difficult than the PT I did after my knee surgery.

I'd say I'd not wish this on my worst enemy, but come on! If I had such a thing as a worst enemy, damned right I'd wish this on 'em!
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