A friend had knee surgery a few months ago and came out of it with chronic fatigue, brain fog and other anomalies. She lives in another state so we talked on the phone and she went from clarity for a minute or two to extended slow fogginess, and back and forth. She is 70 years old and had many shots but she believes it is something that happened from the anaesthetic or the surgery.
I’m wondering if anyone has heard of this and if it is known to be a symptom of the accumulation of spike in her body.
Sorry that your friend is having these issues post surgery. Our webinar that is live on X at the moment on Red Light Therapy would be worth tuning into - or you can find it on the IMAhealth.org website tomorrow.
I also asked AI for information and here is what it returned:
Post-Knee Surgery Brain Fog & Fatigue in Older Adults: What’s Going On?
Knee surgery (especially joint replacement) in a 70-year-old can have wide-reaching effects beyond just the joint. Here’s why fatigue and brain fog can persist for weeks or months afterward.
Likely Contributors
Anesthesia-Related Cognitive Impairment (POCD)
Older adults are more susceptible to Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction—a condition marked by confusion, memory problems, and reduced attention. It can linger for months after general or spinal anesthesia.
Inflammation & Immune Overload
Surgery triggers inflammatory cytokines. In aging individuals, “inflammaging”—chronic low-level inflammation—can be aggravated by surgery and slow down both brain recovery and energy restoration.
Sleep Disturbances During Recovery
Pain, medications (like opioids), and hospital noise often disrupt sleep. Sleep fragmentation directly affects brain performance and mood.
Pain Medications
Opiates, often used for post-op pain, are notoriously sedating and can cause foggy thinking. NSAIDs may also deplete certain nutrients.
Physical Deconditioning
Even short periods of bed rest or immobility at age 70 can reduce aerobic capacity and muscle function, contributing to persistent fatigue.
Nutritional Depletion
After surgery, patients may eat less or absorb nutrients poorly. Common deficiencies in older adults—like vitamin B12, magnesium, and D—can worsen fatigue and impair cognitive function.
Subclinical Infections or Latent Viruses
Though rare, lingering low-grade infections (e.g. around the joint or urinary tract) or reactivated viruses like EBV can prolong recovery and contribute to brain fog.
Likely Contributors
What Can Help?