As Friday is fast approaching I am beginning to worry about pain relief. Normally I manage without anything but I'm assuming that I won't be able to manage surgery with no pain relief. How bad Will the pain be the first few days? I'm worried about being totally out of it and not being able to get up and start walking etc. Last year I had to take one co-codamol and it was like a chemical cosh. Will I be able to manage with paracetamol? Talk of morphine on here and at the enhanced recovery day are freaking me out. Any advice gratefully accepted
I found that morphine made me ill before op and just after so just be careful as I had very bad dizziness when they got me up after op they tried tablets and injection but turns out they did not agree, I had liquid morphine as pain killer before op for pain relief and made me poorly so obviously must be allergic but not everyone the same. Hope Yu go on ok just don't push yourself take your time. X
Hi I was given strong co coda mol 2 4 times a day and found that fine no side effects except constipation . The hospital will sort you out and most people say they are in less pain after than than they were before . Good luck
Hello catrin, The nursing staff will manage your pain relief immedaitly after the op & don't be a martyer ask for it when you need it. There are several options and depend on your general health we are all different when it comes to threashold of pain. I found that the pain really was more a soreness that disipates over time. Are you having epidural with sedation. When I had my THR last july I had painkillers - maily paracetamol - after op and for 10 days at home, did have 2 shots of liquid morhine within the first 12 hrs of op but that is what I believe made me a little sick the next day. Also I was warned by the senior male nurse who was on nights not to take any of the liquid morphine when I went home unless really in severe pain because it also can make you very constipated - devil or deep blue sea - I managed on paracetamol
Regards
Arthur
Hi Arthur I don't know what sort of anaesthetic I'm having as the surgeon said General but then said would be up to the anaethetist I hate all this unknown stuff. Making me anxious
I didn't know I was having a general till aneastatist
Sorry pressed button to soon . Anaesthatist saw me just before op . He said I would be up quicker with general and I was pleased not to hear a thing . I can honestly say I wasn't nervous at all just glad to be having it at last . I had a few doses of orimorph but mostly co codamol . Just go with the flow
Catrin,
The pain after this surgery is not as bad as you would think. I took oxycontin and percocet (live in the U.S) but was off all meds within two weeks except tylenol PM to help sleep. I wanted to drive and really did not like how the meds made me feel. They were also giving me terrible cramps and muscle spasms in my op leg. I was never in any pain while at rest, only when I first got up. The more you walk and do your exercises the less the pain. The hardest part is sleeping on your back after surgery. They will make sure you have all the pain meds you need so I would not worry.
Good luck!
Hi Catrin
Ring the consultant/surgeons secretary and ask what sor to anaesthetic you will have.
They tend to have a preference.
The secretarys that I have talked to have always been very helpful
Love
Eileen
Hi Catrin, are you in the UK?. When I had my first consultation to get on the ops list, the consultant was OK with me having epidural, he prefers this at it is quick recovery and less risk of chest infections. On the day of the op the anaesthetist came and had a chat with me and was happy for me to have epidural but said he would also give me a light sedation. I can say that this way was great for me, came round as they were transferring me back onto my bed in the recovery room, wide away in a few mins and having a ham sandwich and a cup of tea 20mins later but this option may not be suitable or possible for some folks.
Arthur
I'm allergic to Percocet and morphine. Vicodin makes me nauseous. I found Dilaudid (hydromorphone) was the best for me. I needed it every four hours to keep the pain under control. (I don't handle pain well.) If you find you're starting to hurt, ask for pain meds and then continue to take them for a couple weeks and then see how you're doing.
Yes I'm in London. The surgeon said General and when I mentioned to him that an epidural with sedation was mentioned st the enhanced recovery he said would be up to anaethetist. I don't like him much but meant to be good at his job so.........
Hi. I'm in the UK and assume you are in the US? Not sure what any of the above are apart from morphine. Two paracetamol send me to sleep. I think you call them Tylenol(??) I will just have to take each day as it comes I guess
Yes, I'm in the US. Percocet is oxycodone. Vicodin is another opoid, just like oxycodone and morphine. Great pain relieves, highly addictive. Tylenol is a pain reliever of sorts (doesn't do anyting for me), altough it's not in the class of opoids. Opoids also help you sleep. Good luck with your surgery.
Hi, I had my op 3weeks ago, I was on paracetamol mainly , but the day after the op I did have some oramorph. As the others have said it's not that painfull it's more of a soreness.If it hurts at all tell the nurse, they don't want you in pain any more than you want to be in pain. They normally get you up and moving the next day i found the worst part was the thinking about it, doing it wasn't as bad as I thought. You will be fine. Every day after the op is a day closer to being pain free.
I was on paracetamol, codeine and ibuprofen. The nurses were always asking what level of pain I had and to be honest it was managed so well that I had very little pain. Am two weeks on now and taking naproxen twice daily and sometimes paracetamol. Pain minimal especially compared to pre op. hope all goes well for you x
Hi there.
After 4days of painkillers post op,like most people I got terrible constipation which was almost as bad as the pain I was trying to ease. But as said you will need the pain meds,it's a viscous circle.
Stopped taking them and went on a strict diet of fruit and prune juice which sorted me out.
Good luck it will be over before you know it.
16 days post op and the pain has become a lot easier.
Hi, had my OP Monday with epidural and just what was described as sleeping tablets. Put my headphones on and all was good. Anaesthetist removed my headphones just to tell. me there would be a little hammering soon but felt nothing much. I was dreading the moment they have to dislocate the joint but can honestly say I could not identify that moment. Just been on paracetamol and ibuprofen since epi removed on Tuesday morning and not much pain at all. Just feels very stiff swollen and bruised. To give you an idea I had some tablets at 10:00 last night and the nurse has just brought my next lot in at 06:30 this morning but I am in no rush to take them. Had no Morphine at all. Can't say if this is typical but this is my honest up to date expierince at 06:30 25/02/15. I was walking with crutches yesterday and tackling the stairs with Physio today. Good luck for Friday.