Please can I have some advice again. I'm two weeks today post tkr. Onleaving hospital I was given paracetamols (500mg x 2) and dihydrocodeine and told take the paracetamol every 6 hrs and the dihydrocodeine 1 tab or 2 tablets if I need them to supplement. I'm now pretty much ok not to take the dihydrocodeine- sometimes still have to have 1 at bedtime. I'm also trying to not take the paracetamol at midday and 6pm. But I think that might be a step too far. I don't have a lot of pain in the day, mostly at night. But I don't seem to do as well in other ways if I don't take the paracetamol. My thinking is that if I don't take so much of it, it will work better when I do.
How did everyone else use their meds at this point? I'm feeling as if I shouldn't keep taking it as much.
Denise
I have paracetamol in between Palaxia AND Gabapentin if I need them. I find that paracetamol were useless for knee pain BEFORE surgery but the Oalaxia brilliant but P and G are opuates!
I would stick to the paracetamol if they work for you.
Thank you Elizabeth. How far along are you?
Hi denise. Take what you need to alleviate pain. The idea of pain relief is that it assists to cope with physio and to stop discomfort so we can get sleep which is how we heal. I took what I needed for two months then I reduced my opiates to just pain patches which were brilliant to take the edge off the pain of moving around during the day. Unless you have issues with addiction, the pain killers they give us are regulated so we cannot get them easily. At least in Australia they limit prescriptions severely so it is almost impossible to get heavy duty opiates after 3 months post op. Good luck to you.
Thank you Lyn, makes me feel better about taking them. No addiction issues, thank goodness!
I agree! I take two different painkillers with paracetamol if necessary. Important for physio but also for getting on with the every day things. Getting out and about is important and helps healing too.
I'm 5 1/2 weeks post op. I can walk reasonably straight without s crutch about the house but the physio advised using elbow crutch (1) when out and about to make sure I'm walking upright etc
This is really simple: If you hurt, take your meds; if not, don't.
That being said, there is a case for taking the meds on time, all the time as the drug builds up in your bloodstream to an effective level and stays there. This is absolutely appropriate when you first start recovery. As you go on, however, you need to titrate down off the big painkillers. Do this slowly to see what your body can tolerate. So...
Someone might be on Percocet 10's three times a day...reduce to twice a day. Or take a half tablet (5mg) three times a day. You can't just stop cold so talk to your doc about a plan to get you off the opioids (very addictive) as soon as you can tolerate non-narcotic pain killers (Tramadol, Ibuprophin, etc.).
There's no set way to do this nor is there a specific time frame because everyone's sense of pain is different and docs prescibe various drugs. Talk to your PT and work with your doc. Remember, you do NOT have to be in pain...just find a way to get off the opioids as soon as you can.
Note: Some people take some pain meds an hour before a tough PT session. Works for a lot of people.
Note: NEVER drive on opioids...period...very, very bad idea.
You need to take your medicine the right way and on time . It did not and it got me in to trouble. It helps you cope with things better.