Pain Pills???

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Im week 11 post op. How many are still taking pain meds still every 4 hours?

2

I ve stopped taking my pain pills, one because they bind you and my pain is diminishing however I m having trouble with energy levels is anyone else experiencing low energy?

3

Im 14wk post tkr and still have low energy.i sleep ok through night but still feel tired through the day.x

4

I stopped mine after 5 weeks still a little sor but its manageable and i feel much better in myself i think to much drains you.

5

Hey David. I'm almost to week 6. I go to pt 3 times a week and couldn't without the hydrocodone. Take 1 - 10-325 every 6 hrs.

6

Hi I'm day 18 and most days only take meds when I go to bed I'll sleep for 4 hrs then wake for more meds. Occasionally in morning after exercise I take some.

7

Thankyou I thought it was just me!

8

I stopped after 5 weeks bothered my stomach and bound me, so although the pain is diminishing I opted off the pills.

9

Hi David,

I'm 8 weeks post op. I'm down to 1 percocet and 1 tramadol a day. My doc wants me completely off by 3 months. I still have really bad days and have to take more percocet. It can't be helped. I'm trying.

Good luck to you, remember everyone's healing is different.

10

Sorry this was for youngknee😊

11

People don't know what we're going through! Thankyou.

12

Typically, people are off the opioids (hydrocodone / oxycodone) in about 60 to 90 days...some longer.  There is no set time and it's all very individual.  Rule of thumb: If you need 'em, take 'em.  Your body will tell you.  Try titrating down to a half pill every 4 hours...or alternate whole/half until you can handle the half pill.  The whole idea is to gradually lower the blood level of the chemical med.

Then titrate completely off the opioids onto 800mg ibuprophin TID or Tramadol.  Again, no set timing.  Also try some topical Voltaren Gel (RX).  Great stuff.

I was off everything around six months.

13

My pain levels are have been minimal so I primarily took them at bedtime for the first 4 days....taking them as needed only at 8 weeks.

14

I stopped after 5 weeks, pain still there but not excruciating so trying to get by without the meds , it's hard but they're beginning to bother my stomach! I hope you're not experiencing too much pain, I know we will have discomfort but everyone says it takes a long time to feel normal.

15

The stomach pain could be caused by acetaminophen (Tylenol).  Hydrocodone is mixed with Tylenol and is called Vicodin, Norco and other names.  Oxycodone is mixed with Tylenol and called Percocet.  The pure form of oxycodone is called Oxycontin.  If you have stomach issues, then even 800 mg ibuprophin may not be a good choice.  Talk to your doc about your options...

And, yes...it takes a long time to feel normal...

16

Thankyou Chico for all of your insight!

17

NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)  All can cause stomach problems...short term for people who cannot tolerate them, long term in everyone else.  They include:

- Aspirin compounds (Anacin, Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotin, and Excedrin)

- Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin)

- Naproxen sodium (Aleve)

Acetaminophen (Paracetamol / APAP) is NOT an NSAID but can also cause the same stomach problems.  Non-NSAID analgesics are pretty much limited to Tramadol and the topicals Capsaiscin and Aspercreme w/Lidocane (OTC) and Voltaren Gel (RX)...plus the opioids.  Let's not delve into the dark side of Dilaudid, Morphine and Fentanyl...

18

I never had opioids once out of hospital. Due to a stomach issue I can only have them delivered via IV. Once home only Paracetemol and voltarin suppositories. At nearly 7 weeks am only using the voltarin if I have overdone things and the swelling starts again.

We are all so very different there is no normal - do what you need to do. All the best.

19

Hi, it's really hard to give you an answer on this one as each knee is different and they all have their own time at healing .. with my first TKR 11mths ago I was weaned off them around 3mths .. however I'm 4wks post op with my 2nd one and the pain is so much worse than the first   I'm on much higher doses of all pain meds first time round I was on 40mg of oxycontin twice daily this time round I'm on 55mg twice daily plus endones .. with the last op I found the endones a godsend however this time round the pain is so severe nothing is really easing it. 

I'm guessing that I will be on them much longer this time round so does my dr .. but hey we need to manage the pain somehow... I'm not too bothered how long I'm on them for naturally the shorter the better but I'm not having any issues with them no binding etc .. I'm sure my glass of orange juice each morning to down all my meds helps plus I love fruit.

I wouldn't be worried if you're still needing them 4 hourly as we are talking about major surgery with a time frame from anywhere from 12-18+mths for recovery so for some having to take meds for a bit longer will be the norm.

Take care and I hope that you're pain starts to ease up real soon

Cheers .. Tracey

20

Thanks everyone for your answers. I really appreciate it.