I'm interested to know why some people need strong pain killers after 4-6 weeks. The actual joint is healed at this point so it is just muscle and soft tissue healing and re learning. Tightness soreness etc. Are there other complications?
Yes, there are other complications! My knee gives me virtually no pain except when the physio forces it. the pain is from nerve damage and starts in the thigh, just above the knee, and extends all the way up to the hip. the pain is so incredible that just the weight of a sheet on it is unbearable. It has actually reduced me to screaming when it hits unexpectedly during the night, although if I'm ready for it I can control that so as not to frighten my husband out of his wits. It's usually at night when it happens, and wakes me up ten to fifteen times a night. I have come to dread going to bed. the next day, the whole thigh area feel heavy and sore to touch, but the excruciating pain is only at night. If you are pain free at four weeks, you are VERY lucky!
four weeks five days!
God! That sounds horrendous! You poor thing!
I'm 14 weeks now but have been on virtually no pain meds since 4 weeks. Just paracetamol and ibuprofen if very sore but only once a day or something. I put up with the rest and just massage so I'm pretty lucky by the look of it.
You really have my sympathy
Hope it soon improves!
thanks! I'm a bit worried because nerve pain doesn't always heal . .I know my mother suffered nerve pain after shingles for the rest of her life . different, but still a nerve! If it were not for the thigh problem, I wouldn't need pain killers now (four weeks and five days)
Hi that's good news, I was only on 4 paracetomal per day and it was soal destroying. Onwards and upwards now
Martin....discuss with your regular doc, not surgeon. Gabrapentin is the standard drug of choice for nerve pain. I don't know if they use lyrica in the UK but it is the upgrade albeit more expensive drug in the states. There is relief , to an extent, for nerve damage. I was told by a neurosurgeon that nerves heal at an almost microscopic rate of a millimeter a week or thereabouts. Hope you can get some relief
A little of pain med needs are dependendent on the amount of damage prior to the actual surgery. I've been on some level of meds for years but I had so much damaged done by radiation, aspirations, arthroscopic surgeries etc. One of my biggest irritations in life is having people use the text book tkr recovery (of which there are very few) for evaluating why I'm in pain, limp, use a cane on occasion and have had years of problems. I used to show patience when this came up, now I just shrug it off and give them a "go to hell" look and attitude.
Seems they are tightening down everywhere. Until this past Oct 1 doctors could write scripts for norco (hydrocodone) for several refills and then by phone or fax could renew the refills. Now you have to get refills on a 30 day basis and physically appear at the docs office, pick up and sign for the script. Oxycontin has long been the drug of choice for kids to get high but its a difference in the way they are ingested. All pain meds instructions are to swallow whole with plenty of water. To get high, the kids chew or crush and swallow the pills. The difference is maybe being sleepy, dizzy etc and high and not knowing what you ate doing. In the US there has been a class of drugs called "type 1or A" list that you had to do the physical pick up and sign for, now about anything that is controlled is on that list. Kids stealing from their parents and drs giving out to everyone that asks for them are the reasons for the controls.
Oh I remember hydrocodone! I suffered a compression fracture of a vertebra once in Montana (we were on holiday in the States . . ) and they gave my a little bottle. the rest of the holiday I spent with an agonizing back and a stupid grin on my face! Wonderful stuff. Wish I had some of it now! I don't think it's available over here . . .
I live in Tenerife spain . .I think lrica is available, but I have to say that last time i took gabapentin it made me into a very different character! Scary!
Paracetamol just doesn't touch this sort of pain does it!
The people who I find irritating are the ones who tell you that it's all down to attitude, and that if you have the right attitude everything will be fine. they obviously haven't felt the pain!
I guess that's why they spend so much money developing new and improved drugs. The drug didn't have any effect on me one way or the other. I might as well have been eating candy, as a matter of fact I would rather have been eating candy. I have a couple of coffee drinking friends that have diabeties and Lyrica has really helped them with nerve damage especially in their ankles.
It comes in 3 or 4 different strengths. I take 10/325 on an as needed basis. Fortunately my doc has no problem giving me a script as needed. Montana is a beautiful place to visit but I imagine docs are few and far between in much of the state. I would want no part of it in winter. My oldest son went to school in Wyoming and that was cold enough
My husband tried it for diabetic nerve damage too . .but after a few days of talking rubbish at a hundred miles an hour, he gave it up! Everyone is different it seems!
Is this something that can happen with TKR or is it something else? I know the nerves on the outside of the knee and below are cut - mine are still numb but i hadn't realised above the knee could be affected.
?
Well it certainly appeared right after the operation. Remember that the leg is in traction, with a tourniquet tight around the thigh, in my case for two and a half hours . .perhaps that was what damaged the nerve. The specialist just shrugged and said 'There are so many nerves and muscles which have been cut that sometimes this happens . . ', I don't know how often it happens . . . or whether it is a common occurrence . .I'm still numb on the outside of the knee and right the way up to the hip.
I say again you poor thing. How awful!
I didn't realise how lucky i was just to be struggling with weak muscles and a bit of numbness. From here on my moans will be little ones!
Speedy recovery Martina!
I really wish I knew the answer to this. I am at 13 weeks now and still have terrible pain when I bend my knee. I just had a MUA a few days ago, and now the pain is from an extremely sore quad muscle. Before the MUA the pain was from scar tissue pulling I think. But I would really love to get off these pills, and sometimes despair of ever doing so.