7 days since op

Posted , 13 users are following.

when do you start coming off painkillers. im on paracetemol 3 times a day and codeine 3 times a day at the moment. just wondered what the average timescale was?

thanks

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Posted

    Everyone has a different pain threshold.  I took prescription pain meds for the first 10-11 weeks.  Then just took Motrin to help reduce inflamation.
  • Posted

    Personal pain threshold will dictate when you stop taking them, if you cut down and pain doesn't increase then you know its OK, if it goes up then get back on the meds

  • Posted

    Stopped the Norco at 8 days and then took Tylenol for a few more weeks
  • Posted

    I continue with Oxycodon for 4 weeks and then didn't require anything further.

    However, there isn't a deadline for these things - it's just when you can manage without them.

  • Posted

    Agree with everyone else. Your meds are already quite low doses, so I'd be tempted to say to stay where you are until the incision is healing - usually two weeks - and then experiment with a gradual reduction. Reduce the codeine first and then the paracetamol. 

  • Posted

    I am on OxyContin and every four hours as needed and Tylenol every four hours as needed so far I haven't missed a timeslot. my prescription is for 21 days so I'm thinking I better start weaning off by then. i'm seven days out of surgery so that would be another 2 weeks. Pain and mobility are really going to dramatically change in our favor so we probably won't be needing as much that's what I'm thinking.

  • Posted

    Hi, I agree with the others, go with what feels comfortable. I took everything the hospital prescribed for the first 2 weeks, similar to you, paracetamol and codeine, and also the blood thinner. Then I reduced them a bit because I wasn't in much pain. I stopped all my meds at 4 weeks because I was feeling fine. Good luck.

  • Posted

    I stopped after one week and then took extra strength tylenol. I think it matters what type of surgery you had. I had the anterior approach.
  • Posted

    hi susan, 

    as said here, everyone has a different pain treshold ...

    many times pain meds are being stopped too soon ... I was advised to take them as prescribed and be "ahead" of the pain so I could do my exercises etc.

    The body is healing from major surgery and the less stress she experienced the better she an do her job.

    it is much harder to get painrelief when pain is full blown, so to speak ...

    be gentle with yourself darling 

    big warm hug

    renee

     

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