8 weeks post op
Posted , 8 users are following.
here I am again...It's a God send to read all the posts. Very encouraging and informative. When we think we are unique, just keep reading and find others with same issue. "RAW" yes, I too have the feeling of my knee being very, very sensitive. When I touch it yes, it feels RAW! Like skin barely covers the nerves. My PT advised to de sensitize the area by using various fabrics to gently massage, alternatinfg from rough to medium to soft. I'm 8 weeks post op and some nights the pain is 10 with no relief from the oxy. May have become immune to it and wonder what else I may try? Last night I tried 2 alleve and 1 tylenol....helped a bit but not enough to help me sleep. Here I am a new "great granma", but that little girl inside still wants her mama!!! 
1 like, 24 replies
Lame_woman marge23618
Posted
Trouble iis, it's very occlusive for a healing wound & likely to make your skin sweaty and affect healing if you use it for long. I was advised to cover it with a light dry dressing and they gave me antibiotics for the local infection. It's healed nicely now, but still really sensitive. I use silicone patches to help the scar fade and they also protect it from abrasion. Great stuff, but expensive. They're used for burns a lot. Amazon has them, pharmacies may get them too.
Hope yours is healing OK and that the pain gets better soon!
pam92068 marge23618
Posted
the other thing my PTherapist told me to do that has worked...as far as helping sleep is getting in a hot shower....just hot water....it helps relax you. Then I would get in my bed and rub my leg...do this every night too...seems to help me.
pam
lorraine66629 marge23618
Posted
I am 9 weeks post op and still having bad days
At night I am taking one Endone snd one Panadeine Fort before bed This is working thank goodness !
In a 24 hour I take a total of 2 Endone and 2 Panadeine Fort , yesterday went more scripts and the GP said one more script of 20 tabs each and that should do me
I couldn't believe it, this has been such a nightmare recovery and now looks like I will be without strong meds
Am I really such a wimp? I walk one and half ks a day and do two fifteen min workouts plus normal housework Am I going well?
L
Damy lorraine66629
Posted
sueisobel lorraine66629
Posted
However, you are a normal human being. Pain affects everyone in a different manner and your doctor need to understand this. The normal assumption is, once you have have the operation, you have 6 weeks healing. This is pure ignorance. Unfortunately it is only your GP who can prescribe your meds. There is nothing wrong with you going back and saying "I am in pain, give me something to take during the day and something to get me through the night. The reality is that you may have to try different meds in order to find the right one for you; very frustrating (as it may take a couple of weeks to know that particular is not working), but worth it in the long run. Just because your doctor say this drug is the best for killing the pain does not mean it is the right one for you. For the drugs to work properly you must take them on a regular basis, it sounds like you need to take yours during the day as well, that way the pain does not have a chance to "build up" to the point you are in agony. You say your doctor said "should do you". Have you told him how much pain you are in. I get the impression he thinks it (your pain) is tapering off and you are more or less ready to stop taking the pain killers. When the pharmacy does your prescription, there is their label on top, it should say how much you are allowed to take per day. If not then inside you have the manufacturers info sheet. Apparently (and please do not quote me on this) the Panadeine (paracetamol/Codeine) is for long term pain and the Endone is the top up. Can you not take an extra Panadeine. In all fairness though; I think you need to speak with your doctor. He can always prescribe you a stronger drug that may suit you better.
Cut back on the walk. If you absolutely have to, wear shoes that are shock proof so that the impact of your foot on the fround is lessened. If you are doing housework you have no need to do the exercise. Your housework is your exercise. Make the movements exaggerated, ie when hoovering the stairs; bend your knee and hold, when walking round the house, do the heel to toe trick. Concentrate on how you place your feet. Make sure the follow through heel hits the ground first, raising to your toes before you lift the other foot.
Remeber, you are not a wimp. Your doctor most probably has not had his/her knee replaces or personally knows someone who has, They also sounds as if they has no knowledge of chronic pain; otherwise he/she would be more sympathetic. But give him/her a chance, tell the pain is agonising. Do not go down the road of "I should be better by now, what is wrong with me". You have a long way to go.
The last thing you need from your doctor is sympathy, you just want the pain to go away!
pam92068 marge23618
Posted
sue is is so right. I am in the states and the surgeon does my meds. He is the one that keeps telling me.....you are only 7 was post op....you have a ways to go. I asked yesterday about getting off the oxy in the daytime...I just think I want to drive....he said it's too early. He reminded me I told you it would be 3 to 4 months before you start to feel somewhat normal.
i have to stop and remember...yesterday...doing exercises, showering, dressing...going to see the surgeon, drove thru pharmaceutical and dropped off a script, then we went inside one store for approx 20 minutes, went to office supply store...I waited in car, drove bk thru pharmacy and I was done when I got home.