After Pain Block meds Wear off...

Sassy I had a nerve block and it does contain a lot of the pain but not all of it.  The best way to manage it (not that I did so well) is to make sure you take the meds on a schedule and not wait until the pain is bad.  It is a lot easier to keep the pain down than it is to bring it down when it really hurts.  So ask for the best schedule to avoid losing control of the pian.  And plan for what you need to take during the night.  Good Luck.  Cathy

I had a nerve block along with a spinal. The spinal is what allowed me to be wide awake in recovery and the nerve block is what kept me there for three hours. It had to wear off enough for me to be able to walk the 20 feet from gurney to bed.  The full effect of a nerve block lasts 15-16 hours.  That time is to be enjoyed........

You will get many different opinions here.

Hi Sassy,

I had the nerve block too but didn't have the severe pain after the block wore off.  Stay on the pain meds as prescribed, even if you're not in pain, for at least the first week.  I had my first PKR in September and the second in December.  After surgeries, I have had plenty of soreness, but nothing like the pain I had before having the surgeries.  I hope all goes as well for you and would definitely advise using this forum for your questions along the way!  Take care!

Hi Sassy!

I had nerve blocks with both of my TKR surgeries (last June and last October). My understanding is that the purpose of them was to deaden the PAIN at the surgery site. They worked well for me in that regard.

My drains and my nerve blocks were removed in the early mornings before I was discharged from the hospital.

No pills worked as well as the shot of Toradol I got in the hospital, and I got off the Oxycodone as soon as I could because it made me VERY LOOPY. I had Hydrocodone with my second surgery, and it wasn't as bad as the Oxycodone. I finished each of these by week two.

After I was done with the two weeks of blood thinner shots, I just used Ibuprofen as needed. That plus moving around, icing, and stretching often throughout the day helped me deal with pain.

I prayed a lot, used meditation, and tried to distract myself by thinking of ANYTHING other than PAIN, surgery, hospitals, etc. I tried to focus on how much better I felt than I did BEFORE surgery. ( I was in HORRENDOUS pain prior to surgery.) Following surgery I actually had A LOT LESS pain than I did for all the years BEFORE surgery.

Hi Sassy and congrats on your new knees!

I wholeheartedly second the advice from Cathy66878. I had the epidural with "twilight anesthesia" but coming out of everything is pretty much the same. Cathy could not have advised you any better. Stay ahead of the pain and you'll be ahead of the game!

Best wishes and good healing, God Bless.

P.S. You found a great forum for answering your questions, and for good advice, and support... TKR is a difficult ordeal to overcome and it's good to know you're not in it alone.

Hi, Sassy! Congrats on your PKR. Hope it is " the cure". I went through the same as you. I was never really told how long the nerve blocker would last. (Maybe that was a good idea??) fortunately my pain remained quite manageable with pills, ice and elevation. I think, as painful as it is that day, the strengthening from PT also makes the pain more tolerable..the next day. Every one is different. Lots of good input on this site. Listen to your body- no one knows better than you. As your mobility and normalcy return, and don't sit too long, the pain seems to become more background than front and center. Good luck! 

Will do!  Good luck and it will be worth it just takes time.  Cathy

I just had arthroscopic and a lateral cyst removed day before yesterday. Life was happy and carefree yesterday, until about 10 last evening, when the pain started. It started small now has grown. I had forgotten about the nerve block. I remember the anesthesiologist mentioning the third day of hell, now I know what he meant. I don't believe it's infected...there's no puss or bleeding or fever. I don't want to go to the ER as my copay is around $750!! How do I know if it's regular pain or infection pain?