Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi.I'm 8 weeks post op.I'm still in pain mainly when doing pt. I take 8 paracetamol and 8 tramodol painkillers plus inflammatory Med. Been told by doctor tramodol are addictive and need to cut down on painkillers.but worried that if I start to come of pain killers I will not be able to do pt.what are your experience with Meds. Cheers
1 like, 28 replies
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Waffalobill patch28
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Tramadol.is evil. Taper off it as soon as possible. It can have some nasty side effects when stopped. Even Vicodin is easier to stop than that stuff. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid. Wasn't a controlled substance for a long time. Then they found out it can be mean.
mona92713 patch28
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Hello. I'm at 7th week recovery. I am on Norco, taking 3 times a day. And Percocet only when I go to physical therapy, I take 1 after therapy, nothing else. That's way too much for you to take. Try break it down and ease off the meds. I am hoping to decrease the Norco when my knee gets to feeling better. The pain is not bad but when it comes to exercises and walking I take it.
Waffalobill mona92713
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mona92713 Waffalobill
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Waffalobill mona92713
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CHICO_MARX Waffalobill
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Waffalobill CHICO_MARX
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CHICO_MARX Waffalobill
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Pure hydrocodone and oxycodone are available. When you mix them with Tylenol (acetaminophen), hydrocodone gets turned into Vicodin, Lortab and Norco while the oxycodone gets called Percocet. That's why you see the dosage labeled something like 5/325 (5 mg of the opioid and 325 mg of the Tylenol). Biggest dosages per tablet are: Vicodin 10/300; Norco 10/325; Lortab 10/500 and Percocet 10/325...
mona92713 Waffalobill
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I'm very careful with an. Along with my fibromyalgia. Its the only drug that helps the pain. I cannot take OTC drugs.
arizonaone patch28
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Hi patch28
I had fallen 3 years ago and as a result had two arthroscopys and my current tkr. Because my knee issues were not resolved from the arthroscopys I was in constant pain. The only way I could get through my day was by taking Tramadol I had taken them on and off for 3 years for months at a time and daily for the past year. I am in no way addicted to them. I could and have stopped at anytime without any adverse side effects
But I am not predisposed to be addicted to anything. Of course I can only speak for myself and everyone is different. And people do become addicted
Not sure if you know but Tramadol is a synthetic opioid that in the States was at one point a schedule V drug which meant it was not considered a controlled substance. However about 3 years ago it was changed to a schedule IV. I think (and know first hand because of a job I had several years ago) that because some doctors were prescribing them like candy and thus people were becoming addicted that their status was changed.
Please don't take my experience with them as what you should do but wanted to give you a little insight.
CHICO_MARX patch28
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IMHO, I don't see any reports of people becoming "addicted" to these drugs at these levels in 4-10 weeks. Typically, you'll start off of something like Vicodin, Norco or Percocet (some on Codeine), taper off to Tramadol short term and then OTC meds. That's a typical titration routine, although people are always different in their med needs.
Everything has side effects; some people do better on one med vs. another. Kind of trial and error. Example: Hydrocodone (Vicodin/Norco) plus anything Codeine-based can have constipation side effects...Percocet (OXYcodone) typically doesn't. Don't be afraid to work with your doc to find the best med for you. A lot of people find Tramadol doesn't work at all; for others, it's a nightmare. All individual. Having problems? Change your meds. You will titrate down off everything over time. I'm 15 months post-op...can't remember the last time I took anything...
jenny80029 patch28
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CHICO_MARX patch28
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ellen57898 CHICO_MARX
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cynthia89958 patch28
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So, if you are to reduce them it should be done slowly and gradually, rather then cold turkey - although some do that, it can cause some bad effects, so gradual is safer.
There is lots of advice on internet but you are better going to your dr or pharmacy for advice as the dr prescribed them and knows your case.
I had tramadol and paracetamol only as other meds were not suiting me then at home, my GP insisted reducing the tramadol to night time only and would not prescribe more. It made exercise and sleep difficult but I was forced to get used to the pain and it did subside - used the rub on gel on knee instead of naproxen due to the effect of the drug on stomach.
Reducing the tramadol to night only was not too bad, I then would lie watching tv in the hope of falling to sleep and not needing it. In a week or so, I did not seem to need it often. I did have a migraine headache after stopping it and when taking it, it made me feel chills, depression and dizzy at times. Good luck - you may find it easier than you think to cope.
CHICO_MARX cynthia89958
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While there may be exceptions, I really haven't heard anything about addiction or dependency on a long-term basis. We're on and off these meds pretty quickly titrating down to OTCs within 90 days so I just don't see it as a major issue. Most people, like you, report that the doc pulls them off the heavy duty opioids pretty quickly leaving us to deal with some pain we'd rather not have. Tough in the US as docs are really scared of prescribing them even though most of us truly need them on that short-term basis. My wife has a rubber mallet by the bed just in case she needs to use it on me...
cynthia89958 CHICO_MARX
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I'm in the UK but my GP practice don't like prescribing. I don't think they have much of a clue about TKR, thinking you should be off meds in a week or so like some other ops. I think the addition dependency thing is what they fear but I have no idea of the extent of any problems in the UK. There are many scary tales on internet groups but who knows?
?Rubber mallet, LOL!
cynthia89958
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CHICO_MARX cynthia89958
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I was on 10/500 Percocet and 10mg Flexeril for about 45 days...no problem getting off it. I have not heard of anyone on the forum saying they are having a problem titrating down from the opioids to OTC meds much less getting addicted to them. You might want to start a new discussion on "TKR Opioid Addiction" and get some actual facts about it. I suspect that most of the chatter is just fear.
cynthia89958 CHICO_MARX
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I've seen a couple of people on different groups, but as you say, does not seem a big issue here.
CHICO_MARX cynthia89958
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Not a big deal because TKR patients are almost always off the opioids within 60 days. Docs will give you a 30-day supply and no more than one refill in the US. Not many people can get "addicted" in that timeframe.
mona92713 CHICO_MARX
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CHICO_MARX mona92713
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Waffalobill CHICO_MARX
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Waffalobill CHICO_MARX
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mona92713 CHICO_MARX
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terise78 CHICO_MARX
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Ha! Maybe most docs give a 30 day supply with one refill but as you know, mine must be super paranoid about the DEA crashing down his door at 3AM. I was given a scrip for 14 days then told "that's it". I had to grovel at his feet and beg for mercy and then was grudgingly given a 7 day refill. That 7 day refill ran out last Thursday. My PT emailed his office on Monday as I was in so much pain I could not do the majority of my exercises. And we are still waiting for a reply.......