Medication

I am just over six months from a partial and although I don't take medication every day, several times a week (usually after doing more walking) I need paracetamol. It is certainly not a walk in the park yet!

i too wondered if I should be pain free by now. 

Hi Arlene.

I am 7 months post surgery with a manipulation thrown in 3 months afterwards and I am still on pain meds. While my pain is obviously alot different than the pain I felt after the surgery I still need them.

I have tried taking just Advil or Aleve and neither helps with the pain. My knee is still swollen which I am sure contributes as well as 2 prior arthroscopies with meniscal repair.

Do whatever makes you feel better (and of course what your doctor recommends) but I can tell you that without my meds exercising would not be possible.

Everyone heals at their own pace.

The medication to step down to from Vicodin is Tramadol (Ultram).  It is a mild opioid and a good way to get off the heavy duty hydrocodone.  We don't hear of a lot of people still on hydrocodone or oxycodone at six months mostly because the docs will not prescribe the drug that long.  There are addiction dangers so the docs are usually in a hurry to titrate patients off the strong meds and onto Tramadol and then an NSAID.  In your case, however, any of the NSAIDs, including Advil and generic ibuprofen, may not be appropriate due to your stomach issues.  You can use acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain but that doesn't help the inflammation.  On the topical side, there is Voltaren Gel (RX in the US) which is a great anti-inflammatory.  Check for side effects and interactions but I've never had a problem with the gel.  GREAT before bedtime.

I am 8 weeks post op and my surgeon told me today that I get one more refill on my oxycodone and thats it no more . ON PT days I take 2 -3 pills and on non PT days I take 2 - so guess I am going to be in a lot of pain on therapy days in a few weeks. Not sure if there is something else I could take but not looking forward to therapy without any good meds.. 

I am 11 months TKR right leg 5 weeks TKR left leg I tried giving up on codeine. 48 hours later decided to go back on them 1 instead if 2 Now I can get back on my exercises which I had to stop. I'll wean myself off them when I'm ready. My body will tell me like my recovery on my first operation. So stop worrying and get better xx

My PT told me that those unfortunate people, like myself, who can't use anti inflammatories have a much slower recovery and progress.  I was losing too much weight from stronger pain killer meds with nausea so I decided to take myself off of them and go for something milder.  Those 24 hours of withdrawal were horrendous.  My husband was up all night with a very sick woman.  I'm only three months post op and am very sore or in pain most of the time but in some ways my ability to cope have improved.  I take Tylenol/paracetamol three times a day and one 15 mg codeine for PT.  A lot of my pain comes from badly damaged muscles on the back of my leg, especially the back of my knee.  There are some places on my knee that are slow to heal too.  That keeps me up some nights.  I've tried an  anti inflammatory cream but it got absorbed into my blood stream and I felt awful.  I've had more panic attacks after this surgery than I've ever had in my life.  I have chronic sinus infections and I'm worried about the infection getting into my knee.  I'll be glad when I am better.  My husband isn't very well and this is all wearing him out.  He has been so good to me.