Pain med concerns

18 days post-op?  Yeah...you will probably still be in a lot of pain....and it's going to last a while.  The first 30 days are the worst.  Things start getting better and one hopes to be off the opiods in the 30-90 day period.  Tramadol or Ibuprophin 800 after that.  This is a long, hard recovery...buckle up...

Ellen. Oh my goodness. You need proper pain management. I am also in the U.S (San Diego). I was sent home with Dilaudid and Vicodin (5/325). Initially 2mg Dilaudid and 25mg of Vicodin every 4 hours and I was in unbearable pain. I am 3 weeks post TKR today. You are NOT a baby! The pain from this surgery is brutal. It is counterproductive to be in pain. Especially if you constantly experience pain at a 5 and over. Physical therapist told me that healing is compromised at that level. I am finally a little more comfortable the last 2 days with my meds every 4 hours and not writhing in pain the last hour waiting for the next pain medication. I do ice every 2-3 hours. Hang in there and have a thorough discussion with your doctor about pain management. You should not have to suffer like this.

At 18 days it is VERY normal to have LOT of pain.  Unfortunately, doctors don't seem to realise this and dole out pain killers only after reeated begging.  I don't know why they think pain killers were developed.  If you can't have them after an operation of this sort, I can't really see when you would need them, except perhaps in terminal cancer  . . You may have to be very insistent.  I was stuck just on acetominiphen (paracetamol) until I got really insistent with the doctor, who grudgingly gave me a prescription for enough tramadol to last a week . . . 

No you aren't...

Pain is real. Sometimes Dr's have their hands tied by insurance companies and what they will pay for every 30 days. As a suggestion, talk to your pcp and explain your problem. I have found primary care Dr's are willing to work with the patients more closely than surgeons are. Surgeons have their standard go to drugs and treat everybody the same. Ond thing you might try. Take them as directed and try not to wait till the pain kicks in. Ice the area more frequently to keep the swelling down and increase your fluid intake so you are keeping your body lubricated

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear your pain isn't being managed. You need to call and tell the doctor that you're taking as directed and they're not working. If you are taking 2 every 4-6 hours you have to keep calling for more. The PA can only prescribe a certain amount. Stay ahead of the pain or you won't heal. Just keep calling them. You're not being a baby!

Hi Ellen!

With my first TKR I felt the same way-- only my medication was Oxycodone. There was a mix-up with hospital discharge orders and my surgeon's prescription. Long story short, I ended up with HALF the dosage I was getting in the hospital! At first I didn't notice the discrepancy, but as I continued to take the dosage I was getting in the hospital, my pill supply was dwindling quickly!

It is a scary feeling to realize that you MAY soon be without pain relief!

My husband went to get a refill for me at the pharmacy, and HE WAS REFUSED! (Apparently opioids are VERY STRICTLY REGULATED!)

Long story short once again...I was off my blood thinners, so I just decided to chuck the opioids I had been taking for two weeks and go back to my tried and true Ibuprofen I had been using prior to surgery to see what would happen.

SUCCESS!!!😁🎶

The Ibuprofen WORKED BETTER for pain, AND it helped lessen my swelling, too! Turns out the Oxycodone contained TYLENOL which was NOT an anti-inflammatory! The Ibuprofen WAS an anti-inflammatory and worked MUCH BETTER for my pain as well!

Boo-ya!😁

Maybe an over-the-counter medication will work for you, too!

I am 8 weeks and have been off pain meds sice about 4 weeks because my Dr. said to stop. He was only giving 20 pills at a time and 10 the last time. I wish I had some for night time. You are not being a baby. You are only 18 days. You will have pain for some time. I still have some pain, mostly at night though. If your Dr. gives you pain meds don't worry about it,just ask!  You wil get better it takes time. I also live in the US!

I would complain to your doctor, and tell him to at least give you enough for a month. Mine gives me 90 pills a month, if i need more than that he will send me to pain specialist.

I think sometimes it's not the Dr. it's the insurance company. I know that's how it is with my insurance. I was only able to get 20 at a time.