pain meds

Hi Shelby , glad your op is over , now the hard work begins but you will get through it .

I am 9 weeks post op today and still have trouble sleeping and have pains in thigh muscles . Saw physio today who said it is normal and beep cause the muscles in thigh are week so gave to keep exercising .

I felt incredibly tired for about 6 weeks . 

Make sure you nap when you can in the day and do your exercises .

we have been through major surgery and it will take time but you will get there .

if you can face it you can watch an op on you tube this will help you realise what you have been through !

you will feel down at times but try and be pleased about how much you achieve each week and don't worry about each day so much . 

This time next week you will feel stronger . 

Remember not to do too much too soon.

best wishes 

Mary

South Wales

Shel by two weeks post op, I think stopping mess is to early,you need all help I.e pain relief cause it is a long slog getting fit don't be scared mess will really help long term I am 20 weeks and I have had few probs pain wise and have got to start takin pain killers again as excersise for me at moment is a big struggle do take your mess and get plenty of rest

Hi Shelby,

Everyone is different of course, but two weeks out is still very fresh out from a very major brutal surgery. It might be safer to taper the pain meds, not jump off of them.

My guess about the shooting pain down your legs at night, is that it is natural nerve pain for which narcotics will not help.

I am 4 weeks out and I use Gabapentin for the nerve pain and Flexeril for the muscle spasms. I still keep Oxicodone for set backs.

Hope this helps a bit. Wishing you the best!

💛 Dawn, USA

Hi Shelby i think getting of medicines after 4 weeks is reasonable by then you would be walking around a bit more which aids your recovery too. Keep building your muscle strength with physio and hydrotherapy sessions which will aud you coming off the pain killers.

What you are experiencing is 'cold turkey'. Your body has become addicted to the medication and isn't liking it's withdrawal. After spending a year on morphine prior to my first operation I stopped taking morphing as I didn't need it anymore and my goodness did I feel ill. It was flu like symptoms an hour before u til 2 hours after the times I usually took the morphine. i phoned the doctor and she put me straight back on morphine but in lower doses. I am now 2 weeks post op tomorrow for thr. In hospital I was on morphine and tramadol, when I came home I was on 2 tramadol every 4 hours. I reduced it to 1 every 4 hours for a few days, then 1 every 8 hours, then 1 just at night. Now I just take codeine at night to help me sleep. It's not a bad thing to NEED pain relief. If you need it, take it, if you don't ween yourself off of it slowly. I too have the muscle pain at night. I have been rolling up a pair of trousers and putting them under my knee which has been helping ease the discomfort. 

It is hard. It's very hard. It's emotionally exhausting. I cry almost daily. BUT, the people on this forum are making it easier as they understand what you're going through and the journey you are taking. My daughter told me something today, from little seeds do oak trees grow. She's 8 and was relating it to my progress! Little know it all!

good morning Shelby, I,m 1 week post Left  THR. its 3.30 am. another rough painful night, I,m sitting in the Lounge with a cup  of tea, hot water bottlte under my thigh, thinking, well this is a pain in the bum, ( which it is) yes I,m fed up with the pain and sleepless nights, but it will improve day by day, I think I,ll have another cupps !. I take Naproxen morning and night. Cheer up mate, you,ll be better before  you know it.

God bless

Brian UK