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Pain Meds

Posted , 16 users are following.

suzie56
suzie56

Hi 

Has anyone heard anything about not take anti-inflammitory's post op.  I have been on tramadol and paracetamol, the other day I had a bad day and took an ibuprofen and it worked wonders, by chance I spoke to my doctor on the same day about my meds and mentioned that I had taken Ibuprofen and she asked if the hospital had said I could take them, I said they had been giving them to me for the 4 days I was in there so thought the odd one would be ok, she didn't say not to take them but said some hospitals don't like us taking anti-infammatory's.  Previous to having the op I took Diclafenic as the Ibuprofen made me a bit weezy, but I am ok with the odd one.

I am cutting down the tramadol so getting ready for the side effects of that. I am now 3 weeks post op.  But would like to know if anyone else had come across this, please.

2 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • Loral
    Loral suzie56

    Posted

    If you have a blood pressure issue I wouldn't take nsaids, but I take them all the time. Before surgery I think it had to do with heart attacks or stroke....
  • annie.conway
    annie.conway suzie56

    Posted

    I took the odd anti-inflammatory after my op with no ill effects
  • bini31328
    bini31328 suzie56

    Posted

    I was taking them twice a day for 6 months before my op and at 7 weeks post op am still taking 400mg each morning - consultant was happy with that. I am prescribed lansoprazole to protect the gut which I have to take 30 mins before am dose and always take it with food , even if just a yoghurt. I dont have any other medical problems . Previously I was on Arthrotec which is also a NSAID . They can have cardiac side effects and can cause gut ulcers which is why doctors are careful re them I think - then again ALL drugs gave side effects - the list is usually as long as your arm ! 
  • harry43557
    harry43557 suzie56

    Posted

    Hi suzie in our pre THR chat the surgeon did mention that post op I shouldn't take 'anti inflamatories' including (he specifically mentioned) ibuprofen. He said to stick to paracetamol. Harry
  • linda38528
    linda38528 suzie56

    Posted

    Hhhmmm ..interesting discussion. I am allergic to NSAIDS so this has not been an issue for me. Rather the challenge of mangling the swelling pre and post surgery.

    I just did a very quick search of literature relevant to this and found a good overview done by Bandolier et al (medicine ox a uk ; insert dots to get a valid address) . If you look at the conclusions they seem sceptical of findings from several small studies worried about the effect of NSAIDs on bone healing. It is a prety good overview ftom which you should be able to draw your own conclusions .. likely the same as theirs.

    I would appreciate hearing of other relevant work given the strong osteoporosis history in our family.

    Cheers

    • linda38528
      linda38528

      Posted

      Sorry for several typos above - between my keying, auto-spell and the quirky system, there were quite a few including mangling the selling vs managing!
    • bini31328
      bini31328 linda38528

      Posted

      Yes I found that research too ( the one saying they can prevent ectopic bone growth ) and the other saying not that big a risk , main risk being risk of GI bleeds in a controlled 50/50 research of a number of patients - concluded that in the elderly they can cause bleeds and therefore not effective enough to be worth the risks 

      maybe I should now try to reduce/ stop the ibuprofen ? And see how I go ( will spend all night awake worrying I,ll get a huge stomach ulcer even though I,m only 57  !) xx

    • linda38528
      linda38528 bini31328

      Posted

      They also went on to say that given the number of THRS being done now they would have expected to see more negative findings if it was truly a risk.

      By the bye, the risk of GI bleeds was for the elderly .... since when would you qualify for this age group never mind the dynamic woman that you are!

      My suggestion, write to the authors (at Oxford)? And ask for a consult with one their clinicians. Perhaps that will set you at ease ..

      But honestly, I think you are such a well informed patient that even the risk is minimized further.

      Take care Bini. And stay well.

    • annie.conway
      annie.conway linda38528

      Posted

      I'd prefer for it not to be true that the negatives are starting to outweigh the positives. Please say that is not SO!!!
  • suzie56
    suzie56

    Posted

    Thanks, you guys are so much more informed than me, I thought you would come up trumps. I know that the Diclofenic is not suitable for anyone with heart probs, but my MD and I thought it was worth the risk at the time.  Hopefully won't need them much longer, the Ibuprofen works really well - along with the lansoprazole - but it's the coughing weezing I get so keep to a minimum, also I've taken heed of what you have said about the 'bleeds' as I am still on blood thinners for a month - which my surgeon is not a big fan of if your wound is leaking - which mines not at the moment. I've got to say I'm impressed with the scar it looks amazing for a 12" slash down the side of my leg so neat and clean at the moment.

    I'm lucky I'm not one to lose sleep over much............ so it won't keep me awake re-side effects - if I did I would never sleep all the warnings with food let alone meds.  Thanks again

    • bini31328
      bini31328 suzie56

      Posted

      Lol, know what you mean ! I had a leaky wound ( not infected) that only stopped after I finished a month of blood thinning injections . Am sure the two were related 
  • basia58126
    basia58126 suzie56

    Posted

    I am learning so much on this forum!

    So, I have been taking diclofenac for years but then my GP switched me to Naproxen anti inflammatories but I was told I had to stop taking it at least 10 days before the operation as it can cause bleeding. Straight after the operation though the doctor put me back on 500 mg of Naproxen twice a day, alongside paracetamol and codeine. I was sent home with a big supply of it.

    8 weeks post op and when the pain gets bad or I've done too much I go back to a Naproxen as it is more effective for me than paracetamol although I try not to take it more than a couple of times a week. Had no idea that some doctors don't recommend them. Going to investigate further!

    Basia 

  • sandra93008
    sandra93008 suzie56

    Posted

    Hi Suzie. Funny you should say that.my ops on the 12th may and I have been taking naproxen.I recently read that you should stop taking them leading up to the op because they can cause excessive bleeding!yet I have not been told any of this.!!
    • AnnieK
      AnnieK sandra93008

      Posted

      I was told not to take any nsaids starting 10 days before my THR last July, and have now been told the same by different surgeons for another hip surgery.
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