TKR long term pain management?

i took Dilaudid for about 3 months. the weaning off was not easy.

hi, i cant remember how long but was able to reduce use after a few weeks. i did Pt for four like 4 mos but recall taking 1/2 pill on those days only just before going. i reduced as soon as i could. pt was very hard for me idk why but it was so hard.

i also journaled down my medication so i could keep close track of my use.

wishing you the very best in your recovery! IT TRULY IS A MARATHON RECOVERY. be patient with yourself and remain positive as it will and does improve.

I took painkillers for about 6 weeks post op. I'm now 5 months PO and still have discomfort from stiffness/tightness but no pain. I have good and bad days, but I'm looking forward to the time when I can be NORMAL again.!! Best of luck with your recovery.

My 3rd TKR I was off them at 3 weeks. My second one i was off them during the day at 3 weeks and for the next month took one at bedtime for 4 weeks. These TKRs were both within the last year. im in Canada and there is a push to get you off pain killers asap.

I took oxycodone for about 3 months. Lucky for me I don't have issues coming off meds.

I have had both knees done and both was on painkillers for months & morphine at night for first few weeks as could not sleep through the pain. still experience pain a year after and stiffness so still take pain meds now when needed.

Hi Nezza, had a TKR October 11 13 weeks and ive been on opiats for the whole time ! plus i was taking ibuprophen, (not wise to do) had a nerve block today, Not a good time ! LOL THE SCRIP I get tomorroe, is going to be my last ones ! I HOPE,

I had a real bad knee before surgery, double jointed knees on both legs! didnt walk till i was 3!

i could be the exception to the rule. Good luck!

There is no timetable because everyone is different. It's up to you and your knee. Some typical examples...

• The worst pain is usually in the first 3 months. RX meds at the beginning, titrate to lower-duty meds and then down to NSAIDs. Note: You cannot stay on these long term as they have adverse effects on your stomach. Switch to topicals like Voltaren Gel (diclofenac).
• The knee pain lessens as you shift the load from the knee and back onto the muscles where it belongs. This usually takes up the remainder of year one but you must keep the knee active forever as it will stiffen with lack of use.
• You may experience pain in other parts of your body as you unconsciously shift your weight to avoid pain.
• The knee will definitely swell and cause pain if you push it too far on any given day. Time and distance are irrelevant...it's the STEPS that count as they put the load on the knee. Get a pedometer and track your steps increasing gradually.

These may help...

Muscle Rebuild

Other Pain

Click on my name, Discussions, View All...about 30 out there on all sorts of topics...

I stopped abruptly after 5 weeks, because it was Christmas Day and I wanted to have a few drinks to celebrate, I felt better physically, so decided to not go back on to the oxycodone, but the problem I had was sleeping at night, it was so hard getting any sleep at all, never watched so much tv in the early hours of the morning ever, for the next four weeks or so I dreaded night time, I hadn't read the label about a gradual reduction or you could get withdrawal symptoms, but I was glad to be off the medication, as I had lost 11kg in weight, and with the heat in Australia at that time of the year also got rashes on the body, so my advice would be to reduce gradually at the earliest, once you can tolerate it, each person has different pain thresholds