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What a difference a painkiller makes!

Posted , 11 users are following.

martinarvelo
martinarvelo

Finally convinced the doctor to give me something better than paracetamol .tramadol . . and stronger sleeping tablets. Actually slept for four hours without waking last night, and the difference this morning was amazing.  New energy, a much more decided approach to walking and exercise . . WHY couldn't they have let me have these painkillers straight after the operation instead of now, four weeks later!  I'm afraid I do feel quite bitter about  the unnecessary suffering they have inflicted on me!  No doubt I shall have 'down' days again, because this operation seems to do that to all of us, but I can definitely see light at the end of the tunnel!

1 like, 57 replies

57 Replies

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  • suzy97219
    suzy97219 martinarvelo

    Posted

    I certainly understand how great it feels to finally get some meds that work. I was 3 1/2 month out before I got them. Now take gabapentin and tramadol and meloxicam. Just added meletonin to my night time gabapentin and it has made a huge differnce. 4 months out now and feeling much better.
  • nicky14342
    nicky14342 martinarvelo

    Posted

    Hi,martinarvelo. Tramadol is a drug that is widely abused by people who want a "high" so GPs are nervous about prescribing them! Unfortunately,us in the KR club then have to beg to have them for real pain.....they can also addictive. I had my left knee replaced 14mnths ago and am still in a lot of pain as it is loose. I had to beg for something stronger than Cocodamol so I can continue to work part time and sleep! The doc actually phoned me at home after I put a "repeat" request for them and questioned my use of them and the Cocodamol "just so I am aware"

    I hope you find peace and comfort with better analgesia soon.

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo nicky14342

      Posted

      Hi Nicky . I'm surprised anyone woud get a 'high' from them . . they leave me a bit dizzy,aguely nauseaous  and very tired but certainly not euphoric.  Maybe they mix with alcohol or something like that!!!  those mild side effects are worth it though for the  lesser pain and ability to do the exercises!
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 nicky14342

      Posted

      Seems they are tightening down everywhere. Until this past Oct 1 doctors could write scripts for norco (hydrocodone) for several refills and then by phone or fax could renew the refills. Now you have to get refills on a 30 day basis and physically appear at the docs office, pick up and sign for the script. Oxycontin has long been the drug of choice for kids to get high but its a difference in the way they are ingested. All pain meds instructions are to swallow whole with plenty of water. To get high, the kids chew or crush and swallow the pills. The difference is maybe being sleepy, dizzy etc and high and not knowing what you ate doing. In the US there has been a class of drugs called "type 1or A" list that you had to do the physical pick up and sign for, now about anything that is controlled is on that list. Kids stealing from their parents and drs giving out to everyone that asks for them are the reasons for the controls.

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Oh I remember hydrocodone!  I suffered a compression fracture of a vertebra once in Montana (we were on holiday in the States . . ) and they gave my a little bottle.  the rest of the holiday I spent with an agonizing back and a stupid grin on my face!  Wonderful stuff.  Wish I had some of it now!  I don't think it's available over here . . . 
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 martinarvelo

      Posted

      It comes in 3 or 4 different strengths. I take 10/325 on an as needed basis. Fortunately my doc has no problem giving me a script as needed. Montana is a beautiful place to visit but I imagine docs are few and far between in much of the state. I would want no part of it in winter. My oldest son went to school in Wyoming and that was cold enough
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      We were there in July (1994) . .it was beautiful!  Wish I were young again!

       

  • suzidownunder
    suzidownunder martinarvelo

    Posted

    I'm interested to know why some people need strong pain killers after 4-6 weeks. The actual joint is healed at this point so it is just muscle and soft tissue healing and re learning. Tightness soreness etc. Are there other complications?
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo suzidownunder

      Posted

      Yes, there are other complications! My knee gives me virtually no pain except when the physio forces it.  the pain is from nerve damage and starts in the thigh, just above the knee, and extends all the way up to the hip.  the pain is so incredible that just the weight of a sheet on it is unbearable.  It has actually reduced me to screaming when it hits unexpectedly during the night, although if I'm ready for it I can control that so as not to frighten my husband out of his wits.  It's usually at night when it happens, and wakes me up ten to fifteen times a night.  I have come to dread going to bed.  the next day, the whole thigh area feel heavy and sore to touch, but the excruciating pain is only at night.  If you are pain free at four weeks, you are VERY lucky!

       

    • suzidownunder
      suzidownunder martinarvelo

      Posted

      God! That sounds horrendous! You poor thing!

      I'm 14 weeks now but have been on virtually no pain meds since 4 weeks. Just paracetamol and ibuprofen if very sore but only once a day or something. I put up with the rest and just massage so I'm pretty lucky by the look of it.

      You really have my sympathy rolleyes

      Hope it soon improves!

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo suzidownunder

      Posted

      thanks!  I'm a bit worried because nerve pain doesn't always heal . .I know my mother suffered nerve pain after shingles for the rest of her life . different, but still a nerve!  If it were not for the thigh problem, I wouldn't need pain killers now (four weeks and five days)

       

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Martin....discuss with your regular doc, not surgeon. Gabrapentin is the standard drug of choice for nerve pain. I don't know if they use lyrica in the UK but it is the upgrade albeit more expensive drug in the states. There is relief , to an extent, for nerve damage. I was told by a neurosurgeon that nerves heal at an almost microscopic rate of a millimeter a week or thereabouts. Hope you can get some relief
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 suzidownunder

      Posted

      A little of pain med needs are dependendent on the amount of damage prior to the actual surgery. I've been on some level of meds for years but I had so much damaged done by radiation, aspirations, arthroscopic surgeries etc. One of my biggest irritations in life is having people use the text book tkr recovery (of which there are very few) for evaluating why I'm in pain, limp, use a cane on occasion and have had years of problems. I used to show patience when this came up, now I just shrug it off and give them a "go to hell" look and attitude.
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      I live in Tenerife spain . .I think lrica is available, but I have to say that last time i took gabapentin it made me into a very different character!  Scary!
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      The people who I find irritating are the ones who tell you that it's all down to attitude, and that if you have the right attitude everything will be fine. they obviously haven't felt the pain!
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 martinarvelo

      Posted

      I guess that's why they spend so much money developing new and improved drugs. The drug didn't have any effect on me one way or the other. I might as well have been eating candy, as a matter of fact I would rather have been eating candy. I have a couple of coffee drinking friends that have diabeties and Lyrica has really helped them with nerve damage especially in their ankles.
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      My husband tried it for diabetic nerve damage too . .but  after a few days of talking rubbish at a hundred miles an hour, he gave it up!  Everyone is different it seems!
    • suzidownunder
      suzidownunder martinarvelo

      Posted

      Is this something that can happen with TKR or is it something else? I know the nerves on the outside of the knee and below are cut - mine are still numb but i hadn't realised above the knee could be affected.

      ?

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo suzidownunder

      Posted

      Well it certainly  appeared right after the operation. Remember that the leg is in traction, with a tourniquet tight around the thigh, in my case for two and a half hours . .perhaps that was what damaged the nerve.  The specialist just shrugged and said 'There are so many nerves and muscles which have been cut that sometimes this happens . . ', I don't know how often it happens . . . or whether it is a common occurrence . .I'm still numb on the outside of the knee and right the way up to the hip.  

       

    • suzidownunder
      suzidownunder martinarvelo

      Posted

      I say again you poor thing. How awful!

      I didn't realise how lucky i was just to be struggling with weak muscles and a bit of numbness. From here on my moans will be little ones! rolleyes

      Speedy recovery Martina! smile

    • joansgarden
      joansgarden suzidownunder

      Posted

      I really wish I knew the answer to this. I am at 13 weeks now and still have terrible pain when I bend my knee. I just had a MUA a few days ago, and now the pain is from an extremely sore quad muscle. Before the MUA the pain was from scar tissue pulling I think. But I would really love to get off these pills, and sometimes despair of ever doing so.
    • suzidownunder
      suzidownunder joansgarden

      Posted

      Hi Joan sorry to hear you're still having problems. Have you tried massaging and warmth instead of ice on the quads? I found ice gave the quad muscles spasms and made it worse.

      I had real problems with mine (though i didnt have MUA)and only in this last week has it relented and not so stiff and sore.

      Suzi. 14wks

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Manipulation Under Anesthesia. You are put to sleep and they bend the joint to tear the scar tissue loose.
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Thanks!  My surgeon threatened me with that when I saw him last . . . which is why I'm trying so hard to get it right without resorting to that. sounds painful!

       

    • joansgarden
      joansgarden suzidownunder

      Posted

      The therapist warms the quad before he starts work, and also massages it, but gosh, it is really sore. I just added Aleve to my arsenal of pills today to see if that will ease the muscle. I usually ice after exercise though because by then the whole knee is pretty hot.
    • joansgarden
      joansgarden martinarvelo

      Posted

      Unrelenting pain - it certainly drags you down. I've let everything slide and I don't want to socialize, just stay home and knit. Got to say though, that I've been looking with longing at my garden and thinking of all that needs doing before spring arrives.
    • suzidownunder
      suzidownunder joansgarden

      Posted

      I really wish i had a therapist to help. I had a physio for the first 2 weeks twice a week and then hydro twice a week for two weeks and since then nothing. Just myself. Still i am almost walking ok and have a good bend and pretty much straight.

      Suzi 14wks

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo joansgarden

      Posted

      While you are on crutches it's pretty difficult to do anything at all isn't it!  I agree though . .psychologically it seems to have hit  hard and it's taken a lot of the pleasure out of living!  Can only hope in the end it will be worth it!
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo suzidownunder

      Posted

      I'm not doing so well on the bend . . .it's a real struggle to get it to 90 . . just below screaming point!  Still can't manage to climb stairs properly without lifting the leg from the hip instead of the knee. . . My physio comes twice a week, but its 40 euros an hour nd I can't keep paying that for much longer . .   
    • Tucks
      Tucks martinarvelo

      Posted

      Hi there so sorry your bends are not improving, before I had my op I was terrified at the thought of getting up and down, so bought myself a recondition stair lift and had another hand rail fitted so I was able to grip both side, it really does help. I only used my stairlift for a few weeks, but its there if I need it .hope things improve for you soon
    • Tucks
      Tucks joansgarden

      Posted

      Hi there, this op just keeps throwing problems at you, emotional and physical I feel like you just want to stay indoors on my own trying to keep comfy and warm. I am going to cyprus for a month in march so have to get myself focused. I am getting a lot of pain at the bottom of my back and round  the hip area. GP says paracetomal again. I so wish I could get back to normal. I am now 6months plus 2 weeks. Take care
    • joansgarden
      joansgarden suzidownunder

      Posted

      My surgeon insisted on it.  Still if you have a good bend and are getting it straight then you are probably fine on your own. I've only needed mine so much because I don't have a good bend.  I would never have been able to inflict the amount of pain on myself that he does when he's bending it.
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