9 week PKR - what pain level?

[hubbieoftheladywithPKR]

Progress is being made by my wife, but I am curious as to the expected pain level as recovery progresses. What level of pain was experienced by posters at or around wk 9. How long until pain reduced to ibuprufen levels or to less than that even? How long for increasing levels of normalcy. She had right knee medial partial replacement. Thanks!

 

[tom67]

Hi my name is Tom. I'm currently just over 3 week out on LPKR. So I don't know If
I'd be any help?

 

[Josephine]

Well, everyone is different of course, but the average is about 3 months on strong pain killers and then gradually easing off over maybe the next 2 more months to lesser meds. She'll have to try it and see now and again. Sometimes the changes happen kind of naturally, like she'll 'forget' to take a midday dose because she's ok and then take it 2-3 hrs later. The last to go will be the night time dose as for some reason, the knees always seem to ache a lot at night, no-one knows why.

Then she could start taking Tylenol and ibuprofen (yes together!) and then ease off one or the other. That's the kind of thing. Does that help?

 

[Texas]

I think 9 weeks probably a good bit painful........I think the same thing about 3 mths................Its a tough surgery.....Tell her to use the ice it really helps.......Good luck to her a you its hard seeing your love one in pain....She will be ok though.............keep us posted............)

 

[Jamie]

With my knee replacement, I took prescription pain meds for about 4 months before switching to Aleve. Your wife will get there. She is so lucky to have such a caring and attentive husband.

 

[One NZer]

Identical surgery here.
Started off with Tramadol and something else I can't remember, those pills only lasted a couple of weeks, I took them on the alternate 4hours so that the lesser covered the stronger, a trick taught me by the hospital nurses when my CPA popped out on day one.
I thought I was a bit of a sook, but then thought 'why not ? it hurts and aches, take the pills.'
I used a stronger 15mg codeine/500mg paracetamol x 2 at night right through until about the 3 month mark, then cut back to less codeine (about 8mg) with paracetamol until the 4 month, then just the paracetamol at about the 5th month.

Daytime use was lessened a lot sooner. You forget, then realise that you've done without.

As Jo said, each of us is different, if your wife is still sore and achey let her have the pills, she won't become addicted, except if its Tramadol... then proceed with caution.

If she's anything like me, I get VERY grumpy when I'm hurting... :D

 

[Linda2]

I'm at twelve weeks and still need my pain relievers on the average of once a day. But I can tell you there has been quite a change in the last three weeks. For me, six weeks to three months is difficult.