After surgery pain meds

[Eeyore346]

I had my 1st hip replacement 11 days ago. When I left the hospital I was on 2(500) vicodine every 4 hours. I requested more pills Mon (knowing I would run out Tuesday evening at that rate) They finally called Wednesday Morning with a refill. I had a few darvacet from before surgery and used them to get me through. The new refill said 1 vicodine very 12 hours as needed for pain. I couldn't believe at 8 days they cut me down that much.

Now my hip is doing beautifully. It is a little more swoallen yesterday and today (Doc's assitant says it's cause of the high humidity) But as you all know my knee is in a lot of pain. The doc's assistant said I can go ahead and have 1 vicodine (500) every 5 hours for my pain until I see the doctor next Tuesday. She says by the week after surgery they wean you off all pain meds.

I have been reading the posts on here and I see oxycodone, percecets, etc.

Can you all please tell me what your medicine regimine was? And how it tapered off? I'm just curious.

Thanks for your input!
Sandy

 

[JudyS]

Hi Sandy,
I will be 5 weeks post surgery tomorrow.
My doc had given me vicodin for the 6 weeks before surgery as I wanted to get all the hiking in I could and it hurt. My prescription at that time was 1-2 tabs every 4-6 hours. He gave me plenty 100 with 1 refill.

After surgery It was a little confusing as I was in a pain study and the study doc was in charge of pain meds. He gave me a presctiption for 20 percocet. I called my OS and got a presc. for 75 more.
I had an apt with him at 2 weeks out. He asked me if I was still taking 2 percocet every 4 hours. I told him I was, so he gave me another prescription for 100. I see him again next week.
What I have been doing for the last few days is take 2 percocet when I get up. Then around 5pm I take 1. So 3 a day now.

I think it is crazy that they are already talking about you cutting back. There have been other discussions about the same problem. You are not alone,.
It seems like others have gone to their primary care doc to recieve pain meds.

Judy

 

[ceci1957]

I've tapered down to two percocet per day, and I'm 3 1/2 weeks post-op. I was ready to cut it down over the weekend, but had problems with muscle cramping. I will go back to 2 hydrocodone at bedtime. And I will stay on those from now on. My main problem now is the left hip that will be replaced Aug. 18. It has really been hurting lately; I'm sure as a result of putting most of my weight on it. I'll be glad to get off all pain meds soon.

 

[*gmac*]

Sandy-
LTHR on May 5Th. Hospital meds while there (3 days). 2 prescriptions when home. HYDROCODN/APAP TB 10-500 qty 40. 1 tablet every 4 hours as needed. WARFARIN SODIUM TAB 4mg qty 30. 1 tablet daily.
Had to find the pill bottles. There are 14 pain pills left. The COUMADIN is all used up. At 9 1/2 (had to look that up too) Life is starting to return a little to normal. Still got the cane, but ya get better one step at a time.
-Gary.

 

[JudyS]

NOw I feel like quite the wimp.
I have to admit at this point my thoracic spine and neck hurt more than my hip. Every day I figure I am still taking them for a combination of pain. Also my femur fractured in surgery, I'm not sure if that has caused pain or not!!!

If I take pain meds I can walk without a limp. If I don't I limp along with my cane.
Judy

 

[*gmac*]

I still can't walk without the cane and NOT limp. Somewhat fluid movements WITH the cane, But definitely Charlie Chaplin WITHOUT. Its OK we'll all get there.

 

[JudyS]

I am trying to figure out a twirling routine with my cane!!!
That will be interesting to do while on a walk.
I think I will practice tonite on the grass , of course with my handy dandy reacher grabber near by.

Judy

 

[dharlander]

I had my RTHR four weeks ago today. I had my staples removed last Wednesday (yippie). I told the NP that I was trying to just take Tylenol for my pain, and she told me this was not the time to take just Tylenol. I should at least take the Percocet an hour before PT. Well... I did what she said on Friday, took one Percocet and a Tylenol an hour before PT. I was sitting my chair and felt very very faint within a half hour. Upon taking my bp it was only 84/47. Needless to say I didn't make it to PT that day (went on Saturday). I am now only taking 1/2 a Percocet about every 6-8 hours with an extra strength Tylenol. My pain is not gone, but this is okay. I really feel the heavy duty stuff gives a false sense of well being. If I'm really uncomfortable at bedtime I might take a whole Percocet with a Tylenol but haven't done that in a few days either. The whole bp drop scared the daylights out of me.

I am otherwise doing well. The muscle cramping in my thigh is driving me a bit nuts, and my back muscles hurt more than than the surgical recovery. But my surgeon warned me about the back pain and nerve irritation. I have had 3 back surgeries including 2 spinal fusions.

I have Fioricet that I take for migraines (I have for years). It's pretty mild but seems to work enough to take the edge of the pain. I am looking forward to the day when I don't have to take anything... even Tylenol!

Debra

 

[Josephine]

84/47 - jeepers! If anyone ever has that happen, you should lie down and elevate your legs pronto!

It may be because you took both together? I don't know - I'm not a pharmacist. But some people do react badly to some drugs.

 

[*gmac*]

Judy- Did you practice with your cane this weekend?


YouTube- Chaplin

 

[JudyS]

Debra

My percocet has tylenol in it. Does yours as it would not be good to take them together. Pain meds always drop my bp and i am on 2 meds for high bp. Ususally in the hospital it gets too low and they don't give me my medication. I have been similar to yours. Dizzy is not good when walking, I think mine was on the low side (not that low) yesterday, I was bouncing from one part of the sidewalk to the other.

I am very interested in your back surgeries. I had cervical diskectomy and fusion last summer. I started having major neck problems a few weeks ago. My concern is my thoracic spine which has many bulging, protruding discs, scoliosis and disc space narrowing. And pain to go with it.

gmac
I only practiced a little last night as I forgot as usual. I was doing more of a zig zag movement last night.
I have wondered if it is better to take pain meds and walk unaided without a limp or not take them and need a cane and have a limp.

Thanks for the Chaplin video, that was funny
Judy

 

[Sofa King]

I am otherwise doing well. The muscle cramping in my thigh is driving me a bit nuts, and my back muscles hurt more than than the surgical recovery. But my surgeon warned me about the back pain and nerve irritation. I have had 3 back surgeries including 2 spinal fusions.


Debra

Debra,

Try asking your OS for some Flexeril. (Muscle relaxor). I too had bad cramps and twitches the first couple of weeks post op, and they worked very well. Make you a bit sleepy, but mild otherwise.

~Dalton

 

[jacihull]

y'all are so nice! I am 10 days post-LHR. GOt a clean bill of health today and can go in the pool!! Can't wait! I was taking 1 vicodin every 4 hours in the hospital and am now down to maybe 2 a day. ( I know this could change) I'm walking with one crutch or a cane! Big fun! Am very happy with things so far!
p.s. I was given a percocet in the hospital on an empty stomach and got nauseous. A nurse "solved" the problem by knocking me out with something else for 3 hours or so. Really bummed me out! So, try crackers and soda and work through it if you can.

 

[*gmac*]

y'all are so nice! I am 10 days post-LHR. GOt a clean bill of health today and can go in the pool!! Can't wait! I was taking 1 vicodin every 4 hours in the hospital and am now down to maybe 2 a day. ( I know this could change) I'm walking with one crutch or a cane! Big fun! Am very happy with things so far!
p.s. I was given a percocet in the hospital on an empty stomach and got nauseous. A nurse "solved" the problem by knocking me out with something else for 3 hours or so. Really bummed me out! So, try crackers and soda and work through it if you can.

Jacihull-
Out of curiosity, when using one crutch or one cane. What hand or arm do you use to support when you walk? (This was brought up in another thread tonight). Your a left hippy?
-Gary

 

[Josephine]

Listen to da man! He knows, y'know!

 

[dharlander]

Dear Judy,
Thanks for the reply. Both Fioricet and Percocet do have Tylenonl, 325 mg. Up to 1000 mg is okay every 4-6 hours with no more than 4,000 mg of Tylenol being safe in a 24 hour period. So when I take it together, I take the Percocet or Fioricet with one 500 mg Tylenol. It seems to help the pain medication wok better and a bit longer. It's the Percocet that drops my bp so low.

I'm 5 weeks out today and I'm now only taking the Percocet at night. Just one and a Tylenol before bed, and I go straight to bed. During the day I seem to be able to get by with just some Tylenol, and then I'm taking it only once a day maybe. On therapy days I might boost it a little with Fioricet, which is a pretty mild pain medication (taken mainly for migraines, it has some caffeine in it so I don't get tired). But other wise I just hate pain medication.

I had 2 spinal fusions in 1990, L4-5 and L5-S1. I think my back has bothered me more than the hip pain. I get muscle spasms in my lower back in addition to those relentless muscle cramps in my thigh. I'm calling my OS this morning to see if I can get a muscle relaxer. I may just take that night vs the Percocet, as it's the muscle spasms that cause me the most discomfort right now. Everything is trying to adjust to this new hip. My right leg was actually 3/4" shorter than my left before my surgery. Now it's pretty even and my back has not idea what it going on. But it will all get better soon I am sure.

Hope you are doing better every day.

Take care, Debra

 

[jaz]

Wow - I thought they were unrealistic/stingy about pain medication here but this just reinforces it. I left hospital and was told to take panadol every four hours. After suffering through the night I asked my doctor to prescribe some Tramol and sedatives for about 10 days then used panadol alone once I'd run out. After about 2.5 weeks I was taking the occasional panadol but other than that nothing for pain relief.