All you folks worried about pain meds too long

[edk]

There are many threads here about "I feel guilty since its 2 weeks post op
and I'm still taking narcotics". And the typical response is "get over it you'll
need them a lot longer". Well a little story.

Here I am 6 months postop and the vicodin's been gathering dust in the
back of the medicine chest for about the last 4 months (well 3 at least).
Then last Sunday I was trying to get a full days exercise in before the Noon
Bears kickoff (waste of time, eh?) I decided to do an hour on the elliptical
machine rather than my usual 30 minutes followed by weights (which takes
longer). So the Bears lost and that night my knee felt like it hasn't felt in months.
It was a two vicodin night to get any sleep at all.

So even after you're done with the pain meds for a while. One day after you'd
forgotten all about your surgery and never felt better, you'll overdo it and
its nice to have a couple in stock.

 

[Josephine]

Neat cautionary tale, edk!

 

[Doug]

Been there, done that. And I'm sure will do it again. I still have about 46 of the last refill of 50. My Doc said to "just give me a call" if I needed anymore. I accused him of being a dope dealer.

 

[JenniferG]

Been a few days where I found myself saying, if I had some I'd be taking one. 6 months post-op.

 

[edk]

JenniferG

You should take a trip to canada at least tylonol/codiene is over the counter there.

 

[JenniferG]

JenniferG

You should take a trip to canada at least tylonol/codiene is over the counter there.

I actually still have a script slip for vicodin i never filled. That would be some expensive tylenol w/codine with gas prices. lol

 

[edk]

You betcha, but more fun than a trip to the CVS, eh?

 

[JenniferG]

Road Trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Canada is amazing!!!!! I have several friends up here that have taken a road trip or two!!! Canada is closer to us than any other state so........I guess that would explain ... well let's just say that its easier to get things from there than anywhere else.

I plan on trying to save a few of my last script for a back up down the road. Hopefully they will expire and I will never need them. I am finding that on non pt days I can get by with ibuprofen and ice after exercises so I only use the strong stuff before and after PT. Things are definitely much clearer these days - even my students have noticed! ( I seem to have found the extra ear and eyes that teachers have!)

Marianne

 

[Doug]

I'm interested in seeing how colder weather impacts the knee...I've already experienced the low pressure systems..

 

[JenniferG]

I'm interested in seeing how colder weather impacts the knee...I've already experienced the low pressure systems..

I've been told by my friend who had bi-lats 3-4 years ago that in the dead of winter you can feel the metal because it gets cold. Not painful, just wierd. But I think winter in CT is quite different than winter in FLA. It will be ineresting. I'm thinking leg warmers up around my knees if necesary. I'm at 6+ months and can still feel the mechanics of the bend so to speak.

 

[Jamie]

I'm with you, Doug. I'm curious as to how our wet, cold winters will impact my new knee. And I love shoveling snow (I know....I'm deranged), so I hope I can still do that this year.

 

[Jamie]

I've been told by my friend who had bi-lats 3-4 years ago that in the dead of winter you can feel the metal because it gets cold. Not painful, just wierd. But I think winter in CT is quite different than winter in FLA. It will be ineresting. I'm thinking leg warmers up around my knees if necesary. I'm at 6+ months and can still feel the mechanics of the bend so to speak.

I'm at about the same point as you, Jen, and I still feel some of the movement too. But it varies from day to day which I think is really strange. But....no pain, so I'm happy!

 

[Doug]

I just get the occasional "klunking" but I've gotten pretty much used to it.
Jen, I think cold is a matter of perspective. For us in N. Fla, low to mid 30's is cold. I've worked night shifts when it was 18-19....Now that was cold, especially when one night I had to go down into a big ditch to check on a woman who had driven into the water..

 

[JenniferG]

True dat Doug, true dat (re: cold). Yes, I now have a regular click kind of klunk in one of my 2. Not pain ful or awful. just strange, but I am getting accustomed to it. I feel the ratcheting (for lack of a better word) when getting up & down from sit. Still some pain the to. But like Jamie said, all varies day to day and even movement to movement.

 

[ship4]

Jennifer,
My PT told me when my quad was working at 100% that clunk would go away. I have it still in both knees 3 months out.
Hopefully, with strengthening the quad muscle it will go away.
Best,
Crystal

 

[edk]

I notice the clunk less - I assumed it was just getting used to it rather than
it not happening any more. I had a heart arrythmia and its amazing how you can
get used to your heart flopping around like a fish on the ground.

 

[JenniferG]

I think from what 've been told and heard others have been told, the klunk is normal. Even at 6 + months. Jo, haven't we been round this table before? You've got parts and they knock and ping or klunk. Ed I think you're right, we adjust to our new selves.

 

[Simon]

Jamie

I also love shoveling snow, I just find it relaxing. The only part I don't like is when the ice comes off the roof in thick chunks and it is on the path for the oil man. This year, I am going to make a different path. The other thing is when you clear an area and than it comes off the roof and fills up just where you cleared.

Actually even before the BTKR I found that rain was much worse than snow. When it rains (or rather the few days before) my knees always were super painful but that does not happen with snow.

Right now it is raking leaves time.

Simon

PS the trees are changing and it is beautiful. I am so glad I left Los Angeles

 

[JenniferG]

Anyone worried about the new knee(s) on the snow & ice this winter? I've been thinking about that as it has been getting colder. Last winter I stood at the door in tears with my old painful knees everytime it snowed or iced and I had to go out. Now I'm nervous about the new ones.