liam2015
post-grad
I was walking my dog on a cold, icy night where I couldn't see the black ice In front of someone's house; the sidewalk was on a slight downward slope towards the road and my left leg (TKR leg) slipped violently to the left and I fell onto my right side. I had to phone my sister who lives nearby, because my husband was injured with his knee. Was taken to hospital by ambulance, admitted and the next day had ORIF surgery for a broken femur. Fortunately, the TKR was not damaged although I wonder if some of the areas around it might have been.
I was in the hospital for a week with very little pain and a huge brace on my leg over top of a waterproof dressing. I was given pain meds in the hospital and also a blood thinner med for 25 days. I took regular strength Tylenol a few times when I got home, for discomfort but very rarely did I need it. My first follow up was 4 weeks post surgery and the x-ray looked good (staples removed). The surgeon said that I had to wear the brace for another 4 weeks until next follow up but I could take it off to shower (no weight bearing). Prior to that I had a waterproof bag to put over and a bath transfer bench to shower, with help of hubby. I also started to go to the table for dinner, sitting in the wheelchair with my leg down, which caused some discomfort.
Around a week ago, I started to have more discomfort and pain, mostly in my thigh, also a little just below the knee. I have been taking extra strength Tylenol 4 times a day, but it wears off before the next dose is due. The routine I have is to use the walker to stand up, and then sit in the wheelchair. I wheel myself part way to the bathroom and hubby takes the walker to put inside the bathroom and wheels me the rest of the way as there is a narrow entrance in the hallway. I then use the walker and hop on one foot to the toilet and then to the sink to wash my hands and brush my teeth. Every time I get up now causes me pain, even sitting in the wheelchair I feel pain on the back of my thigh. I also have to wake up my hubby at 3:30 a.m. to take me to bathroom which triggers the pain.
I was given a prescription of hydromorphone (dilaudid) when I was discharged from hospital and didn't open it up until yesterday, to use for breakthrough pain. (I have a hard time with opioids so trying to use them sparingly if possible).
My questions are: (1) what would be a good pain management schedule with the e.s. Tylenol and Hydromorphone so I can get through the night without going over the daily limit of 4000 mg.Tylenol?
(2) Secondly, in the back of mind I wonder if I've damaged something (hopefully not broken anything) due to my straining to turn onto my side In bed at night and the actions of getting up and down. I can't stay on my back all night.
(3) Thirdly, another thing that goes through my mind, is the possibility of a blood clot. My next follow up is on Feb. 19. I'm really hoping to not have to visit the hospital any more than necessary during this pandemic.
Thank you in advance for reading this.
I was in the hospital for a week with very little pain and a huge brace on my leg over top of a waterproof dressing. I was given pain meds in the hospital and also a blood thinner med for 25 days. I took regular strength Tylenol a few times when I got home, for discomfort but very rarely did I need it. My first follow up was 4 weeks post surgery and the x-ray looked good (staples removed). The surgeon said that I had to wear the brace for another 4 weeks until next follow up but I could take it off to shower (no weight bearing). Prior to that I had a waterproof bag to put over and a bath transfer bench to shower, with help of hubby. I also started to go to the table for dinner, sitting in the wheelchair with my leg down, which caused some discomfort.
Around a week ago, I started to have more discomfort and pain, mostly in my thigh, also a little just below the knee. I have been taking extra strength Tylenol 4 times a day, but it wears off before the next dose is due. The routine I have is to use the walker to stand up, and then sit in the wheelchair. I wheel myself part way to the bathroom and hubby takes the walker to put inside the bathroom and wheels me the rest of the way as there is a narrow entrance in the hallway. I then use the walker and hop on one foot to the toilet and then to the sink to wash my hands and brush my teeth. Every time I get up now causes me pain, even sitting in the wheelchair I feel pain on the back of my thigh. I also have to wake up my hubby at 3:30 a.m. to take me to bathroom which triggers the pain.
I was given a prescription of hydromorphone (dilaudid) when I was discharged from hospital and didn't open it up until yesterday, to use for breakthrough pain. (I have a hard time with opioids so trying to use them sparingly if possible).
My questions are: (1) what would be a good pain management schedule with the e.s. Tylenol and Hydromorphone so I can get through the night without going over the daily limit of 4000 mg.Tylenol?
(2) Secondly, in the back of mind I wonder if I've damaged something (hopefully not broken anything) due to my straining to turn onto my side In bed at night and the actions of getting up and down. I can't stay on my back all night.
(3) Thirdly, another thing that goes through my mind, is the possibility of a blood clot. My next follow up is on Feb. 19. I'm really hoping to not have to visit the hospital any more than necessary during this pandemic.
Thank you in advance for reading this.