Dealing with knee discomfort at 3-1/2 Mos.

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hollyhobble

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Does anyone have some good advice on how to deal with the night time discomfort (I have two new knees) that isn't exactly pain but makes it very difficult to get comfortable enough to sleep? I ice my knees and then place a pillow between them as I need to sleep on one or the other sides - my back does not work very well. I just cannot get comfortable. I do take 15M Vicodin before PT and that seems to take the edge off the pain then but does not help with the evening discomfort. Not very high on the pain scale but more a constant reminder that there is an invader in each leg. Some days, my right knee feels completely normal and I love it. Even if it doesn't bend very far yet, it feels good and works pretty well.

I got a prescription for some sleeping pills (Ambian) which don't seem to make much difference. The possible side-effects are kind of scarey too!

Does anyone have any little rituals they might do to gain some more comfort. I am doing well with my recovery (will find out just how well my OS thinks I'm doing tomorrow when I see hime) and am thrilled to have the new knees, but would LOVE to have a good night's sleep. I would love to be able to take a calming bath, but cannot get into the tub yet. Can shower but just do not have the confidence that I will ever be able to get out of the tub if I were to get into it and sitting down. I'd have to drain the tub and bring on my pillows and a sleeping bag! Those walk-in tubs look pretty attractive.

I'm going to be asking about a change in medication tomorrow - want to get away from any of the hard stuff as soon as possible but am not a glutton for punishment either.

Holly
 
I have a simple answer for you, Holly - you are undermedicating yourself. What you are experiencing is low grade pain that is every bit as insidious as a pain 8/10. You need painkiller before you go to bed. 3½ months is still quite early. Forget the sleeping pills and take some painkillers. Why not try Tylenol instead of Vicodin? Could do just as well. But even if it doesn't, you shouldn't fret about still needing the 'hard stuff'! Remember that the kind of surgery you had does not heal as quickly as your skin. Just because your skin looks all nice and hunky-dory doesn't mean it's completely healed on the inside. You could still need pain relief for another 3 months down the line yet.
 
Thank you for the input. I will be seeing the OS tomorrow and ask for something different from Vicodin for the pain. I have been really concerned (maybe overly) about getting addicted to something terrible and having to go through withdrawal problems, etc. So many horror stories out there, but tend then just to accept the pain as normal. I'm thrilled with my progress thus far but like everyone else, I want results NOW!! I actually did not cry or curse at PT yesterday when the therapist pushed my legs straight and consider that terrific progress. I'll try to dose up a little better tonight and see if that helps. The doctor keeps refilling my precscriptions for 40 pills at a time as I definitely am not abusing them. I need 2 tablets to get through my therapy and then have been using 2 more occasionally for night.

This forum is terrific for getting information and support!
Thanks.

Holly
 
My last dose of "hard stuff" to go was the bedtime dose. I could start my day, go all day with nothing or only ibuprophen, but by the end of the day I needed something stronger. I would also take a dose of the pm meds (Tylenol/Advil) pillow between knees and out I went. I had both knees done also. Like Jo said, you may still need that evening dose.
 
Holly
I am a 10 week out hippy. I am still taking percocet twice a day on most days. In Feb I had arthroscopic hip surgery and was on pain med then for a while. In April when the decision was made to replace the hip, my OS gave me vicodin to get to surgery , which was in June. I used it to keep hiking. Now I do on occasion go without anything and can be very uncomfortable (I have a few other pain generators). I just test it to see if things are much better.
My point in all of that is I certainly am not addicted mentally.
I was also on vicodin last summer after spine surgery and have never had any withdrawal symptoms

Of course we are all different and how our bodies react is different, I just wanted to give you my non horror example!!!
Let us know what your doc says today
Judy
 
I am only 3 1/2 weeks post op. I found myself going all day without pain meds. and then taking one before bed. The problem I found is that I got no relief from the discomfort until 3 or 4 in the morning. I am going to start taking small dose (1/2 percocet) in early evening to get it in my system and take a full dose before going to bed.
 
Hello Holly,

I am 8 wks out and was having trouble sleeping. I had cut my pain med to 1 at night. After increasing to 2 pills, I have slept pretty well. Everyone pretty much said the last thing to go would be the meds at bedtime. Since I have slept well for over a week, I am going to see if the cycle will continue with 1 percocet tonight. Wish me luck, Tom
 
Hello everyone -

My visit to the doc went really well on Friday - he is very happy with my progress and says if I continue to execise at home, I can discontinue off-site thereapy this week. My ROM has a little way to go, but he is pleased with it thus far and it's only going to get better. He watched me walk and reminded me to stand a little straighter, but otherwise my little old man shuffle is gone and I'm heel and toe walking quite well.

He told me to discontinue my vicodine (keep it if I want for needing a little later but go off it effective immediately) and gave me a prescription for an analgesic called Tramadol 50-100MG every 4-6 hours as needed and that's helped a LOT. Though I still am not sleeping very soundly, I am COMFORTABLE at night and can actually go without my little knee pillow most of the time and be fine. Also it is reducing the swelling so the icing doesn't have to happen quite so often. Also I am walking so much better. Getting in and out of my car (a rather tiny little Prizm), is still tough and I can't get out of the rocking chair while holding my grandchild but all in all I am thrilled with my progress.

I realize now too that the sleep isn't a issue of the surgery and recovery with me as it's been years and years since I really, really had an easy time falling asleep and staying asleep. I did get a small precription for some Ambian-CR which sometime I might try if I really, really think I need it, but just being non-achey in bed is good enough for me right now.

Thanks everyone for all your input and experiences. We all seem to be in the same situation and that's been hugely helpful to me.

Holly
 
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