First Time To Post.

[Jayne]

Hi I'm Jayne and this is my first time to post anything but, I have read many of your posts and they have been very helpful and calming to me. I am 59 and have had problems with my knees for 11 years. I did 15 years of high impact aerobics and was told I needed knee replacement surgery 11 years ago. My family doctor sent me to a specialist who sincerely did wonders for me until we remolded our home last year and I did heavy lifting. This was the end of what they could do. I have known for over a year I needed knee replacement surgery but didn't want to face it.
My surgery is not scheduled until June 4th and I'm having both knees done. My big question is what has anyone taken for pain before their surgery? Any help would be great!!!

 

[Judles]

Hi Jayne! Welcome! I'm a hippie so one of the
Knee gang will be answering your questions!
By the way, better watch out for those
"Remolded" houses! Not good for you!

 

[Nursepair]

Hi and Welcome Jayne, glad you decided to join us. I took before my RTKR and take for my un operated knee Ibuprofen and I keep my cortisone shots up to date as needed.

You will get a new lease on life after your op believe me. No more pain, eventually. Obviously there will be pain with recovery, but time will heal as they say. I had mine done 14 months ago when I was 53.

Post as often as you like there are some wonderful people on here. Jo, our moderator and nurse of 50 years is having her knee replacement tomorrow. Jamie is standing in for her until she feels up to it again. She will be posting though for support just as we all did/do.

Sue

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Jayne. Welcome and so glad you decided to joined the BoneSmart family. It sounds like you've made a very wise decision to have your knees replaced in June. However, if you are in pain, that can be a long wait! What has your doctor recommended for pain relief in the meantime? You'll hear the whole gamut of things from folks on the forum....all the way from over the counter pain relief meds to injections (like Supartz) and even prescription pain meds. Many things work for a while and then don't anymore.

As for me (I had a RTKR about a year ago), I used Aleve and took Supartz injections for about 3 months prior to surgery. Nothing really worked very well. I still limped and hurt. But....surgery did wonders and here's hoping yours will do the same.

 

[Jayne]

Judles,
You are correct. It should be remodel. Sorry, I should have down loaded spell check.
Jayne

 

[Jayne]

Thank you Sue and Jamie for the encouragement. I have been taking Lortab. And then the surgeon prescribed Tramadol. My family doctor wanted me to take Percocet but the surgeon said no.

It is a long time until surgery and I go back to see the surgeon in April for more shots so maybe that will help for a few weeks and then I'll tell him that I need something else.

Can you tell me how long this pain stays after the surgery? How bad is it and do they give you something? This is what is bothering me. Thank you!
Jayne

 

[Judles]

Jayne! No worries! Lately I've been typing on a new !lackberry,,,,,looks like
I'm composing poetry! Don't worry about spelling!
LOok at Jamie,,,,,,She's our moderator supreme & she's
Happy you "joint" us!
We're all waiting to hear from Jo,,,,,all
Fingers crossed!

 

[JudyS]

Jayne
Welcome from another hippy. Although I did have knee surgery in DEc. and just started the rehab on it yesterday. As far as pain meds after surgery, doctors varry so much on how long they will prescribe. Yes, you will be given strong pain meds for right after surgery. After a few weeks some people turn to their primary care doc for continuing pain meds.
Seein you do have quite a wait, you do have plenty of time to talk with your surgeon and primary care doc so you will know what to expect.

For me between the decision to have the hip replaced and the surgery was about 6 weeks and my doc gave me more than enough vicodin to cover all my hiking.

WElcome
judy

 

[Max Wallace]

I took Erudis and Arthritis Strength Tylenol for two years before surgery. I had tried other pain meds and they either did not work for me or I did'nt like the side effects. I put surgery off for 10 years I had BI-TKR on 11-13-08 and it was the best decision ever made. Immediately after surgery I could tell that the pain was different and not related to the joint. I hope it changes your life as it has mine.

Max

 

[Linda2]

Welcome to our merry little group. The best way to make it through to June is to talk to your OS and/or your primary care physician. If it were me, I wouldn't mind having a couple of cortisone injections pretty soon--it might help quite a bit for a while. I would also take the weakest pain meds that still help you. It's preferable to wait for the big guns until after surgery, but some really need more potent stuff before. Icing your knees might also be beneficial. Again, welcome. Linda

 

[Jamie]

Jayne! No worries! Lately I've been typing on a new !lackberry,,,,,looks like
I'm composing poetry! Don't worry about spelling!
LOok at Jamie,,,,,,She's our moderator supreme & she's
Happy you "joint" us!
We're all waiting to hear from Jo,,,,,all
Fingers crossed!

Boy, Judles....that will teach me to post late at night, won't it! And in a hurry too....bad form for me! Freudian slip, I guess.

 

[Jamie]

Thank you Sue and Jamie for the encouragement. I have been taking Lortab. And then the surgeon prescribed Tramadol. My family doctor wanted me to take Percocet but the surgeon said no.

It is a long time until surgery and I go back to see the surgeon in April for more shots so maybe that will help for a few weeks and then I'll tell him that I need something else.

Can you tell me how long this pain stays after the surgery? How bad is it and do they give you something? This is what is bothering me. Thank you!
Jayne

Jayne, do you know why your surgeon would not allow you to take Percoset until you have your surgery? I'm assuming he had a good reason. If not, I would ask. This is a time that you may have to be a bit assertive in your medical care to get the pain relief you need prior to surgery.

Once you have surgery, you should receive pain medication for as long as you need it. Good pain management is VERY important for your recovery and it enhances your ability to do your therapy. Between your surgeon and your primary care physician, your pain should be controlled so that it doesn't rule your life. Generally people take pain meds for a couple of months. Some may take them longer if they are still needed. The important thing to remember is that each person heals differently and what is right for someone else may not be the best for you.

The forum members will be here to provide support for you. That's important, because your family and friends may not realize what all you are going through in recovery.

So try not to worry. This will be a life-changing event for you! Post any time you have a question or concern....or if you just want to say hello. There are good people here who care about their fellow kneesals and hippies out there in the world.

 

[GaryM]

Welcome Jayne! Got my new knees in July 08. Love them. Make sure you get the new up graded model with all the options. haha.

 

[Jayne]

Thank you Judy, Max and Linda! All the advice is greatly appreciated and the kindest you all show is so nice! I have tolerated this pain so much that sometimes I just ignore it but when it wakes me I know I need something. I will call my primary doctor. He is so great as is my surgeon. Thank you all!
Jayne

 

[marennorge]

I was on Naproxen for a couple of years prior to surgery. Per my OS instructions, I had to stop all pain meds 7 days before surgery, and that was a tough week. After surgery, they tried me on a couple of different restricted painkillers which ended up making me sick. Finally, I was prescribed Tramadol, which worked for me in minimizing the post-surgery pain.
Just don't be afraid to speak up after surgery if the meds they give you don't work or make you ill.

 

[Jayne]

Thanks Jamie so much!!!
My surgeon was afraid if I took percocet before the surgery my body would adapt to it and wouldn't work after surgery. I told my family doctor that and he didn't agree so I didn't know what to think. My FD said, you have to be out of pain. The surgeon did give me tramodol and it does nothing. You are right, I will speak up and say. I have my FD who will help me.
You are so right. Your family has no idea what you go through mentally either.
Jayne

 

[Jamie]

Thanks Jamie so much!!!
My surgeon was afraid if I took percocet before the surgery my body would adapt to it and wouldn't work after surgery. I told my family doctor that and he didn't agree so I didn't know what to think. My FD said, you have to be out of pain. The surgeon did give me tramodol and it does nothing. You are right, I will speak up and say. I have my FD who will help me.
You are so right. Your family has no idea what you go through mentally either.
Jayne

Good plan, Jayne. Many members here on the forum have had to rely on their family doctor for proper pain management. It's one of Josephine's laments that surgeons - as good as they are with surgery - sometimes have no clue about the pain levels that their patients go through. It's good to have a frank talk with your surgeon, but rely on the family doctor if that fails.

A number of forum members have taken prescription pain meds like Percoset for quite a while prior to their surgery and they do just fine.

Hang in there....this is one time you must be an advocate for yourself....even with the good doctors sometimes!

 

[ship4]

Jayne,
Welcome to the forum! I am 59 and had BTKR last June. I took darvoset before surgery. After surgery I took hyromorphone (dilaudid) and Vistaril. I used the drugs for about 3.5 months and with Celebrex. Then got off the Celebrex and take Aleve now and Arthritis strength tylenol when necessary.
How is the strength in your legs? Have your muscles atrophied? How about your pre-operative range of motion. Are you at 0 degrees extension and above 120 flexion? I was at 0 extension and 135 flexion ROM which is considered normal. You need to remember you have to lengthen those shortened ligaments to make them move properly and that may take lots of work. Just wondering......
I have had a great recovery. I used the book and followed the exercises both pre & post op. I purchased a stationary bike (on eBay) and a Total Gym (on craigslist for $100.) for rehabilitation. I worked hard and healed well. Ahead of schedule too (thanks to drinking Mona Vie) and wanting to get my "old life" back. I started downhill alpine skiing on February 1st (7.5 months post op). I have had 7 days out enjoying the skiing (I was a ski instructor for 7 years) so far this winter! Any more questions please ask!
Best,
Crystal

 

[Sticker Lady]

Welcome Jayne!

As you can see, there are so many wonderful people who really understand what you are going through with good advise. We're lucky to have found this forum. I, too, am awaiting BTKR--my date is May 18--and I've gotten lots of help just reading posts here. I use Aleve for pain and have had Simvist and Cortozone injections. I'm hoping that they will keep me going for thses last two months. I also ice and elevate my legs when I've done too much and the pain breaks through--it has helped so far.
Blessings,
Irene

 

[Jayne]

Dear Irene,
I will certainly have you in my thoughts and prayers on May 18th. I am sure you will do great as you seem to have a positive attitiude. I did have Sinvisc for several years and it worked wonders. It helped me from getting this surgery for years. I too have had the cortizone injections. I should have had this done last summer and now I'm having a rough time. I'm very active person and love to do things and I now just struggle at times. I think I'll try to ice and elevate my legs as you suggest because I haven't done that so far. You are so right there are many wonderful people and you are one on this board. Thank you!
Jayne