hi im nearly 8 weeks post TKR.... consultant is happy with everything and doesn't need to see me again.
admittedly i was naive before op, consultant explained it was a big op and it would take time.....but the past 2 weeks at night with pain has been horrendous. i have insomnia anyway, but im barely having 2 hours sleep.
its really effecting my anxiety and depression.....im taking co codomol, maybe too many as i just get so down and not think what im doing. other meds like oral morph dont work.
my gp is a bit of a waste of time, so given up talking to him.
im planning on going back to work next week, maybe a little normality will help.
any advice re night pain.
I had my op on 8 sept this year, so just over 10 weeks ago.
Pain has been a real barrier in the healing process for me too.
Surgeon and physio happy with the actual op and progress but the pain has been unbearable at times!
In the early days I was accidentally taking more than the recommended doses of meds as I was in so much pain. I started writing down the time I was taking the meds in a little book so I could see what I was using and I’m still doing this now. It’s slowly gone from waiting for 4 hours to pass to sometimes it being 6 hours before I need my meds again. What I’m trying to say it can be good to write it down to make sure you take safe amounts of drugs and also It’s good to track progress to help see the small improvements.
I’m taking morphine and paracetamol and Ibuprofen as co-codamol was just not enough. The ibuprofen is really good as it reduces inflammation while the paracetamol and code be just block the pain.
Night pain is always worse and gosh I’ve suffered in the night with this!!
I started icing my knee when I woke up in the night, which just helped me get back to sleep on top of the meds.
I’m also using hot water bottles now to help ease the pain which I’m now using more than the ice. It’s sooo soothing and helps me feel sleepy.
Recovery is the slowest ever and it’s only noticeable on a weekly basis, definitely not daily but it’s coming.
Once you start getting more sleep at night I think you will start to feel brighter in yourself - I definitely do.
Hope this helps a little!