Coachie, I'm responding to your query about pain management. I'm now 9 weeks out from BTKR and am still taking 15-20 mg of oxycodone every four hours. Until this week, I've been asking them every four hours around the clock. Twice this week, though, I've actually slept for over six hours straight, which feels like a fantastic gift! I
I had been taking the oxycodone for two years prior to my knee surgery for chronic pain in my chest wall, however. This has resulted in a higher tolerance level for the drug, and, possibly, more sensitivity to pain in general (according to pain mgmt doc). I am hoping to reduce the amount of pain meds to at least hat I was taking before knee surgery (5-0 mg every four hours), but I keep finding myself overdoing it and being in a lot of pain.
I would describe my pain as deep aching, but it is an ache that hurts enough to keep me in bed if I overdo it! I've not had sharp, stabbing pains at all since the surgery, but I've had aches that would bring down the best of 'em!
I'm also certain that I have a physical dependency on the narcotic after all this time and I couldn't even dream of going through withdrawal while recovering from the surgery. My chest pain has been worse during recovery, too, because I have had to use my upper body more to get out of chairs, bathtubs, etc.
I don't know where the end of the road is for me when it comes to pain medication. I know that without it, I have a very tough time moving, teaching and breathing because of the pain in my chest. It's hard to differentiate the need for meds for my knee and for my chest. Sigh. I would love to be done with the lot of it!
Teaching, which requires that I talk a lot, and project my voice, really has aggravated my chest in the past, but I can't imagine doing something else for a living.
United States
