OP
OP
Jillybean
new member
United StatesI went back to work in early May and so with this and two kids have had limited energy to do much, including posting/reading here. Welcome to my pity party! I do have nerve damage in my left quad. and was finally able to lift it about 5 weeks ago. I have to use a crutch on the right side as I have almost fallen several times. My left knee just buckles, meaning that it unexpectedly juts forward and my foot goes out from under me. This of course has impacted my progress. My left leg takes longer to "warm up." My right knee is ready to walk and bike and my left leg is holding it back. I am trying to accept that this takes time. My orthopedist still has me on a pain medication clock and wanted me to be off prescription medications by 12-weeks, but was willing to go a few more weeks. He wants me to be off all Percocet in 3-4 weeks. I was down to 6 Percocet a day over 5-weeks ago (my own doing) until my OS's PA unexpectedly yanked me off of 10mg OxyContin bid and I was then lectured by a nurse on addiction (I have also received another lecture by another nurse who told me that their policy is to have all patients off all prescription pain meds. at 12-weeks). I was told to up my Percocet. I was back up to 10 a day but got back down to 4-5/day in the last 3 weeks, which frankly is not enough pain management. My OS asked me at my most recent appointment if I was taking regular Vicodin prior to surgery (which I wasn't) which felt like he was trying to find a reason why I am reporting pain much longer than most of his patients. I am waking up at night with stabbing pains and my wonderful husband will get me ice packs several times a night. My lower legs and knees deeply ache at work which in due in part, I believe, to swelling. My lower legs have hurt to the touch (e.g. when I put lotion on them) since day one, which I think is also due to swelling. I am continuing in PT and have perfect extension and can get to 130 degrees flexion after warming up on the bike or shuttle. My PT is great and insists I not overdue exercises. For example, bike riding 10-15 minutes twice a day and no more. Then a core strengthening exercise and double toe raises. I am discouraged that I am swollen all the time. I continue to ice and elevate. I also have limited energy. I am just not getting things done on my to-do list and I have a very involved husband who has taken over the major home chores. I know I should be more patient, not a strength of mine. I accept that I won't be "back to normal," but I feel I should be further. I'm also sick of being told that I have low pain tolerance. I have chronic migraine and gave birth to a 10lb baby, after 37 hours of labor, with no pain medications so clearly can handle a lot of pain. Now I feel like I am being judged and assessed for being drug seeking. Thanks if you read this far!
What a dope! You are all right that I need to see my GP. It just ticks me off that orthopedists don't accept a range of pain for THEIR patients and that their is no hidden or sinister agenda for those of us who need pain medications for longer. I just want to be reasonably comfortable. I hold no illusions that I should be in a state of bliss, just able to avoid profound pain and able to do PT effectively. You are all the best and have no idea how much your words and the time you took to post them mean to me! No one else understands this like all of you!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
