Meds ... how long??

[beachbum]

With a few threads concerning meds out there right now, it got me thinking (I know, that's a dangerous thing :hehe: )
How long did you take meds on a regular basis after surgery? What did you take?
I started with Percoset (sp??) for a couple of weeks, every 4 hours, then Loritab every 4 - 6 hours (I'm at about 5.5 hours now, usually sleeping through the night with no dosage).
The loritab will run out over the weekend, so I'll call Friday for a refill ... wonder what I will get? Any guesses?

 

[JudyS]

I took percocet for 4 months after my hip replacement. i'm still taking it for back pain too . A year and a half almost.
I hope you get a good amount this friday
judy

 

[mtngal67]

First two weeks I took percocet, then switched to hydrocodone and have been taking that ever since. The past week I've been taking about 2 a day, once in the evening before bed so I can sleep, and one about mid morning or before PT.

 

[Texas]

Hey beach your are still early though so i would assume so kind of hydrocodone.....)loritab) ......i had hydro and oxy i stopped the oxy just didnt need it anymore but i do still take the hydro.........feel better......

 

[tom67]

Hi Beach, It Depends on your OS, and your pain level. I've heard a lot about Tramadol
That seems to be gettin' popular. Have A GREAT! Day!

 

[abunnybabe]

Is tramadol as popular in the US as it seems to be in the UK? I took this drug in the past for neuropathy pain, I wasn't that impressed with it.

 

[beachbum]

I took Tramadol before the surgery - didn't really do much for me then, just took the 'edge' off the pain. Can't imagine it would do much now.

 

[hubbieoftheladywithPKR]

The main thing learned here was to not wait to the last minute on med refills. Also to count out to plan for weekends and see when you will run out. Also, it was sometimes a surprise to see what was called in for a refill and you have to proactively give them feedback if the levels/quantities are insufficient. You may not get any reason why dosage was reduced or number of pills was reduced, for example. Give them lots of feedback if its not working.

 

[JudyS]

So true hubby. It is so ashamed that we have to beg for pain meds when we really need them\judy

 

[betsy13]

I guess I was lucky my primary care doc would refill my meds. All I had to do was call her. But then again I wasn't using that many of them a month.

 

[cotton1958]

Came home from hospital's rehab with oxycontin and oxycodone. When those ran out, got Percosets. Then hydrocodone, then Ultram. So now I take Ultram with hydrocodone for break through pain, which seems I need at least once a day.

Then I pop Advil, aspirin, Tylenol, Aleve here and there.

 

[FrogFeathers]

For four weeks following the surgery, I was on Oxycontin and Oxycodone. One was every 12 hours and the other was every four to six hours.

Then at five-ish weeks, I had my MUA and was given Percocet. I've taken it before, but this time around, it made me queasy. So, my OS switched me to Hydrocodone. The dose was 7/750, every four to six hours as needed. I was at that for less than two weeks... I sort of saved it for the days I had PT and, of course, night.

I've been taking 5/500 mgs of Hydrocodone at night for several years. I was taking one pill, then eventually, a pill and a half, now its two a night. I'm pretty comfortable at that. But that's the ONLY time I take it- 6 PM, just so it takes the edge off all my other 'itis type pains, so I can sleep.

But related to the surgery- four weeks. Following the MUA- two weeks.

 

[skigirl]

Let's see, I came home with Dilaud---one every four hours. Took them for two weeks. Then, I got a script for 20 Percosets 5/325. They lasted for two weeks, then got another scipt for an additional twenty--I still have 10 of them. I also had some 50 mg Ultrams which I took for about a week, but then decided that they were contributing to my depression. I really stopped taking any pain meds at eight weeks or so. When my doc asked me what I take for pain at my five month visit, I said, nothing, without even thinking. It was amazing to realize that I really don't have enough pain to take a pain med. Just stiffness in the am--and sometimes a Tylenol or two.

We skied last weekend and I did take an ultram with me, but, I was fine. What a relief, I hate the way pain meds make me feel--and they make me sweat when I exercise. Kelly

 

[loggon]

Only you will know how your body feels. Some of us have a high threshold for pain. I had two prescriptions for the dilaudid 20 each. I only took for a week. So I still have 20. He then gave me trams but I think I only took a couple of them. Have a whole bottle left.

Advil worked just fine for me. But as I said everyone has their on pain level. Just don't let the pain get to be too much because catch up is not a game you want to play with knee or hip pain.

 

[Oldie]

I fully agree with Pat (Loggon), everyone has a different level of pain. I couldn't take any narcotic. in the hospital they gave me one Percoset and I couldn't breathe. So the OS prescribed 100 mg of tramadol, which I took every 4 hours for the first three weeks. Still have a bottle full, but didn't need them anymore, only take Advil at nite and sometimes before PT. Thats it.

 

[Josephine]

I took a Tram and paracetamol combo for (let me check) about 2 months. Sadly after that I had to start taking them again for my left knee!

 

[skigirl]

Jo, that is too bad about your left knee---I am glad that you are going to see someone again. Taking pain meds is not an acceptable way to live---especially when you had such a good result on your first surgery.

My right knee is voicing some of its displeasure about skiing again. But, I am going to get Synvisc shots again, am once again taking gucosamine DS which helped with the pain before and am working the knee muscles to death!!! Also, I have an unloader brace for that knee. I also try to ignore the pain--which does work when I am outside and busy.

I just cannot face having another tkr before at least a year has passed. My os says that I will want one sooner--which makes me want to wait even longer!! Contrary creatrue that I am! Kelly

 

[1jt@atime]

I took vicodin as prescribed for the first two weeks and then tapered down to as needed though it was still everyday. I moved down to about 1-2 a day by about 6 weeks and realized that it was causing me to have problems sleeping. I slept much better once I tapered off the narcotics or at least not take them within 5 hours of going to bed. I think I'll ask for a sleep aid this next time.

 

[shelly52]

I am still in need of 1-2 hydrocodones every 4 hours at 9 weeks. I think it's a sham that MD's nickle and dime our pain med prescriptions. Why do we feel guilty taking what we need and why do refills come in 30-40 tab counts?? I understand the whole illegal market and addiction but jeepers we had our knees cut out and metal drilled into us!!

 

[cindy88fan]

I came home with Hydrocodone. Took that for 3 weeks then I went to only taking it one hour before PT. Now I'm not taking anything unless I do too much then it's Tylenol.