Need Help with Pain

[Mayberry]

PAIN that word is used so lightly by most people. I am a 45 yr old woman and I am 10 days out from surgery. Started PT on day 6. I have never felt so much pain in my life. I am a Volunteer Firefighter and E.M.T in my town of 600. I still have severe swelling in my leg from my toes to my thigh. I had less pain before surgery and as for right now I would NEVER do this again. I havent found anything that relieves my pain have you? Looking for RELIEF. Mayberry- small town Nebraska.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Re: 7 days out and hurting

Mayberry,
I can relate!!!! If I had had the Left knee done first. I never would have gone back for the other knee!!! No Way No How!!!!!! And if you find that magic pill that really does get rid of the pain. Not jus dull it for awhile please share OK? ( I live in a very small town too! 200 and my hubby is the Volunteer Fire Chief.) Our Fire Dept. was the first one at the Boy Scout Camp last year. That was a very sad night for all of us.

^i^

 

[Judles]

Re: 7 days out and hurting

Oh NO, Mayberry! I bet if you give yourself 2
Full weeks & post again, you will have turned
The corner on pain! Be patient, hope you
Are taking your meds BEF0RE your pain breakouts?
You'll get plenty of encouragement & support
Here.......Welcome!!!

 

[backbay38]

Re: 7 days out and hurting

Mayberry my husband has a client who said if you had asked him at 3 months if he did the right thing (TKR) he would have said no way. But at 5 months he's back to his active lifestyle, and loving it. He's about 50 I believe. So for everyone it gets better -- some sooner and some later but just gets the pain under control (Jamie's comments) and then focus on your goals. The time will go by quickly and you really will be a new person. I think just about everyone posting here will agree. I hope it improves quickly for you!!!

 

[Mayberry]

Hi, My name is Mayberry( its a nickname because I live in a town of about 600 people). I am a 45 year old female. I'm a bartender and a volunteer Firefighter and E.M.T. here in my town. I had total right knee replacement 11 days ago. I have had 2 scopes done on the same knee for minor repairs over the last 20 years. I must admit I was totally unprepared for the degree of pain I am dealing with. My leg has been the size of an elephant trunk. Thank goodness it is not quite that big anymore. I have done everything I have been told to do, I have a CPM machine I use throughout the day, I have the Iceman machine and I do my exercises sent home with me. I have started PT outside of my home. I can't explain the pain I am in I can't sleep my appetite sucks because I am in so much pain. I am taking so many different pain killers that I'm surprised I haven't overdosed, they don't take the pain away only take the edge off. I call them my cocktail.

Here is a list of the meds I take:

IBUPROFEN 800MG TID
HYDROCODONE 5/550 1-2 TABS q 4-6HRS
OXYCODONE 5MG 1 TAB q 4HRS
OXYCOTIN 15MG 2 TABS q 12 HOURS

REGULAR MEDS INCLUDE;

ZOLOFT 200MG ONCE A DAY
KLONIPIN 1MG TID
XANAX .25 1 tab q 4hrs prn.
FERISOL 45MG ONCE DAILY

I don't know how much longer I can deal with this pain before I just lose it. I can't even describe the pain and it's intensity. I want my life back!!!!. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Sincerly, Mayberry

 

[Jamie]

Mayberry.....am I understanding this correctly that you are taking ALL of these meds on the schedule you have listed here each and every day??? Hydrocodone PLUS Oxycodone PLUS Oxycotin??? Please post a response soon as I am concerned about it if that's true!

 

[Jamie]

I was doing some research on some of these meds. I can't find Ferisol....what is that?

 

[Nursepair]

Mayberry, welcome, and we can relete to the pain and swelling, but that sounds a bit more than average. Your concoction sounds frightening if you are talking them all? Could be your meds just don't work for you. Many of us have had to try different ones to find the ones that work. Have you called your surgeon? You might want to let him know, may be able to change your pain meds. He may also suggest an ultra sound just to rule out a DVT? This is just a thought, may not be necessary at all, but please call him or your GP at least ASAP.

Are you getting plenty of rest as well as using the CPM machine? And make sure you elevate your leg above your heart while icing and /or resting. Sometimes walking around can give you some relief, that often helped me, especially when I couldn't sleep. Have you tried using a body pillow to sleep at night? Drape your leg along it, making sure your foot is supported too, keep it elevated.


It is an extremely painful operation and some surgeons don't warn you about that. I thought it would be a bit like having my cartillage removed but a bit more painful after for a while!!...LOL...It can take anything up to 2 years to fully recover. My cousin is back to normal after only 3 months, I am still having issues with swelling and ROM at 15 months!!But further down the road the majority of us have never re gretted having this done. We are now pain free and getting our lives back.

I found this Forum in desperation as I thought there must be something wrong with me. Thought I was beeing a baby!! The friends I found here (almost 15 months ago) were truly the best!! I was getting very depressed before I found them and hence found out that many of them had the same problems. We all heal in different ways. Jo, our wonderful moderator and "Mother Hen" had her knee replaced just over a week ago and is doing marvellously well.

Anyway, this forum should be used to vent, cry, ask questions and also have many laughs (when you feel better). The people here will encourage, listen and advise as best they can. It is a wonderful supportive "club".

Here's hoping you get some pain relief very soon. ((((HUGS))))) Sue

 

[Nursepair]

Jamie, Ferrisol sounds like it would be Iron?

 

[Josephine]

I would think it's iron too, Sue. And I agree with you also about the cocktail of drugs. It's insane to put someone on such a concoction. You need to have the entire thing reassessed and give you something different altogether. I've often found patients for whom morphine and such just doesn't work at all. And then we found that something as simple as paracetomol (Tylenol) was more than adequate.

Ring your surgeon or your own doctor and ask them to reassess the whole thing.

 

[Judles]

Yikes!!! All THAT .Mayberry. & you're STILL
In pain?????? Definitely call your doctor
For a reassesment!

 

[dovcar2000]

Hi...I was on morhpine only.....5 mg every 4 hrs and I continuously had my leg wrapped in ice gel packs...I think I kept it so numb that that alone helped my pain. The first two weeks were pure HELL...that is all I can say in regards to pain but suddenly on the 14th day it became bearable pain and I thought......."I WILL LIVE NOW"
It does get better...thinking of you ..hugs Carol

 

[grclark50]

Mayberry,

I seem to be the exception in this forum but I have experienced very little pain relatively speaking from my 16 Mar LTKR and I think it is because I follow a regimen by the clock. I have maintained a 4-5 hr pain medication other than while asleep, then I cut it in half. I sleep a lot or watch TV and elevate my knee/leg in bed. I exercise and do PT til I hurt then I quit and put on the ice machine, I am at 118'. I definately don't overdo anything physical. I walk as much as possible and now ride the upright bike. I have not used crutches or walkers outside the hospital and have been walking without aid since I came home, yesterday day I tilled the garden with no ill effect but I am still taking pain meds. I quit doing anything physical as soon as I feel the pain or it begins to swell. My suggestion is take it in moderation. The worse pain I have is these damn socks.

Hang in there,
GRC

 

[Mayberry]

Jaimie.Talked to my P.A. this morning. We stopped the Oxi's and I am just doing the Hydrocodone and using Ibuprophen. My head is alot clearer. Still not sleeping, lots of pain, I have stayed off of it today only getting up to use restroom. Using CPM and Iceman. I have noticed that some of the swelling has gone down. Hope it stays that way when I move around tomorrow. I have a question, I don't have staples I have stitches. When can I take a quick tub bath. Afraid of falling in shower.

 

[Jamie]

It will be up to your surgeon to tell you when, but I'm guessing he will not clear any soaking in warm water (even for a short period of time) for a while. Your incision needs to be completely healed (sealed). You don't want to risk opening it back up again!! Do you know when you will be having your stitches out? You could ask then.

Do you have a friend or family that could be there the first few times you shower? That will help you.

Is yours a walk-in shower or the kind with a tub? If it's the tub kind, they sell grab bars that attach with giant suction cups to the edge of the tub so you have something to hold on to for stability.

Get a shower chair if at all possible. That would help you too. Hopefully you have someone who can assist you with this. If all else fails, can your walker fit in there? They are made of aluminum and should not rust if they get wet.

 

[Josephine]

I wouldn't use the suction cup one in a situation where you might need to put all your weight on it. I have one of those and I managed to pull it off the wall without too much effort at all! Plus there is a caveat on the packet.

I'd suggest a bath shelf, one like this has been issued to me. I can sit on the end and use the leg lifter to get my leg into the bath. Haven't had the confidence to stand up from it yet as it's a tad too low, I don't have a grab rail and I need an anti-slip mat in the bath. All of those are on their way.

Plus you can cover your dressings with a waterproof sleeve and thus keep it dry.

 

[Jamie]

That's a MUCH better idea, Jo. Thanks! I didn't know about the limitations on the suction cup grab bars so I'm glad you told me. But this bath shelf looks great.

 

[Jamie]

Jaimie.Talked to my P.A. this morning. We stopped the Oxi's and I am just doing the Hydrocodone and using Ibuprophen. My head is alot clearer. Still not sleeping, lots of pain, I have stayed off of it today only getting up to use restroom. Using CPM and Iceman. I have noticed that some of the swelling has gone down. Hope it stays that way when I move around tomorrow.

Mayberry, I am so happy that you talked to your doctor. And I'm glad that the swelling is down. Keep doing the elevation and icing as well as pain meds on schedule and I think you'll continue to see improvement. You may have just been doing too much too soon.

 

[Judles]

And PLEASE be careful!!!!!

 

[rungout]

I feel so sorry for you...and I know its very painful. No they don't tell you how painful it is do they? I am still in pain after 7 weeks. Swelling is minimal but I've had some other pains too from my back. I am so envious of my husband that he after 3 years post TKR can run and do pretty much anything. It took him a year though to fully recover and its funny that he doesn't remember being in pain like I am now. I think maybe like child birth, you forget about it.
I have been taking darvocet and a muscle relaxer and trying to get off the pain meds because they have assoc. effects that i don't like. I've tried some natural pain relievers too. Like tumeric and Certo with grape juice. I figure I have enough arthritis in other places that I should try everything I can to keep from feeling any pain. I also need to keep up with my glucosamine/chondroitin too. I have also been using Cetyl M rub but am ordering some other natural stuff for joint pain from Spring Time. You can also ask your doc. about an antihistimine to help with swelling. I'm not a doc but I know that swelling is a histimine reaction. And its the active ingredient in sleep aids. I know if you break a capsule of it in your mouth it numbs your tongue.Good luck
Rungout