Pain Med Help!!

[shutterbug]

Help!!! I have been taking vicodin since 1-08. I had my TKR in 11-08. I am still taking vicodin. 2-4 10/325a day. The question I have is how long isthe norm? I have started working out at the gym.. 40-60min on bike and eliptical
machine 3-5 days a week . I feel fine after my workout but, but both knees sing at night and the morning after. I want to go off them. How ave you all weened off them? I am a large man 345lbs and 6'4. The doc did not want to do my tkr because of my size. Could my size have something to do with the pain also? I have already lost 10 lbs and hope to keep going. My knee is still swollen , and still is quite achey when it rains.

sorry for rambeling on....
Suggestions please!!

chuck

 

[Josephine]

Is that the 8th Jan (09) or Jan 08 and Nov 08 or what?

Weening is reducing gradually in a planned way, but you need to start taking something else like Tylenol to replace it.

When you say 'sing' can you explain what you mean by that? Restless, aching, hurting? What?

 

[Texas]

Welcome Chuck I guess that would be my questions is it 08-09 . If you are still in pain though I would continue. Jo I do have a question. What is the estimated time that you should stop /wean off taking RX pain medicine and say ok this shouldnt be hurting that bad and just take OTC med. To say ok I need to see someonebecause its still hurting or can somone with a replacement be on RX pain killers for a long long time..I know recovery could take a yr but does the pain stay enought for pain killers or just OTC medicine...I am also asking for myself and hope others. .I hope this helps you as well Chuck..Good luck to you. And congradulations on loosing weight.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Hello Chuck,
So you had a Knee Replacement in Nov of 08, and have been on Vicodin sinace Jan of 08
Wow I would wonder about the meds myself Chuck. Most OS like you to be off of pain meds as soon as possible. (Sometimes even before you are out of pain!! LOL) But then you still have a knee that is not replaced that is giving you pain right? May I ask what knee was replaced? And how bad the other knee is?? I have had my Right knee replaced then I had my Left knee done? Are you having your next knee done soon?
And I am still having pain with the replacements can not seen to get the Rom where it needs to be. So very day things hurt for me to do.
And with the weight that you are losing I would think that too would be helpful with painful knee's.
Chuck my knees ache what do yours do?

 

[shutterbug]

I have been taking them since jan 08. I had a RTKR 11-08. My left knee is really the problem. I tore the cartalige in 2-05. Some days I can go without the pain meds, and some I take between 2-4 in a day. The Dr. has not addressed my left knee yet. When I hurt my knee in 05 all I had was therapy in lieu of surg. The pain in my left knee is almost as bad as my right knee before surgery I might try taking 1/2 vicodin with 2 motrin for a while then try skipping the vicodin all togeather. The pain wakes me up in the middle of the night, so I need something. I see Dr in aug so I will bring it yo his attn.
chuck

 

[Motherofmany]

Chuck,

That's a long time to go in pain. Why hasn't he addressed your left knee yet? If it were me, I would make an appointment sooner.

I too had my RTKR on 3/31, then on 4/28 tore the meniscus in the left knee. Went back to the OS within a few days to address it. Am having a MUA on the right knee Monday to get better ROM, so we can come back and do the LTKR later this month, if all goes well. My left knee was worse in the beginning until I blew out my right knee in 2/09. That's why we did it first.

If your OS is difficult to talk too, make a list of questions to take with you. Some are in such a hurry, they want to do a quick look and leave. Don't let him intimidate you and leave you with unanswered questions and in pain. If he still doesn't listen, find a new OS!

It's my understanding that the pain meds are to assist us in healing. Seems like your surgeon is using them as a bandaid, and not addressing the real issue.

Keep up the good work on the weight loss, it will sure help. I know it has for me.

Blessings,

 

[JudyS]

Chuck
I have been on painkillers as long as you have. Mine involve different surgeries. Hip, back, neck, knee. Now I am taking percocet once a day for back pain although maybe once a week for my knee. Mine are prescribed now by a pain management doc.
Is your OS just refilling your prescription without you even seeing him???? I do find that unusual. Do bring it up at your next apt. Seeing you are concerned about this now, can you make the apt sooner?

Good job with working out and weight loss that can only help. :thmb:
As far as the norm for pain meds, there really is not any. I've had 2 different surgeons and both have totally different ideas on how long you should take them. My spine doc thinks you should stop taking them really quuickly. He is always weaning me off when I am still in lots of pain. My hip/knee surgeon wants to keep me out of pain as long as it takes. Months after surgery.

Do you ice your knees after exercise? That may help with the swelling and pain as well.

There's my 2 cents!!!!
judy

 

[petuniafish]

Boy Chuck I really relate to the Vicoden problem. But you need to try to get off as soon as you can.

It is a proven fact that the longer you are on any kind of narcotic the more pain you feel. Any type of narcotic pain medication, including Vicoden, activates certain pain sensing neurons in the brain causing MORE, increased pain. My OS told me this several times and I read up on it online and found it to be true. Yikes, did not want more pain. I was still on Vicoden 8 weeks after my surgery.

I also have epilepsy, and take 3 different "brain meds" that interact even more with any narcotic so I had a lot of motivation to get off. They caused mini-seizures everytime I pulled back just a little.

My primary care physician at first told me to just continue taking them as long as I was having pain, then changed his mind. He put me on a very slow weaning program. It took almost eight weeks. I am still on 1.25 mg/day but will be completely off that in four days. I used a pill splitter to cut as close to that dose as possible. You may not have to wean down so crazily, but I needed to because of the seizures. Bet you could wean down and be off of it in 4-8 weeks, and be on another pain med that would help.

My advice 1) Consult your primary care physician as he knows your WHOLE body and medical history. Talk about weaning down and getting a pain med that will eventually help somewhat with all body pain 2) Continue losing weight- so easy for people to say but so hard to accomplish. You're doing great btw! 3) Research and find a physical therapist who is good.... who can put you on an exercise regime that is good for you knees and body, but does not make your leg "sing" at nite- or "sing" less. There are GOOD physical therapists and so-so ones as you probably already know. 4) Use that ice pack and elevate those legs. Dah-um! 40-60 minutes on the elliptical and bike just may be WAY too much for you.

I have so much less pain and can do so much more since being nearly OFF the vicoden and doing all of the above too. Long term pain causes depression and it's a vicious circle. Vicoden relieves emotional pain/depression so it never lets us go if we don't make a concerted effort to stop.

I truly wish you well Chuck. My guess is that you are doing more than your body can withstand. You need to take better care of yourself with the ice etc. and ramp down a bit on the exercise. But get some professional guidance about all this. It's just what's worked for me, but your doctor knows best.
Best to you......nancy:flwr: