TKR Round 2 of the Bionic Bernie

[Jozilla]

Hi Bernie. If you can call your GP in the morning or pharmacist. Maybe he can just increase your dosage. Make sure you tell him you are still in pain! Take care!!


RTKR - 9th December, 2013

 

[Jozilla]

I have asked our Supremo member Nana Moon 27 to stop by and see if she can help!


RTKR - 9th December, 2013

 

[cafecortado]

Very frustrating conversation with the G.P. who doesn't want to increase the Dihydrocodeine and gave me a lecture on becoming dependant and was wondering why I wasn't improving yet! I know this may not be a major issue on this forum, but I'd love it if someone could advise as I feel all alone apart from @Jozilla popping by.


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[Nana moon 27]

Hi Bernie. I'm really sorry to see the trouble you had at the hospital regarding your pain medication. What an absolute disgrace. You wouldn't treat animals like that!

My advice is for you to contact Josephine. Just put the @ sign immediately in front of her name, and ask your question. She is brilliant!

I am still on morphine and I hate it but it's the only pain med that works. I'm having some issues still with my knee, I've been off work since January.

Next Tuesday I will be finally meeting the OS who did my op. He was a stand in and didn't introduce himself before or after my op back in January . I have no idea what he is going to be like. I've been paying for private physio that I cannot afford.

Anyway Bernie, I'd you want some distraction and a few giggles, click in the link at the bottom of the page and click woohoo I'm starting to feel better which is my thread. Between us it's nicknamed Nana's coffee stop. We talk about knees, hospitals, hobbies our lives the lot. It brings a lot of enjoyment to a lot of people. Please feel free to join in or comment or press a like, informative or friendly button. You are more than welcome. Be warned there are 100+ pages.

Love Nana moon 27 xxx

 

[Jozilla]

That doctor sounds like he went to school here in the US. Nana moon 27 will stop by as soon as she can. I use am iPhone and sometimes my tags don't work. I am at work but will try from my pc here when I get a chance. @kneeper or @Pumpkln can you help?


RTKR - 9th December, 2013

 

[kneeper]

You had major surgery less than a month ago. Of course you're still in pain.

 

[cafecortado]

Hi @nanamoon27 thank you very much for your kind comments, it's much appreciated. I'll tag Josephine, I wasn't sure if I should bother her as I'm new here so wasn't sure of the procedure and I know how busy she is. I've actually had a few sneaky looks at your thread and enjoyed the banter but felt shy to butt in so thanks for the invite I'm sorry you are having such ongoing problems and truly hope you get the help to get sorted soon. Take care, Bernie x


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[Jozilla]

Nana moon's thread has become the coffee shop! So many of us pop on and out. Please join in you will find lots of fun, support and friendship! Josephine is here to help when you need it! Please ask her advice!


RTKR - 9th December, 2013

 

[Nana moon 27]

Hi @cafecortado, Josephine will not mind one bit. She is only too glad to give advice. You may have to wait a while as she is very busy on here and she has a job outside the forum. She is very knowledgeable and I love her no nonsense, sensible approach.

Goodnight xxx love Nana moon 27 xxx

 

[bottomshollow]

@cafecortado, Bernie, lets just tag @Josephine for her advice on what to do about getting proper pain meds you were discussing in post #23.

 

[Josephine]

Bernie, if you have a question or want advice, you can tag me any time you like! That's what I'm here for!

I've also added you surgery dates to your signature so you don't have to keep putting them in your posts.
And I've given you the UK flag and a gender! All I nee now is your date of birth! If you would be so kind!

Very frustrating conversation with the G.P. who doesn't want to increase the Dihydrocodeine and gave me a lecture on becoming dependant and was wondering why I wasn't improving yet! I know this may not be a major issue on this forum

I am as frustrated as you about this as it's actually almost THE most common problem. These GPs really need a lecture on pain management! Any medical person with half a brain cell should know we need pain meds for at least 8-10 weeks and probably longer! Did you press the point that you are still in pain and only 4 weeks out?

And actually dihydrocodeine isn't that efficient a painkiller for knees. Tramadol is much better.

Can you see another doctor at your surgery? You really have to beg and plead and tell them how much pain you are in and that it's stopping you doing your exercises.

Tell them that if you don't get a good outcome from this surgery, it will be their fault for not providing you with adequate pain management! (use those exact words!)

 

[cafecortado]

Hi @Josephine, thank you so much for your reply. I was hesitant to tag you as I can see how busy you are darting around everyone's thread and I appreciate you stopping by. I've changed my gender to female ;) and added my D.O.B.
The doctor I spoke to was a luck of the draw urgent telephone call one who doesn't know me. However even when I told him my husband is the manager of a charity running a drug addict & alcoholic recovery program I still got the lecture! I did go into great detail of my pain in my knee, calf (which the physio said was still very bruised) and back. I asked for for Tramadol as I'd had that on discharge but he refused. I then asked if I could up the Dihydrocodeine....he refused! I will book a doctors appointment for next week, hopefully with my usual G.P as my back pain from the latest TKR is also getting worse, however pre op when I spoke to my usual G.P to get some pain meds ready for post op, she also didn't want to prescribe Tramadol so I think I'm in for a fight!... I will memorise your words and go armed with the support from you & others on here. Thank you.

 

[Josephine]

Good luck! I feel for you. I know how ghastly this post op pain can be.

 

[Nana moon 27]

I totally agree about GP's and pain relief. Nightmare x Josephine's absolutely right in what she says they really do need a lecture or even better training in pain management. Im so sorry you are going through this x

 

[Jozilla]

I am so glad Josephine came and advised you what to say. I don't believe in anyone suffering when they don't have to. The government here in US has made it so tough on the doctors I was actually shocked when I did not have a problem. Thinking of you Bernie. We care. (((Hugs)))


RTKR - 9th December, 2013

 

[cafecortado]

Still in pain, hoping for more sleep tonight as last night was a wash out. It's a bank holiday in the U.K on Monday so I'll ring the doctor on Tuesday to try to get an appointment to discuss pain management. Spent the day resting, elevating & icing. I feel that my progress is slow with not much improvement in movement and pain & swelling not decreasing much. Ho hum...sorry for the pity party. Night all x


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[Nana moon 27]

Oh Bernie I'm so sorry for your pain. I hope that somehow you can get some rest. All I can do in that situation is play Candy Crush or something, or keep checking in on here and supporting others or having a laugh on the limerick site in the social room. They're hilarious. Xxx

 

[Nana moon 27]

Hi @cafecortado just realised you've had BOTH knees done this year, wow!!! My other one needs doing but I've said it'll drop off first before I go through this again. No, I'm only joking, I will eventually get it done but they're monitoring it at the moment. I'm due to have it X-rayed again in September to check the rate of deterioration x once it's bone on bone, I'll get it done then. At least I know what to expect next time x

 

[Jozilla]

Hi Bernie. I am getting my second knee done ten months apart. They better have my pain meds ready! Be sure you update us when you call your GP.

 

[cafecortado]

Hi @cafecortado just realised you've had BOTH knees done this year, wow!!! My other one needs doing but I've said it'll drop off first before I go through this again. No, I'm only joking, I will eventually get it done but they're monitoring it at the moment. I'm due to have it X-rayed again in September to check the rate of deterioration x once it's bone on bone, I'll get it done then. At least I know what to expect next time x

Hi @Nanamoon27, yes I've had problems with both knees for well over 10 years and had exhausted all other options. By last summer I was unable to hardly walk so went back to the doctors and had another X-ray. It showed bone on bone in both knees, I hadn't really realised how bad it had got as my "normal" had changed so much and I'd just accepted I'd have to wait as I was only early 50's.
Anyway after a referral to the O.S it all happened quite quickly and I was asked which knee I wanted to do first as they were both equally as bad on X-ray! I then had to delay a bit as I'd got a trip for the charity I run in Brazil already booked for October and my daughter getting married in January. So basically I got the first done straight after her wedding!
I only wish I'd known about this forum then! I do wonder if waiting until my knees were so bad (I was signed off sick before the surgery due to pain & being unable to walk, apart from around the house) is why I'm having such pain issues, so maybe don't wait too long!! It's such a balancing act isn't it! If it helps, like everyone says, both knees and their recoveries have been different, so hopefully the problems you are having now, won't happen with the second. Also my surgeon, suggested getting the second done as soon as possible, in my case 10 weeks, as the un operated knee would be hindering the recovery of the operated one......and no surgeon is going to like that are they? ;) thanks again for your kind words. X


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014