Why so much pain??

[schoust]

Day Seven Post Op. I have a decent tolerance for pain mind you but either there is some sort of problem or I am simply overdoing the issue? I have a therapist that started yesterday and will be coming three times a week. Well IMHO he might be pushing me a bit to much? He has asked be to do all of the normal exercises and some that are not. He also wants me to use the machine 8hr's a day? Seems a bit much for somone who just got off of the pain pump and further more just got out of Hospital?? I could be dead wrong but is this to much for day seven? We pushed Rom to a true 65 degrees and now when I sit up and put my foot on the floor I get some Earth shattering Pain. Do not want to hurt anything and ruin what looks like a real nice job....Thanks Ralph

 

[JackieS]

I can't tell you anything about the machine. I'm assuming you mean CPM, but my doctor is one of the many these days who doesn't use it. However, at seven days out of surgery, you're going to be in pain. Just about everything you try to do with it at that point is really going to hurt -- you've had major, major surgery! Make sure you keep up with your pain meds and do as much as you can with PT and your exercises. In about another week you'll still have pain, but you'll see how much more you can do each day.

The pain you describe when putting your foot on the floor reminds me of my own within that time frame. Now I'm walking more than a mile at a time without pain, just some heat and later aching a bit. But don't let yourself get all panicky at the point you're at. The more you think something is wrong, the more you might talk yourself into believing it and feeling more pain.

Meds, meds, meds ... and think of something you're doing a bit better each day. A positive attitude can make a world of difference even when you're in pain.

--Jackie LTKR 5/14/08

 

[hess]

I agree with Jackie. True, there is a lot of pain initially, but it will get better, trust us!!!! It sounds like you're about right on with all of the exercises. It may seem like a lot to ask this early, but they do get you moving ASAP. As for the CPM machine, I think I was at about 6-8 hours a day. Keep your head up, and it WILL get better!!!

Good luck,
Hess

P.S Don't cheat yourself on the pain meds!!!

 

[schoust]

I think your more than likely right but I still believe that there might be a bit more than meets the eye here? You see I was in surgery longer than normal because of the massive amount of scar tissue I had from my accident also I lost one of the smaller arteries in the crushing accident. My therapist seems to think that this could be what is going on? Apparently when you have this type of massive trauma the body sends a lot of blood to the spot and if it can't get back right? I did see a vascular Guy before going under and he told me there would be no problem as long as the Popliteal artery was alive and kicking and it is. Well maybe tomorrow I will do less and see how it goes? Oh and Hess I would be embarrassed to tell you how much meds I am on........... Ralph

 

[JenniferG]

When my son was young and I was a new mom he would get sick and I would hem and haw if it was serious enough to go to the Dr or should I ride it out. My mother would always tell me, "Jennifer if it does nothing else but give you peace of mind then you've done the right thing. Better to go and be told there is nothing seriously wrong." She was right (about that at least).
For the record I haven't killed my son (yet - He's 19, might still happen. lol)

 

[Linda2]

Oh and Hess I would be embarrassed to tell you how much meds I am on........... Ralph

Don't worry about the meds it takes to get you through if you're cleared with your doctor. My first week after being home, I had to alternate 4mg dilaudid and 2 Tylenol 3's every two hours. Normally, you need to have 4-6 hours between meds, but I was in too much pain and my internist put me on that regimen and I didn't even feel foggy. Don't anyone do that without your doctor's explicit instructions and approval! Now at 3 and half weeks out, I still alternate the same drugs, but I am religious about the 4-6 hour interval. Since you had so much trouble before, you have probably had to have pain medicine in the past. Sometimes that makes you more resistant. Don't think about it as "polluting your body" right now. Think of your pain meds as the lever that will help you move the world. When the healing is further along, the pain will begin to abate, and you will take fewer drugs.

If I said anything inaccurate, Jo, please feel free to enlighten me--and Ralph as well. lol

 

[Josephine]

No - you said it perfectly. In fact, you all have left me with nothing to add!!

 

[ttlncsc]

Hello Ralph,

I understand your issues with pain. I was a med surg rep and for some crazy reason, I thought I'd walk in the hospital and walk out...piece of cake.....wrong.
This is rated as one of the most painful surgeries out there. Virtually everything is cut and then sewn back and used to stabilize the mechanical parts of the knee. I thought I had a very high pain tolerance. Whatever the reason, I had to take my max dose of pain meds for the first couple of weeks. I slowly reduced them and now 9 weeks out, am down to Ibuprofen 3 times per day and 1 percocet at night for help with sleeping.

There are many components to pain and the body's response is to protect itself with swelling to help cushion and also this limits ROM. I too thought that the in home PT was trying to be too aggressive. My first MD's visit was great. He told me that some days when we push we pay for it the next day. He wanted me to call the PT and tell him to work on pain relief for my afternoon session. The PT completely understood it and did some massage and pulling that really made me comfortable for that day. Told me to limit my CPM time to no more than 2 1/2 hours at a time. I had done 4 hours times 2 the previous day. Unfortunately, I was one of those folks that couldn't sleep with my leg in the "sled."

Ralph, a previous poster said patience...it will take all you have. Sometimes we look at others progress and then beat ourselves up. If you go to an outpatient PT facility, you'll see folks that are way ahead of you and others that wish they were where you are. This has been a most humbling experience for me. That's why I said celebrate small gains. It will come. We all have little bumps in the road and ultimately will come up with a plan that fits us.

Good luck, Tom

 

[schoust]

Thanks guy's please keep pushing me along I need it! As far as patients go's if I could get some sleep I would more than likely have some patients but so far I have been averaging about 1.5hrs a night. Clearly this is not enough and I think I will call the Doc today and ask him if I can take some Ambien on top of this wicked Narc cocktail? I am afraid I might finally fall asleep but will I wake up? That's the Million dollar question.............Peace Ralph

 

[JackieS]

Ralph --

Think positive thoughts ... really. My own recovery was delayed due to a DVT and a Baker's Cyst which was adding pain and limiting ROM. But each day I tried to think of what I was doing better. For example, higher straight leg lifts, that sort of thing. The surgery is painful and the rehab is rough. You knew that going in. But it tends to be more painful and rough when you start worrying about all of the "what if's." Call your OS, tell him your concerns. But from what you're posting here -- you're pretty much in line with many at that one week point. Actually, you're further along than I was at that time.

--Jackie LTKR 5/14/08

 

[schoust]

Well it seems my pain is not in the normal place that it usually resides. I just finished up with my Pt and he feels that where I am having my pain is not normal at all? He is going to make some consults and talk with me Monday but he seems to feel that the rom is limited do to the fact that that I had all that previous damage? Hmm as as a matter of fact I only had 60% going in. He just might have somthing there??

 

[Josephine]

Sounds very logical!