Re: Re: Driving / Pain Meds Sherrie & Kim....

[Guest guest]

I thought I was becoming a junkie or something, cause I still need mine, and really would prefer to still take them around the clock. I cruised through my first bottle before the insurance would authorize a refill - so we just paid full price - and now that bottle is close to being empty. Talk about panic mode. I've started forcing myself to only take one (I was doing 2 at a time) and I try to stretch out that one that I do take as long as possible. But the nights are so hard I'm starting to dread going to sleep.

First of all, it's hard to get up into bed. I either have to lift my bad leg with my hands, or I can crawl in facing the bed, but then worry I'll dislocate the new joint. Once I'm in I prop myself up and lay on my back. I want to lay on my side but am scared to dislocate (even with the pillows between my legs). During all of this I get so stiff and so sore, and always wake up in pain in the middle of the night. Not to mention, I sweat like crazy when I sleep, but if we have the a/c any lower, or the fan on, I get the shivers which makes my leg muscles cramp up into spasms.

Now - all that being said, during the day I do great!! But still, since I'm almost done with my 2nd bottle of meds, I now have to ask my Dr. for another refill and feel like a junkie or something. Tomorrow I will be 2 weeks post-op. Is this normal?

[Guest guest]

What kind of pain meds are you on and how many are in a bottle. I take 1 before I go to bed and I am good till about 5am but I used to get up at 5 everymornig anyway.I forgot did you do hip or knee? I am sorry your having so much trouble have you talked to your doc about it Sherrie

God bless all our heros

PMSM

LCPL JOSH

India 2nd plt.

Re: Re: Driving / Pain Meds Sherrie & Kim....

I thought I was becoming a junkie or something, cause I still need mine, and really would prefer to still take them around the clock. I cruised through my first bottle before the insurance would authorize a refill - so we just paid full price - and now that bottle is close to being empty. Talk about panic mode. I've started forcing myself to only take one (I was doing 2 at a time) and I try to stretch out that one that I do take as long as possible. But the nights are so hard I'm starting to dread going to sleep.

First of all, it's hard to get up into bed. I either have to lift my bad leg with my hands, or I can crawl in facing the bed, but then worry I'll dislocate the new joint. Once I'm in I prop myself up and lay on my back. I want to lay on my side but am scared to dislocate (even with the pillows between my legs). During all of this I get so stiff and so sore, and always wake up in pain in the middle of the night. Not to mention, I sweat like crazy when I sleep, but if we have the a/c any lower, or the fan on, I get the shivers which makes my leg muscles cramp up into spasms.

Now - all that being said, during the day I do great!! But still, since I'm almost done with my 2nd bottle of meds, I now have to ask my Dr. for another refill and feel like a junkie or something. Tomorrow I will be 2 weeks post-op. Is this normal?

[Guest guest]

blood thinner shots? Oh my I am so glad mines was pill form I dont know if hubby would have given them to me or not?lol

God bless all our heros

PMSM

LCPL JOSH

India 2nd plt.

Re: Driving / Pain Meds Sherrie & Kim....

Hey I still take my pain meds before I do my PT. Just makes me go the extra mile. I don't take them any other time, maybe once in a while if I really over do it during PT. Other than that the Aleve usually does the trick for me. But I still swear by the ice packs after PT, and I use a heating pad for about 20 minutes befor PT. I'm so glad I didn't have to do the shots at home...I am deathly afraid of needles!!!Deb>> I am glad I amnot alone with the pain meds. I had to do the blood thinner > shots and Thursday was my last day.> > The shots were not to bad hubby did then and never once hurt me.> > Talk to you soon.> > Kim>

[Guest guest]

Kellie,

Don't let anyone make you feel like a junkie! I took my Rx pain

meds for 6 weeks before I decided I could get along without

them. When an employee at my OS' office said something negative

about my needing a refill, I reported it to the OS & to the head

receptionist & got an apology.

I don't remember whether you had TKR or THR, but it certainly

seems normal to me to need meds after only 2 weeks. You should

talk to your OS about your concerns, especially about being so

worried about dislocating the joint!

About getting into bed: I sit down on the edge, then bend my

knees (I had RTKR last Nov.) & get my legs up, then lay my head

down (sounds awkward, doesn't it!). Luckily I sleep on the side

of the bed where my unoperated leg is the first in. With a hip,

the rules would be different.

I didn't have to drive while on narcotics, in fact my DH didn't

let me...so I weaned myself off in order to start running around

alone again.

Barbara Ward

Macomb County, Michigan

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Don't try to reduce your medication if you need it at this stage.

I would suggest you need the medication so you continue to do the physio and

the normal movements they want you to do to encourage a good result.

I know you are scared of becoming dependent, but I have seen some research

that suggests that you are more likely to become dependent if you take too

little pain killers.

With my first hip I didn't take pain killers after the morphine drip was

taken out. With the second I am still taking painkillers at times at 23

months.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

Re: Re: Driving / Pain Meds Sherrie &

Kim....

|I thought I was becoming a junkie or something, cause I still need mine,

and really would prefer to still take them around the clock. I cruised

through my first bottle before the insurance would authorize a refill - so

we just paid full price - and now that bottle is close to being empty. Talk

about panic mode. I've started forcing myself to only take one (I was

doing 2 at a time) and I try to stretch out that one that I do take as long

as possible. But the nights are so hard I'm starting to dread going to

sleep.

| First of all, it's hard to get up into bed. I either have to lift my bad

leg with my hands, or I can crawl in facing the bed, but then worry I'll

dislocate the new joint. Once I'm in I prop myself up and lay on my back.

I want to lay on my side but am scared to dislocate (even with the pillows

between my legs). During all of this I get so stiff and so sore, and

always wake up in pain in the middle of the night. Not to mention, I sweat

like crazy when I sleep, but if we have the a/c any lower, or the fan on, I

get the shivers which makes my leg muscles cramp up into spasms.

| Now - all that being said, during the day I do great!! But still, since

I'm almost done with my 2nd bottle of meds, I now have to ask my Dr. for

another refill and feel like a junkie or something. Tomorrow I will be 2

weeks post-op. Is this normal?

|

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[Guest guest]

I know that mom is still using her pain meds 5 weeks out. Not at much. Mostly right before PT and before bed SharonMargaret <zztinau@...> wrote: Don't try to reduce your medication if you need it at this stage.I would suggest you need the medication so you continue to do the physio and the normal movements they want you to do to encourage a good result.I know you are scared of becoming dependent, but I have seen some research that suggests that you are more likely to become dependent if you take too little pain killers.With my first hip I didn't take pain killers after the morphine drip was taken out. With the second I am still taking painkillers at times at 23 months.Aussie MargaretRTHR 1990 revised 2004-----

Original Message ----- From: Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 10:03 PMSubject: Re: Re: Driving / Pain Meds Sherrie & Kim....|I thought I was becoming a junkie or something, cause I still need mine, and really would prefer to still take them around the clock. I cruised through my first bottle before the insurance would authorize a refill - so we just paid full price - and now that bottle is close to being empty. Talk about panic mode. I've started forcing myself to only take one (I was doing 2 at a time) and I try to stretch out that one that I do take as long as possible. But the nights are so hard I'm starting to dread going to sleep.| First of all, it's hard to get up into bed. I either have to lift my bad leg with my hands, or I can crawl in facing the bed, but then worry I'll dislocate the new joint.

Once I'm in I prop myself up and lay on my back. I want to lay on my side but am scared to dislocate (even with the pillows between my legs). During all of this I get so stiff and so sore, and always wake up in pain in the middle of the night. Not to mention, I sweat like crazy when I sleep, but if we have the a/c any lower, or the fan on, I get the shivers which makes my leg muscles cramp up into spasms.| Now - all that being said, during the day I do great!! But still, since I'm almost done with my 2nd bottle of meds, I now have to ask my Dr. for another refill and feel like a junkie or something. Tomorrow I will be 2 weeks post-op. Is this normal?|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.9/382 - Release Date: 4/07/2006Send instant messages to

your online friends http://au.messenger.

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I am in no hurry to give up my pain meds permantly I have cut down but I would hate to go through a night with out them I feel so loony since the tkr I am even taking nerve pills still have no clue what that is about but I can not seem to get back to normal. sherrieSharon <sbratcher@...> wrote: I know that mom is still using her pain meds 5 weeks out. Not at much. Mostly right before PT and before bed SharonMargaret <zztinau@...> wrote: Don't try to reduce your medication if you need it at this stage.I would suggest you need the medication so you continue to do the physio and the normal movements they want you to do to encourage a good result.I know you are scared of becoming dependent, but I have seen some research that suggests that you are more likely to become dependent if you take too little pain killers.With my first hip I didn't take pain killers after the morphine drip was taken out. With the second I am still taking painkillers at times at 23 months.Aussie MargaretRTHR 1990 revised 2004 Re: Re: Driving / Pain Meds Sherrie & Kim....|I thought I was becoming a junkie or something, cause I still need mine,

and really would prefer to still take them around the clock. I cruised through my first bottle before the insurance would authorize a refill - so we just paid full price - and now that bottle is close to being empty. Talk about panic mode. I've started forcing myself to only take one (I was doing 2 at a time) and I try to stretch out that one that I do take as long as possible. But the nights are so hard I'm starting to dread going to sleep.| First of all, it's hard to get up into bed. I either have to lift my bad leg with my hands, or I can crawl in facing the bed, but then worry I'll dislocate the new joint. Once I'm in I prop myself up and lay on my back. I want to lay on my side but am scared to dislocate (even with the pillows between my legs). During all of this I get so stiff and so sore, and always wake up in pain in the middle of the night. Not to mention, I sweat like crazy when I sleep, but if we have the

a/c any lower, or the fan on, I get the shivers which makes my leg muscles cramp up into spasms.| Now - all that being said, during the day I do great!! But still, since I'm almost done with my 2nd bottle of meds, I now have to ask my Dr. for another refill and feel like a junkie or something. Tomorrow I will be 2 weeks post-op. Is this normal?|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.9/382 - Release Date: 4/07/2006Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.

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I had my left hip done. Total replacement. I'm on Lortab? Whatever that is. I finally did take 2 together today, after we got home from a 4th of july picnic where my hip was really beginning to throb. Once I took those 2 pills, I felt like I didn't even have a limp!

[Guest guest]

I'm taking "Lortab" which I think is like Tylenol w/ Codene? I also have some pain meds my primary care physician had given me prior to my surgery that I've fallen back on while waiting for my Lortab prescription to be refilled. That one is called "Tramadol."

I've gone back to taking them more often. It makes a WORLD of difference sleep-wise.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/16/2006 2:09:21 P.M. Central Standard Time, nina5555@... writes:

Hey ,I am almost 3 weeks after my bilateral metal on metal hips and I am still doing codein. At first I did 6 a day then 4 and now I am trying 2 a day. I walk a lot around the block (5-6 times a day) and that helps a lot because it warms up and rebuilds muscles and helps to realline the lower back and pelvis and I can not do that if I am in pain! I cannot rebuild my allignment if I limp and the body has to go in some kind of pain preventing posture while walking.During the day I lay on my belly and that is the best for me. Now, at night - in the hospital I had the greatest problems and always woke up sore but at home I have a sort of tempurpedic mattress form WalMart and a latex topper which I ordered online and I sleep like on a cloud. I have no discomfort in the morning or during the night.I also sweat a lot which is the body's way to get rid of toxins (i.e. drugs) so in a way its a good thing.When I left the hospital in Belgium I made sure I took 25 pills with me and they asked me if i was going to sell them in the US...did I care what they thought? - take a guess!!!Take careMarinabi DeSmet 6/25/6

Hi Marina, is the mattress you're talking about just to lay on top of your regular mattress? I sweat an awful lot also, never thought about it being a good thing .

[Guest guest]

I just think of the fact that maybe it contributes to losing a little bit of weight?

We have the "memory" form mattress, and I'm always a little bit sore when I wake up...I think I just sleep in one position for too long or something.

I'm actually down to two pills a day - for the same reason - I can't be as active if I am all sore. But once I take them, get up, and start moving, I don't need any more at all during my day.

I'm impressed at how many times you're going around the block? Do you use your cane?

kelly (3 and a half weeks out)