RE: Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR night pain?

[Guest guest]

Get a prescription for Darvocet. It's a pain killer but usually puts ya out too. It' still use mine on occasion just as a sleeping pill. Take 2 as they are only 100 mg each.

I have chronic insomnia but will not use em nightly like

I did when I still had constant pain a few weeks after

surgery.

Sherry

Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR night pain?

I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in 8 weeks. My knee pain wakes me up all night long. I started out with Motrin and Vicodin but they did not help. Recently tried morphine slow release but the tablets would not dissolve and stayed in my stomach. When they did the 30mg does did not releive the pain enough to allow any improvement in my sleep patterns.Perhaps others have found meds that work for this night time sleeping problem and can pass on their findings? My surgeon says that I have abnormal nerves that could be inflamed or triggered into RSD so he is waiting on further revision surgery. I have had lots of back and other surgery. This knee pain has been difficult to clear up.Al Welch

[Guest guest]

Sometimes using an antidepressant with pain meds helps.

I was sceptical at first, but they did seem to help.

Your body has been through a lot. If your doctor suggests antidepressants

don't take offence, try them out.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR

night pain?

|I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in 8 weeks. My knee

| pain wakes me up all night long. I started out with Motrin and Vicodin

| but they did not help. Recently tried morphine slow release but the

| tablets would not dissolve and stayed in my stomach. When they did the

| 30mg does did not releive the pain enough to allow any improvement in

| my sleep patterns.

|

| Perhaps others have found meds that work for this night time sleeping

| problem and can pass on their findings? My surgeon says that I have

| abnormal nerves that could be inflamed or triggered into RSD so he is

| waiting on further revision surgery. I have had lots of back and other

| surgery. This knee pain has been difficult to clear up.

|

| Al Welch

Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.

[Guest guest]

Al wrote " I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in

8

weeks. My knee pain wakes me up all night long. "

Hi Al

I'm on morphine slow release, but on a higher dose (50mg,

twice daily) - I'm small (only 51 kg) so maybe you need to

increase your dose? If the slow release version isn't

working, can you be switched to immediate release instead? I

hope things improve for you soon..

[Guest guest]

Hi Al,

I can't answer the 'back' & other surgery experiences...But I'm

willing to tackle the TKR & Sleep Pattern Problem...

I am going to be the bearer of bad news, with very good intentions..

After a TKR, your sleep will be interrupted every coupla hours for a

month or Two....It is just a Fact and part of the recovery process.

Upgrading your Meds won't help....Over Doing the Meds won't help!

The Meds are not able to give you 6 -8 hours of sleep...Nothing will!

What will help, is to realize that your knee will wake you up every

coupla hours...(It's what knees do)...So go to bed with either a

pillow or towel between your knees,,,,When you wake up at whatever

your hourly wake-up is, don't reach for more Meds....Roll over,

adjust your pillow/towel, make yourself as comfortable as you can &

expect to be woken up again by your knee in another hour or so...By

week 12, the pillow/towel will be your best friend....

I am now 7 months post-op...I've long since downgraded myself from

the 'pillow' to a 'towel'....But I still take my towel to bed(Kinda

like Linus from the Peanuts Cartoon with his Security Blanket)...

When you wake up in the morning and are bravely facing a new day of

rehab & other pains...Well, that's the time to make sure that your

Meds are properly adjusted...

Best wishes ( & keep in mind that I could be wrong)

Bob

>

> I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in 8 weeks. My

knee

> pain wakes me up all night long. I started out with Motrin and

Vicodin

> but they did not help. Recently tried morphine slow release but

the

> tablets would not dissolve and stayed in my stomach. When they did

the

> 30mg does did not releive the pain enough to allow any improvement

in

> my sleep patterns.

>

> Perhaps others have found meds that work for this night time

sleeping

> problem and can pass on their findings? My surgeon says that I

have

> abnormal nerves that could be inflamed or triggered into RSD so he

is

> waiting on further revision surgery. I have had lots of back and

other

> surgery. This knee pain has been difficult to clear up.

>

> Al Welch

>

[Guest guest]

 

 

P.S: I should have explained that my pain is not

post-surgery, but pre-surgery (damaged hip wilth large cyst

inside joint) pain.

----- Original Message Follows -----

> Al wrote " I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight

> in 8

> weeks. My knee pain wakes me up all night long. "

>

>

> Hi Al

> I'm on morphine slow release, but on a higher dose (50mg,

> twice daily) - I'm small (only 51 kg) so maybe you need to

> increase your dose? If the slow release version isn't

> working, can you be switched to immediate release instead?

> I hope things improve for you soon..

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

The cyst was removed right?

\

Sherry

Fwd: Re: Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR night pain?

P.S: I should have explained that my pain is notpost-surgery, but pre-surgery (damaged hip wilth large cystinside joint) pain.----- Original Message Follows -----> Al wrote "I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight> in 8> weeks. My knee pain wakes me up all night long." > > > Hi Al> I'm on morphine slow release, but on a higher dose (50mg,> twice daily) - I'm small (only 51 kg) so maybe you need to> increase your dose? If the slow release version isn't> working, can you be switched to immediate release instead?> I hope things improve for you soon..> > > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Sherry

I see an orthopaedic surgeon next week. As I have joint

damage I'm expecting to have some sort of surgery, probably

a THR.

----- Original Message Follows -----

> The cyst was removed right?

[Guest guest]

I'll probably have my surgery next week also. I

should find out tomorrow hopefully. Good luck

to us.

Sherry

Re: Re: Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR night pain?

Hi SherryI see an orthopaedic surgeon next week. As I have jointdamage I'm expecting to have some sort of surgery, probablya THR. ----- Original Message Follows -----> The cyst was removed right?

[Guest guest]

Yes very good luck to you!!

On Sep 27, 2006, at 11:48 PM, S.A.M. wrote:

> I'll probably have my surgery next week also.  I

> should find out tomorrow hopefully.  Good luck

> to us.

>  

> Sherry

>> Re: Re: Pain meds versus sleeping

>> meds for TKR night pain?

>>

>>

>> Hi Sherry

>> I see an orthopaedic surgeon next week. As I have joint

>> damage I'm expecting to have some sort of surgery, probably

>> a THR.

>>

>>

>>

>> ----- Original Message Follows -----

>> > The cyst was removed right?

>>

>

The cross is the only ladder high enough to touch Heaven's threshold.

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for you input on this. I would have to second your opinion in general. Last night for the first time I took Lunesta for which I just go the Rx from my primary care doc. Instead of waking at every hour on the hour I woke at Midnight and then again a 4:30AM. The 4:30AM cycle the knee was pretty much in high gear of pain and stiffness. Walking to the bathroom and back to bed helps a little. I would have to say the sleeping med (Lunesta) works better than anything else so far. I agree that the pain meds do not seem to help. Taking them or not I still wake up on the same time cycles all night long.

Al Welch

From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of know_jackSent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 4:02 PMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR night pain?

Hi Al,I can't answer the 'back' & other surgery experiences...But I'm willing to tackle the TKR & Sleep Pattern Problem...I am going to be the bearer of bad news, with very good intentions..After a TKR, your sleep will be interrupted every coupla hours for a month or Two....It is just a Fact and part of the recovery process.Upgrading your Meds won't help....Over Doing the Meds won't help!The Meds are not able to give you 6 -8 hours of sleep...Nothing will!What will help, is to realize that your knee will wake you up every coupla hours...(It's what knees do)...So go to bed with either a pillow or towel between your knees,,,,When you wake up at whatever your hourly wake-up is, don't reach for more Meds....Roll over, adjust your pillow/towel, make yourself as comfortable as you can & expect to be woken up again by your knee in another hour or so...By week 12, the pillow/towel will be your best friend....I am now 7 months post-op...I've long since downgraded myself from the 'pillow' to a 'towel'....But I still take my towel to bed(Kinda like Linus from the Peanuts Cartoon with his Security Blanket)...When you wake up in the morning and are bravely facing a new day of rehab & other pains...Well, that's the time to make sure that your Meds are properly adjusted...Best wishes ( & keep in mind that I could be wrong)Bob>> I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in 8 weeks. My knee > pain wakes me up all night long. I started out with Motrin and Vicodin > but they did not help. Recently tried morphine slow release but the > tablets would not dissolve and stayed in my stomach. When they did the > 30mg does did not releive the pain enough to allow any improvement in > my sleep patterns.> > Perhaps others have found meds that work for this night time sleeping > problem and can pass on their findings? My surgeon says that I have > abnormal nerves that could be inflamed or triggered into RSD so he is > waiting on further revision surgery. I have had lots of back and other > surgery. This knee pain has been difficult to clear up.> > Al Welch>

[Guest guest]

I don't know whether this would work, since what seems to be waking you up is the pain, but have you tried Ambien?

I have serious insomnia (ever since I gave birth in 1971 and got my sleep pattern disrupted) and in 1993 finally gave up & started using Ambien. What a relief! I slept like a dead person all night. Unfortunately, after a number of years, Ambien started giving me sleep apnea, so my doc switched me to Trazodone. For a long time Trazodone also made me sleep like a dead person. But recently my sleep has been more like it was before the Ambien. So my doc added Ambien to the Trazodone (I didn't think that was such a good idea, but so far I haven't died). I only use the Ambien when I didn't sleep well the night before, and, once again, I sleep like the dead. I don't know what it does to you biochemically, but it's pretty powerful. I now need less sleep per night, because I sleep so soundly.

Just thought I'd throw that out.

Ann S.

Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR night pain?

I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in 8 weeks. My knee pain wakes me up all night long. I started out with Motrin and Vicodin but they did not help. Recently tried morphine slow release but the tablets would not dissolve and stayed in my stomach. When they did the 30mg does did not releive the pain enough to allow any improvement in my sleep patterns.Perhaps others have found meds that work for this night time sleeping problem and can pass on their findings? My surgeon says that I have abnormal nerves that could be inflamed or triggered into RSD so he is waiting on further revision surgery. I have had lots of back and other surgery. This knee pain has been difficult to clear up.Al Welch

[Guest guest]

Well I didn't take any sleeping pills last night and I woke up almost

every hour and m knee wasn't hurting

On Sep 28, 2006, at 9:08 AM, Al Welch wrote:

> Hi Bob,

>  

> Thanks for you input on this.  I would have to second your opinion in

> general.  Last night for the first time I took Lunesta for which I

> just go the Rx from my primary care doc.  Instead of waking at every

> hour on the hour I woke at Midnight and then again a 4:30AM.  The

> 4:30AM cycle the knee was pretty much in high gear of pain and

> stiffness.  Walking to the bathroom and back to bed helps a little.  I

> would have to say the sleeping med (Lunesta) works better than

> anything else so far.  I agree that the pain meds do not seem to

> help.  Taking them or not I still wake up on the same time cycles all

> night long.

>  

> Al Welch

>

> From: Joint Replacement

> [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of

> know_jack

> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 4:02 PM

> Joint Replacement

> Subject: Re: Pain meds versus sleeping meds

> for TKR night pain?

>

>

> Hi Al,

>

> I can't answer the 'back' & other surgery experiences...But I'm

> willing to tackle the TKR & Sleep Pattern Problem...

>

> I am going to be the bearer of bad news, with very good intentions..

>

> After a TKR, your sleep will be interrupted every coupla hours for a

> month or Two....It is just a Fact and part of the recovery process.

>

> Upgrading your Meds won't help....Over Doing the Meds won't help!

> The Meds are not able to give you 6 -8 hours of sleep...Nothing will!

>

> What will help, is to realize that your knee will wake you up every

> coupla hours...(It's what knees do)...So go to bed with either a

> pillow or towel between your knees,,,,When you wake up at whatever

> your hourly wake-up is, don't reach for more Meds....Roll over,

> adjust your pillow/towel, make yourself as comfortable as you can &

> expect to be woken up again by your knee in another hour or so...By

> week 12, the pillow/towel will be your best friend....

>

> I am now 7 months post-op...I've long since downgraded myself from

> the 'pillow' to a 'towel'....But I still take my towel to bed(Kinda

> like Linus from the Peanuts Cartoon with his Security Blanket)...

>

> When you wake up in the morning and are bravely facing a new day of

> rehab & other pains...Well, that's the time to make sure that your

> Meds are properly adjusted...

>

> Best wishes ( & keep in mind that I could be wrong)

>

> Bob

>

>

> >

> > I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in 8 weeks. My

> knee

> > pain wakes me up all night long. I started out with Motrin and

> Vicodin

> > but they did not help. Recently tried morphine slow release but

> the

> > tablets would not dissolve and stayed in my stomach. When they did

> the

> > 30mg does did not releive the pain enough to allow any improvement

> in

> > my sleep patterns.

> >

> > Perhaps others have found meds that work for this night time

> sleeping

> > problem and can pass on their findings? My surgeon says that I

> have

> > abnormal nerves that could be inflamed or triggered into RSD so he

> is

> > waiting on further revision surgery. I have had lots of back and

> other

> > surgery. This knee pain has been difficult to clear up.

> >

> > Al Welch

> >

>

>

>

" If God brings you to it He will bring you through it. "

[Guest guest]

I think you should look at resurfacing, cost you nothing to investigate and may

change your

life!

I can help you find doctors experienced in this surgery who will give free email

consultations

of your x-rays.

Best Wishes

jane in Wales

-- In Joint Replacement , wjkh@... wrote:

>

>  

>  

> P.S: I should have explained that my pain is not

> post-surgery, but pre-surgery (damaged hip wilth large cyst

> inside joint) pain.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann S.

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. The Lunesta that I just started last night is a competitor to Ambien. They claim to be the only sleep aid approved for long term use. I did sleep until Midnight and then until 4:30AM which was an improvement over any prior night since TKR.

I thank you for the suggestion. Perhaps Lunesta might be another choice for you to try?

The Morphine drug maker called me today to discuss my problems with their pill. They mainly suggested drinking lots of water to wash the pill out of the stomach and into the gut.

Al Welch

From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Ann Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 11:17 AMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR night pain?

I don't know whether this would work, since what seems to be waking you up is the pain, but have you tried Ambien?

I have serious insomnia (ever since I gave birth in 1971 and got my sleep pattern disrupted) and in 1993 finally gave up & started using Ambien. What a relief! I slept like a dead person all night. Unfortunately, after a number of years, Ambien started giving me sleep apnea, so my doc switched me to Trazodone. For a long time Trazodone also made me sleep like a dead person. But recently my sleep has been more like it was before the Ambien. So my doc added Ambien to the Trazodone (I didn't think that was such a good idea, but so far I haven't died). I only use the Ambien when I didn't sleep well the night before, and, once again, I sleep like the dead. I don't know what it does to you biochemically, but it's pretty powerful. I now need less sleep per night, because I sleep so soundly.

Just thought I'd throw that out.

Ann S.

Pain meds versus sleeping meds for TKR night pain?

I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in 8 weeks. My knee pain wakes me up all night long. I started out with Motrin and Vicodin but they did not help. Recently tried morphine slow release but the tablets would not dissolve and stayed in my stomach. When they did the 30mg does did not releive the pain enough to allow any improvement in my sleep patterns.Perhaps others have found meds that work for this night time sleeping problem and can pass on their findings? My surgeon says that I have abnormal nerves that could be inflamed or triggered into RSD so he is waiting on further revision surgery. I have had lots of back and other surgery. This knee pain has been difficult to clear up.Al Welch

[Guest guest]

Hey Al,

I'm glad the Lunesta is working for you! & that you are finally

getting 2 or 4 hours of sleep when you go to bed...Sleep, oh blessed

sleep!!!!...However,,,Lunesta & other Meds will wear off after a week

or two,,,,Elaine is right when she says that everyone has to find

their 'comfort zone'..I Luv that phrase..Comfort Zone...

Anywhew....Meds are Meds( & everyone has to figure them out for

themselves) but a pillow can always be trusted...And so my Friend,

find your Comfort Zone....

Bob

> >

> > I have not slept more than 1 1/2 hours straight in 8 weeks. My

> knee

> > pain wakes me up all night long. I started out with Motrin and

> Vicodin

> > but they did not help. Recently tried morphine slow release but

> the

> > tablets would not dissolve and stayed in my stomach. When they

did

> the

> > 30mg does did not releive the pain enough to allow any

improvement

> in

> > my sleep patterns.

> >

> > Perhaps others have found meds that work for this night time

> sleeping

> > problem and can pass on their findings? My surgeon says that I

> have

> > abnormal nerves that could be inflamed or triggered into RSD so

he

> is

> > waiting on further revision surgery. I have had lots of back and

> other

> > surgery. This knee pain has been difficult to clear up.

> >

> > Al Welch

> >

>