Vicodin no good, other pain meds?

January 2, 2010

Hi all,

I had my TKR on Nov 16th. Before the surgery, I was taking a fairly heavy dose

of vicodin daily for the pain. After being on vicodin for about 1 1/2 yrs, it

really doesn't do much for me anymore. When I came home from the hospital, I was

on oxycontin & dilaudid for the pain. After the first 10 days, I was just on the

dilaudid and that kept the pain pretty much tolerable.

After about 3 1/2 weeks, my OS switched me back to vicodin. I tried it for about

a week & then told him it just wasn't controlling the pain enough. He gave me

another 10 days worth of dilaudid which again made the pain not great but

tolerable.

Now, I've been back on the vicodin (50 - 60 mg daily) for almost a week, and it

just isn't controlling the pain. I'm spending most of my time on the couch. When

I do get up and do something it's a constant battle against the pain until after

maybe 1/2 to 1 hr, I give up, grab the ice, & race (well, hobble quickly!) for

the couch again.

I'm going to call my OS's office on Monday to tell them I need something else

for the pain. My OS said he is going to be gone for awhile so I'm probably going

to have to talk to his assistants who I haven't had the greatest luck with so

far.

I wondering if anyone else has had this issue - a tolerance to vicodin? If so,

what pain killer has worked for you? I don't know if oxycodone is too closely

related to hydrocodone to work for me. I know dilaudid is a pretty hefty drug so

I just as soon not be on that anymore if there is some other alternative. I

should also mention that I cannot take any NSAIDS (anaphlaxtic reaction) so

Advil, Aleve, even aspirin are not an option.

Thanks!

Marcia

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