Knee surgery update, fretting about med refills (sorry, kind of long) UPDATED

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version

on 3/13/13 2:09 pm, edited 3/14/13 3:07 am - OH

I am getting around the house pretty well using the walker, and can bear most of my weight on the "bad" leg if i am just standing, but flexing the knee is still very limited and extremely painful. I spent a day at the house (with Gus) and used crutches for the stairs to the kitchen after the first time.  My carpeted stairs seem MUCH narrower than the wooden ones they had me practice on at the hospital and going down them with the walker folded up was pretty scary!  The swelling is variable, not surprisingly, but the ice packs do help some.  Gus launched himself at me two days ago and landed right on the front of both knees (I was sitting down eating a tuna sandwich... One of his favorites), so that caused a pain and swelling spike.

The muscle pain from the tourniquet is mostly gone, so I am grateful for that.  Having better use of my thigh muscles is a plus.   When I first stand up, though, no matter how long I have been sitting or lying down, it is like there is a flood of pain to the entire knee area (small sharp pains and then almost a burning sensation) that REALLY hurts.  The home health care nurse said it is from blood and fluid flowing into the knee when you stand, which sort of makes sense.  It is quite intense, though, and makes me worry about the condition of the veins in and around my knee (since the valves in some veins have been shot since my original DVT episode in 1979).  Anyone know anything about this?  Anyone else experienced it??

The pain is less than it was in the hospital, but is still significant, especially after PT exercises, in the morning, and if i am up and around a lot.I used the online "My Chart" application to request a "refill" on the oxycodone.  The original script was 1-2 pills every 4 hours as needed for pain and was for 40 pills.  Well, at 2 pills each dose (which is what I was taking in the hospital and was struggling with being in a lot of pain the final hour) that would be 20 doses, and at 5 doses per day (skipping middle of the night dose), that is just 4 days worth.  I was taking 2 at each dose from Friday night until Monday, when I started dropping most of the doses to 1, but still taking them every 4 hours and taking 2 early morning (I have been waking up in pain at 4:30am or so and one pill just doesn't do it for that level of pain), and  am down to only 5 pills left. I think I have been judicious in my doses, especially considering that I am only 9 days post-op, but I still hesitated to request a refill.  I always worry that they will think i am being a weenie about the pain (but, damn, this was a knee replacement where they cut bones and drilled holes into bones!) or am drug seeking (although I cannot imagine how they could think that at 9 days out).  I don't even know if they can electronically refill it (although I filled the original one at the hospital pharmacy) since it is a narcotic, but I requested it anyway.  We can drive to the surgeon's office to pick up a new script if that is what it takes.

i am planning to go home (with Gus) on Saturday.  I think by then I will be able to handle the stairs and most other things.  I have not yet figured out how to carry a plate of food with a walker or crutches, though... So I guess I will eat anything that cannot be put in a cup or carried in a plastic bag at the kitchen counter.  It is worth it to be able to sleep in my own bed, though.  I really miss my nice pillowtop mattress and my own LaZBoy, etc.. I am thankful for my mom's help, of course, but really want to go home.

i have been struggling to eat enough protein, but have been drinking Isopure smoothies and the tangerine Cytomax protein water, so that is helping a lot. 

Mostly, I am glad that the surgery is over.  many people have said that the first two weeks were the worst, so I am trying to bear that in mind.  My first home health PT session is tomorrow afternoon, so we shall see how that goes. I also have a SECOND nurse coming tomorrow at noon.  One came Monday, asked a ton of questions, took BP, temp, heart rate, looked at incision (glued and covered with plastic that they told me the surgeon will remove on Monday). I didn't understand why that was necessary, let alone ANOTHER visit.  (It WILL be the last one.)

Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

Amanda M.
on 3/13/13 2:27 pm
RNY on 01/18/13
Thanks for the update on how youre doing. I am glad your pain is decreasing, although I wi**** would lessen even more for you.

Hope these first two weeks pass quickly so you can get to feeling better soon!
          
LouLouAmbrosia
on 3/13/13 2:40 pm - OH
If your script isn't going to last until Monday,p when you see your surgeon, I would have no worries or problem requesting a refill. Knee replacement and the pain with it is the most significant pain I've ever had in my life. You continue to be in my thoughts. Oh, as for carrying things... My mom sewed a skirt type thing with pockets on it that I tied to my walker. I kept my phone, tv remote, pain meds, bottle of water, notebook to write down times of meds and exercises, and intensity of pain (was having trouble keeping it straight in those first few weeks). It didn't make all foods easy to carry, but did help some. As an alternative, you could throw your stuff in any small bag with handles o carry on crutches or slung on the walker!

Height:  5' 2"      HW: 322 (7/31/12)     SW: 292 (10/31/12)     Current:  220 (3/20/13)
GOAL WEIGHT: 140

    

    
Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version

on 3/13/13 10:14 pm - OH

Yeah, I have a bag for things than can go in a bag, and that has worked well, but it is hard to put a plate of grilled chicken and green beans in a bag, LOL.  The only thing I can think is to it them in a Tupperware or similar bowl with a lid and carry dinner that way.


Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

Joanna C.
on 3/13/13 2:44 pm
Glad to see that your progress is in the right direction. As to the med refill, yes you will probably need to pickup a new paper script. Don't be afraid to call in the a.m. and push them. Your body will heal faster if you are not in so much pain. As to getting up the stairs and getting the walker up with you. Maybe call around to your local second hand stores and see if they have a used walker you can buy and keep one upstairs and one down stairs?
Take care and thanks for the update.

Joanna
         
poet_kelly
on 3/13/13 7:06 pm - OH

Usually in order for insurance to pay for home health care, including PT, you have to be considered in need of skilled nursing care, which means a home health nurse has to visit periodically.

I always worry about asking for pain meds too but really, sending someone home with just four days worth of pain meds after a knee replacement seems... in adequate to me.  They can call in a script for narcotics for you - my back specialist has called in Vicodin for me several times.  I live 90 minutes from his office and didn't want to drive that far just to pick up a script.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

Silverbelle69
on 3/13/13 7:54 pm - Midlothian, VA
RNY on 06/05/12

Sounds like you are handling this very well, physically and mentally!!!    Best wishes for a speedy recovery.  You can do this.

        
                         

    

    
Tammy S.
on 3/13/13 8:15 pm - DE
Sorry to hear you are in so much pain. You will have to pick up a paper script. Oxycodone is a class 1 narcotic which can't be called in. What dose are you on. Maybe they could increase your milligram so you could take fewer per day but control your pain level better. I hope things get easier for you soon and Gus stops trying to steal your tuna!! Thinking of you....

    

    
godzilla
on 3/13/13 8:18 pm - Israel
I would have though you would be given script for two weeks time.
OxyContin which I take only at night causes me to wake with migraine so I alternate with Tramadol if I am in pain.
In August 2006 I had Ankle Fusion-the worst pain you can imagine as bones are cut as you had with your knee.
RnY and PS are easy compared to bone surgery.
Also,narcotics can cause constipation and drowsiness.
As for the walker -a cloth bag tied on as in a pillow case sewn into a bag for items.
Carrying food in cup or plate-unfortunately I have no suggestion.
See about upping your Ca if not a problem
In your vitamin regime and look for Ca foods.
Avoid/limit colas (some also say any caffeine).
Healing and Health.
Mikimi in Israel
karenp8
on 3/13/13 8:38 pm - Brighton, IL

When I had my replacement I put food in bags or little covered bowls and put them in a bag to carry them which I then tied on the walker. Don't worry about asking for more pain meds. You just had major surgery. I remember being in the most pain in the morning and on first standing. Praying for the pain to be a bit less each day and for you to be able to go home where you can get more comfortable!

   

       

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