MasonQ
09-13-2008, 03:49 PM
What the word on icing after PTTD surgery?
I'm two days out and they really didn't give me any ice in the hospital, even tho I was in enough pain to stay an extra night.
Does the cold get thru the splint/ace thing and the cast afterwards?
Please give me lots of advice and methods! I'm hurting quite a
bit!http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif
Thanks!
M
I'm two days out and they really didn't give me any ice in the hospital, even tho I was in enough pain to stay an extra night.
Does the cold get thru the splint/ace thing and the cast afterwards?
Please give me lots of advice and methods! I'm hurting quite a
bit!http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif
Thanks!
M
Sponsor
hurts2walk
09-13-2008, 04:04 PM
Are you elevating the foot? I have kept mine elevated 99% of the time and when I have it "down" I feel the pain. I was told in the recovery room to ice at the back of the knee. This has helped (anyone out there know why?).
Hang in there...I am 1 week post op.
Hang in there...I am 1 week post op.
sunny77
09-13-2008, 05:01 PM
I stayed overnight after one of my surgeries, but had to ask for ice while there and only was sent home with one small refillable ice pack. They expect you to have ice packs on hand for this...you'll be good friends with them for the next few months! You definitely want to keep icing, even if you can't feel it through the splint. It is likely doing a little more than you think. As far as the one behind your knee, there are nerves there that run down into the foot so numbing things up there helps your foot. Elevate it anytime you're not up for some reason. And take your pain meds at regular intervals, even if you're not having pain. It's harder to play catch up to pain than it is to stay ahead of it.
lmrich
09-13-2008, 05:01 PM
I agree - elevate all the time. I have tried to use a 10lb bag of ice as suggested on this board. Oddly enough, that makes my heel hurt - possibly because it is not a soft surface. I have not noticed that the icing is working - my toes are not cold. If you are in considerable pain, talk to you doctor about pain medication. I had my surgery 10 days ago and take my pain medication as directed; I still have acute pain at night. I have taken benadryll to help me sleep. I have also discovered that peace in the house (kids not fighting, husband being helpful) keeps my pain in control. Good luck - did you get a block? I still took pain meds with the block.
Linda
Linda
MasonQ
09-13-2008, 06:32 PM
Thanks for help!
I had heard about the behind-the-knee thing and will do it.
Yes, the hospital and my dr were both apathetic about icing. But, hey, it's swelling, right? So Ice it!! I will try whatever tricks you all post!
I'm also curious about everyone's pain "cocktails". They all seem different. Should I start a separate thread for that tho?
btw - this board has been such a lifeline. Answered so many of my questions and given me great perspective. Much thanks to you all! I would insert a smiley but I don't know how and miiiiight be a little too drugged up to learn!
TY again!
I had heard about the behind-the-knee thing and will do it.
Yes, the hospital and my dr were both apathetic about icing. But, hey, it's swelling, right? So Ice it!! I will try whatever tricks you all post!
I'm also curious about everyone's pain "cocktails". They all seem different. Should I start a separate thread for that tho?
btw - this board has been such a lifeline. Answered so many of my questions and given me great perspective. Much thanks to you all! I would insert a smiley but I don't know how and miiiiight be a little too drugged up to learn!
TY again!
smile2006
09-14-2008, 08:29 AM
Yes, I was the one whose doctor wanted two ten pounds bags of ice one under the heel and one on top of the ankle. You kind of have to "smush" the ice around to make a little indentation for the heel to rest in or, at least initally, the heel does hurt a bit. I noticed at first it didn't really feel that cool using this method but as the swelling went down and feeling came back it really did seem to work (my foot and toes felt cool through the cast). I never tried behind the knee but it seems like many have mentioned that one so whatever works is great! Ice is the best thing the first couple weeks, I found I didn't need it much after about 3 weeks but elevating was still crucial. Good luck.
MasonQ
09-14-2008, 01:10 PM
10# bags! Sounds unwieldy!! Did you do that on top of the wedge? And you said wrapped in a t-shirt or pillow case or something?
I didn't answer the question about the boot block -
Yes! I requested that based on the positive things said on this great board! And how it takes the edge off the first day or so. After my surg, my doc said he would come back in the morning and take it out, then see if I could go oral meds only (no morph) before I went home. Groovy.... I was out of surg at 3-ish.
About 1:30am, my foot started killing me. So I asked for and received my first dose of Percocet. Night goes on and I'm hitting the morph pump every 6minutes. I'm thinking... hey - thought that block was going to be a better deal. Eventually, I'm in enough pain I had to get a blast of morphine, plus the 6 minute deal, plus I'm begging for Perc.
Soooo.... the boot block actually came out right after surgery - NOT the next morning. Soooooo.... I should've started my Perc evy 4 hours right then. But since they make you freakin' BEG for meds and I didn't KNOW the block was out.... well, you can imagine. I got way behind the pain and had to spend an extra nite in the hospital.
They eventually changed the perc (which did NOTHING) to Norco (better), with some Phenegren (sleepy!) added a Valium for the spasms (OUCH!) and when I started going Spider Monkey, I got some Tordol? This was after I made them call a doc at 5am. Morphine made me loopy but did zero for the pain. Total sleep first two nites: 3 hours.
Came home on Day 3 and started icing. (They basically laughed at me in the hosp about ice).
Now that I'm home, I feel like the pain is under control. I'm also much more mobile and less "out of it" than I expected. Altho I am sleeping sooo much! But I can get to the bathroom by myself which is huge!
All in all, I still think I had a good experience based on how I feel Day 3. I am always amazed at the lack of communication at the hospital level. It also depends on the nurse. Had one nurse that would fudge the pain meds by 30 minutes or so, the next one was a Nazi that made me call and STILL had to wait on her for 15. Man! Who knew 15 minutes was such a long time!
I have a few questions but I'm going to start a new thread for them.
As always, I can't say enough about how helpful this board has been. Information is power! Thanks all!
I didn't answer the question about the boot block -
Yes! I requested that based on the positive things said on this great board! And how it takes the edge off the first day or so. After my surg, my doc said he would come back in the morning and take it out, then see if I could go oral meds only (no morph) before I went home. Groovy.... I was out of surg at 3-ish.
About 1:30am, my foot started killing me. So I asked for and received my first dose of Percocet. Night goes on and I'm hitting the morph pump every 6minutes. I'm thinking... hey - thought that block was going to be a better deal. Eventually, I'm in enough pain I had to get a blast of morphine, plus the 6 minute deal, plus I'm begging for Perc.
Soooo.... the boot block actually came out right after surgery - NOT the next morning. Soooooo.... I should've started my Perc evy 4 hours right then. But since they make you freakin' BEG for meds and I didn't KNOW the block was out.... well, you can imagine. I got way behind the pain and had to spend an extra nite in the hospital.
They eventually changed the perc (which did NOTHING) to Norco (better), with some Phenegren (sleepy!) added a Valium for the spasms (OUCH!) and when I started going Spider Monkey, I got some Tordol? This was after I made them call a doc at 5am. Morphine made me loopy but did zero for the pain. Total sleep first two nites: 3 hours.
Came home on Day 3 and started icing. (They basically laughed at me in the hosp about ice).
Now that I'm home, I feel like the pain is under control. I'm also much more mobile and less "out of it" than I expected. Altho I am sleeping sooo much! But I can get to the bathroom by myself which is huge!
All in all, I still think I had a good experience based on how I feel Day 3. I am always amazed at the lack of communication at the hospital level. It also depends on the nurse. Had one nurse that would fudge the pain meds by 30 minutes or so, the next one was a Nazi that made me call and STILL had to wait on her for 15. Man! Who knew 15 minutes was such a long time!
I have a few questions but I'm going to start a new thread for them.
As always, I can't say enough about how helpful this board has been. Information is power! Thanks all!
smile2006
09-14-2008, 06:50 PM
My husband carried the bags to and from the freezer for me of course. I couldn't have handled this on my own. Yes, I put the bags inside a t-shirt to collect some condensation. I didn't have a wedge but rather used a big down comforter folded up and some pillows to elevate and ice. Like I said this worked well for me but might not be for everyone. The ice lasted weeks without melting down too far. It did take up a lot of room in the freezer though!!!
I also had morphine in the hospital (I was there for 23 hour observation). Once the block wore off I had only the morphine until I was discharged. I too found that morphine did little more than make me sleepy. It also gave me a dry and pasty mouth and made food lack taste.
I also had morphine in the hospital (I was there for 23 hour observation). Once the block wore off I had only the morphine until I was discharged. I too found that morphine did little more than make me sleepy. It also gave me a dry and pasty mouth and made food lack taste.