soccermama
05-23-2003, 10:28 PM
Hi all-
I am new and also found this board by surfing, It is so helpful to just know I am not the only one living with chronic pain! Alittle history, I have a BAD right Knee, had DR tell me Tuesday I needed a TKR ( total knee Replacement) I am 40 by days... he said my knee looks like a 80 yr old women's! UGH- No wonder I am always in pain. I am getting a 2nd opinion in June to see within the next 6-9 months I will forgo this TKR.I am saddened I can barely enjoy what I used to, like running and soccer.I am a spectator now!
I have been taking either 5/500 vicodin or 7.5 ones for months and months... plus vioxx. I am getting no relieve and am getting tolerate to the meds fast.
I have one DR that prescribes Percocet but not real often, they seem to help better, is there a big difference? It is awful because the Ortho DRs will not prescribe narc's they just want to cut you up, I have to go to Internal med DRs to just get meds to make my life liveable right now.
Also is there any one out there ~40 that is facing this dilema with the TKR? Thanks for listening :)
I am new and also found this board by surfing, It is so helpful to just know I am not the only one living with chronic pain! Alittle history, I have a BAD right Knee, had DR tell me Tuesday I needed a TKR ( total knee Replacement) I am 40 by days... he said my knee looks like a 80 yr old women's! UGH- No wonder I am always in pain. I am getting a 2nd opinion in June to see within the next 6-9 months I will forgo this TKR.I am saddened I can barely enjoy what I used to, like running and soccer.I am a spectator now!
I have been taking either 5/500 vicodin or 7.5 ones for months and months... plus vioxx. I am getting no relieve and am getting tolerate to the meds fast.
I have one DR that prescribes Percocet but not real often, they seem to help better, is there a big difference? It is awful because the Ortho DRs will not prescribe narc's they just want to cut you up, I have to go to Internal med DRs to just get meds to make my life liveable right now.
Also is there any one out there ~40 that is facing this dilema with the TKR? Thanks for listening :)
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chumbo
05-23-2003, 11:05 PM
soccermamma, vicodin, has hydrocodone in it, and percocet has oxycodone in it, The oxycodone is somewhat stronger. Also hydro is schedule lll, and oxy, is schedule ll. I never got much relief from vicodin myself. I have been taking kadian, which is a time release morphine. Alot of PM Dr's are prescribing long-acting meds for chronic pain, and use short acting for BT pain.
Anyways welcome to healthboards, there is a wealth of info here!!
Good Luck!
Chumbo
Anyways welcome to healthboards, there is a wealth of info here!!
Good Luck!
Chumbo
soccermama
05-23-2003, 11:19 PM
Chumbo-
Thanks for the info, what is a PM? Is it a Pain Management DR?
If I prolong the surgery, I may need to go to something stronger, because I am still in a lot of pain and the Vicodin doesn't usually cut it, and sometimes the perc's don't either... I have bone on bone in my right knee and just walking, sitting I am in pain!! UGH .This is a great place to get some REAL answers. ~Mindy
Thanks for the info, what is a PM? Is it a Pain Management DR?
If I prolong the surgery, I may need to go to something stronger, because I am still in a lot of pain and the Vicodin doesn't usually cut it, and sometimes the perc's don't either... I have bone on bone in my right knee and just walking, sitting I am in pain!! UGH .This is a great place to get some REAL answers. ~Mindy
Jack Beanstalk
05-24-2003, 12:08 AM
Howdy Soccermaw !
Chumbo hit it close with the med question and,yes,PM is pain mgmnt.I,m pretty sure you are not gonna get the relief you need by going to any other docs.They are all just too Opiodphobic.Pain Docs are usually not bothered by Rxing Controlled Drugs like Opiates and Amphetamines.They sometime Rx the 2 together to offset the terrible drowsiness that can come from the Opiates.My doc has me on Methadone,which is superior in pain relief but has very sleepy side-effects.He also gives me Dexedrine to keep me alert in order to drive safely and function well at work.If it were not for him,I would not be able to work.I can tell you this much:you may be hard-pressed to find a dr. that will give you a long-acting opiate for knee pain.Most of them don,t seem to think the nerves and receptors in the knee would render such meds.I know better,I,ve had 4 knee surgeries and they hurt AWFUL!!It may help you to do a search for Pain Medicine Physicians in your area.Call around,ask around,talk to a few Pharmacists.They know who treats pain.Nice to have you here,hope you find a good doc!Jack Beanstalk
Chumbo hit it close with the med question and,yes,PM is pain mgmnt.I,m pretty sure you are not gonna get the relief you need by going to any other docs.They are all just too Opiodphobic.Pain Docs are usually not bothered by Rxing Controlled Drugs like Opiates and Amphetamines.They sometime Rx the 2 together to offset the terrible drowsiness that can come from the Opiates.My doc has me on Methadone,which is superior in pain relief but has very sleepy side-effects.He also gives me Dexedrine to keep me alert in order to drive safely and function well at work.If it were not for him,I would not be able to work.I can tell you this much:you may be hard-pressed to find a dr. that will give you a long-acting opiate for knee pain.Most of them don,t seem to think the nerves and receptors in the knee would render such meds.I know better,I,ve had 4 knee surgeries and they hurt AWFUL!!It may help you to do a search for Pain Medicine Physicians in your area.Call around,ask around,talk to a few Pharmacists.They know who treats pain.Nice to have you here,hope you find a good doc!Jack Beanstalk
NaeNae
05-24-2003, 12:37 AM
Hi Soccermama!
I am somewhat new to pain myself, have had back issues since the end of December and have been through the rigamaroo with pain meds. However, I wanted to give you some encouragement regarding your TKR. My mom had it donw the end of March (she's 50 years old) and she recovered wonderfully! She said it wasn't as bad as she was expecting. She just said she made sure she had pain meds, and didn't wait until she was in pain. Don't be afraid to ask for them. They also gave her an IV of Morphine and let her control it. She says at times she cranked it up! She said don't overdo it, but make sure you do your physical therapy, it helps so much. Just a few days after her surgery she was taking small walks down the street and back just to keep it moving.
Good luck!
Renee
I am somewhat new to pain myself, have had back issues since the end of December and have been through the rigamaroo with pain meds. However, I wanted to give you some encouragement regarding your TKR. My mom had it donw the end of March (she's 50 years old) and she recovered wonderfully! She said it wasn't as bad as she was expecting. She just said she made sure she had pain meds, and didn't wait until she was in pain. Don't be afraid to ask for them. They also gave her an IV of Morphine and let her control it. She says at times she cranked it up! She said don't overdo it, but make sure you do your physical therapy, it helps so much. Just a few days after her surgery she was taking small walks down the street and back just to keep it moving.
Good luck!
Renee
Autumn Angel
05-24-2003, 12:21 PM
Hi Soccermama...Oxycodone (percocet) is stronger than Vicodin and Vicodin has more tylenol which isnt good. OXY IR is percocet without the tylenol I would try for that it comes in 5mg and 10mg. I am on the 10mg and it works wonderful. Most of our worries nowdays are the tylenol in the painkillers. And OXY IR has none they do not make Hydrocodone without tylenol. And be careful with the Vioxx I was on it for quite awhile before I was put on narcotics and it ate my stomach. I wish you the best.
Autumn.
Autumn.
soccermama
05-24-2003, 02:39 PM
thanks for all the great replies, each one has given me avenues to research!
I did not relize that tylenol was that bad, but it makes since, as one of my DRs orders blood work every quarter to check kidney/liver.
I will mention to him about the percocet without the tylenol.
I met a guy at work today and he had a TKR and he said it was worth it! I had a really rough night sleeping last night... ;( I took the vioxx and the 7.5/750 tylenol and it doesn't help to much anymore. I am on my feet at least 8-10 hours at work and walking all over and cringing! it is so disheartning.Chronic pain is rough.
Jack, what kind of Knee oper's have you encountered?
Renee and Autumn thanks for the replies, I honestly feel a load lifted, by being able to talk about this type of stuff... some people don't understand at all, in here they do. Enjoy your day all! ~~ Mindy
I did not relize that tylenol was that bad, but it makes since, as one of my DRs orders blood work every quarter to check kidney/liver.
I will mention to him about the percocet without the tylenol.
I met a guy at work today and he had a TKR and he said it was worth it! I had a really rough night sleeping last night... ;( I took the vioxx and the 7.5/750 tylenol and it doesn't help to much anymore. I am on my feet at least 8-10 hours at work and walking all over and cringing! it is so disheartning.Chronic pain is rough.
Jack, what kind of Knee oper's have you encountered?
Renee and Autumn thanks for the replies, I honestly feel a load lifted, by being able to talk about this type of stuff... some people don't understand at all, in here they do. Enjoy your day all! ~~ Mindy
chriztene
05-25-2003, 06:43 AM
SoccerMama,
Welcome..This place has vast amounts of helpful information/support. Chronic pain bends one's mind in the initial stages..Especially, when one has never had any pain problems in their past and then one day you wake up and your life has changed dramatically.
I had a terrible time with severe depression while going through all the different tests, procedures, etc. It took a long time to finally accept I had a condition which could last the rest of my life.
I had always invisioned chronic pain patients were terminal. I have a newfound empathy for chronic pain sufferers.
I wish you the best,
Chriztene
Welcome..This place has vast amounts of helpful information/support. Chronic pain bends one's mind in the initial stages..Especially, when one has never had any pain problems in their past and then one day you wake up and your life has changed dramatically.
I had a terrible time with severe depression while going through all the different tests, procedures, etc. It took a long time to finally accept I had a condition which could last the rest of my life.
I had always invisioned chronic pain patients were terminal. I have a newfound empathy for chronic pain sufferers.
I wish you the best,
Chriztene
meye3sons
05-25-2003, 07:03 PM
I have also found that the vicodin 7.5 is of little help. Am going to have a cervical epideral July 1st and wondering if I should ask for a stronger pain killer??
soccermama
05-25-2003, 07:54 PM
Hi-
Yes, 7.5 vicidon isn't to great,I also take perocet but my presciption I only get once a month for that and I don't make it a month, so the I take the vicodin. I really need to talk to my Dr about uping the quanity of Perc. but don't want him to cut me off because that is all that really dulls the pain to a degree that I feel I can manage. I am more concerned about the tylenol content with the 7.5/750! My Internal Med Dr is the one that prescribes my Pain Med's, the Ortho I have seen is not pleasant to say the least! He would not even prescribe Vioxx, with I rountinly take~ SO,I have a Ortho. app in June with a DR that all he does is Knee Replacements and I am praying he will understand my pain. I really think this hospital just wants to push me into the surgery.
I am not in a postion with my job to take 4-6 months off to have a TKR! and recoop, so I am trying to buy time, and that means I need some kind of comfort or I will lose it!! sorry I am just in a sour mood, my daughter wanted me to go play tennis today, god what I would give to run the court and swing at some balls :( but I have to get this second opinion to see how long I can put off the surgery.
One of my biggest problems with pain, is that I am afraid to speak up sometimes, about what I need and how much I take, and when they don't want to prescibe anything, I just leave with my head in lap and come home and cry, and that is so unfair that patients out there have to "sell ourselves" to be relieved.
It almost has given me a Dr phobia, like they all think I am a druggie wanting drugS!!!! UGH
My IM Dr is a sweetheart, if it weren't for him, God knows what I would have resorted to in times of desperation, and you know what, that is so unfair,the Orthopedic SPECIALISTS that have more knowledge on my condition and have seen the xrays/mri's should be supporting me.
Wow- I feel better now!! and in answer to your question! :) Don't hold back in asking, if the pain meds aren't doing the trick, tell the DR, and hopefully he will understand and give you something that will help.Don't be afraid to speak up,I am going to try my advice :)
Best of luck to you, thanks for listening to my speech!
Good look with your procedure ;-D
~~~Mindy
Yes, 7.5 vicidon isn't to great,I also take perocet but my presciption I only get once a month for that and I don't make it a month, so the I take the vicodin. I really need to talk to my Dr about uping the quanity of Perc. but don't want him to cut me off because that is all that really dulls the pain to a degree that I feel I can manage. I am more concerned about the tylenol content with the 7.5/750! My Internal Med Dr is the one that prescribes my Pain Med's, the Ortho I have seen is not pleasant to say the least! He would not even prescribe Vioxx, with I rountinly take~ SO,I have a Ortho. app in June with a DR that all he does is Knee Replacements and I am praying he will understand my pain. I really think this hospital just wants to push me into the surgery.
I am not in a postion with my job to take 4-6 months off to have a TKR! and recoop, so I am trying to buy time, and that means I need some kind of comfort or I will lose it!! sorry I am just in a sour mood, my daughter wanted me to go play tennis today, god what I would give to run the court and swing at some balls :( but I have to get this second opinion to see how long I can put off the surgery.
One of my biggest problems with pain, is that I am afraid to speak up sometimes, about what I need and how much I take, and when they don't want to prescibe anything, I just leave with my head in lap and come home and cry, and that is so unfair that patients out there have to "sell ourselves" to be relieved.
It almost has given me a Dr phobia, like they all think I am a druggie wanting drugS!!!! UGH
My IM Dr is a sweetheart, if it weren't for him, God knows what I would have resorted to in times of desperation, and you know what, that is so unfair,the Orthopedic SPECIALISTS that have more knowledge on my condition and have seen the xrays/mri's should be supporting me.
Wow- I feel better now!! and in answer to your question! :) Don't hold back in asking, if the pain meds aren't doing the trick, tell the DR, and hopefully he will understand and give you something that will help.Don't be afraid to speak up,I am going to try my advice :)
Best of luck to you, thanks for listening to my speech!
Good look with your procedure ;-D
~~~Mindy
Jack Beanstalk
05-25-2003, 11:54 PM
Mindy,just make sure that you have only ONE doc Rxing you Pain Meds!This is crucial!It could get you busted if you were found to be gettin em from more than 1 doc.I think you should do just like you wrote,make an app. to see the doc you have the most faith in.Go in and tell em like you wrote,you can,t take 4-6 mos. off at this time and your pain is really affecting your quality of life,making work difficult and depressing you and all that stuff and if he won,t "tide you over" till you can get this surgery that would he please send you ASAP to one who will,then stare him in the face till you get a reply,don,t look down at the floor.If this don,t produce results,then I,ll go out and sit in a tree!(BTW,I had the knee surgeries each time cause of cartilge tears). Jack Beanstalk
soccermama
05-26-2003, 11:40 AM
Jack-
About your reply, I will get on the Phone today and get the DR thing straightened out. I had my insurance (medical) change in Jan. so that has made pre-exsisting injuries a story to tell with each new specialists I have to see.
Thanks for the advice, it is well taken. I will make my surgery decision as soon as I see the Dr in June for the 2nd opinion.What kind of knee surgeries have you had? ~~M
About your reply, I will get on the Phone today and get the DR thing straightened out. I had my insurance (medical) change in Jan. so that has made pre-exsisting injuries a story to tell with each new specialists I have to see.
Thanks for the advice, it is well taken. I will make my surgery decision as soon as I see the Dr in June for the 2nd opinion.What kind of knee surgeries have you had? ~~M
Soxy
05-26-2003, 04:15 PM
Hi Soccermama! Just wanted to say welcome to the healthboards! A woman who goes to my church who must be in her late 70's had knee replacement surgery and she recovered beautifully. Said it was the best thing she could have done. Thought this might make you feel hopeful.
Soxy
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Believe in Miracles!!
Soxy
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Believe in Miracles!!
soccermama
05-27-2003, 12:01 AM
Soxy-
Thanks for the encouragment on the TKR, I honestly think it is what I have to do.I am having a bad night it is raining cats and dogs and nothing I take will help the pain, the weather Always makes it worse! UGH-I am so so tired of pain! best to you-M
Thanks for the encouragment on the TKR, I honestly think it is what I have to do.I am having a bad night it is raining cats and dogs and nothing I take will help the pain, the weather Always makes it worse! UGH-I am so so tired of pain! best to you-M