Routine discharge medicines after joint replacements (hips and knees): Paracetamol for as long as necessary (e.g. PanadolOsteo, Panamax). NSAIDS for minimum of six weeks (e.g. meloxicam, Celebrex, ibuprofen (Nurofen)). Buprenorphine patch for three weeks (e.g. Norspan).
Oxycodone 5 mg:
This is an opioid pain medication for severe pain after surgery. Take 1 tablet every 6 hours as needed for severe pain. The goal is to discontinue this medication by 2 weeks after surgery.
Your second day can begin with more pain than you experienced on post-op, day one. You probably didn't sleep great, getting to the bathroom with your walker is a fiddle, but you take your medications, ice and elevate, and work on walking.
Go for a walk a few times each day. After activity (exercises or walking) lie down and apply an ice pack or frozen gel pack to your incision. This can help reduce swelling and pain. — Use an ice pack or a frozen gel pack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time or as directed by your surgeon.
Percocet, Oxycodone, Norco, Vicodin (which is hydrocodone),Tylenol with codeine, Dilaudid, Hydromorphone, Ultram, Tramadol are some of the common pain medications prescribed to patients following joint replacement surgery.
The most powerful pain relievers are opioids. They are very effective, but they can sometimes have serious side effects.
Morphine and similar painkillers
For more severe pain you may be given morphine or similar painkillers such as fentanyl, tramadol, codeine or oxycodone. These painkillers can be given by mouth once you are eating and drinking normally.
Your body just went through a major surgery and needs time to heal. Most people can resume daily activities with reduced pain approximately three to six weeks after surgery. Full recovery can take anywhere from four months to a year.
Tenderness of the knee wound and increased pain during activity and rest. This could be a sign of infection. Bacteria can enter your bloodstream through the surgical wound and cause infection. Notify your physician immediately if you suspect infection.
Loosening of the implant from the underlying bone can cause significant pain. Factors such as high-impact activities, excessive body weight, and general wear-and-tear of the plastic spacer between the two metal components of the implant can cause the implant to become loose.
Your perception of pain is more pronounced at night or to put it another way your pain thresholds are lower at night. Your other senses are distracting you during the day when there is more noise and more going on around you, these distractions are no longer there at night.
Sleep on Your Back
The best way to sleep after knee surgery is on your back. This position makes it easy to keep your leg straight while sleeping, allowing proper blood flow to the surgery site. You can also prop your leg up using pillows while sleeping on your back.
Ibuprofen, the most frequently prescribed NSAID, is effective in reducing acute postoperative pain. However, ibuprofen may be associated with various serious adverse events, including death, cardiovascular morbidity, gastrointestinal ulcer, and renal impairment.
Patients are often instructed not to take ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before or after surgery because of increased bleeding risk.
Will I have severe pain after knee replacement surgery? Pain is to be expected after the initial knee replacement, but it should not be severe. The first few days after surgery should include the highest level of pain, but your doctor will send you home with pain medication adequate for your pain level.
The average recovery time from knee replacement surgery is approximately six months, but it can take roughly 12 months to fully return to physically demanding activities.
Pain and Discomfort: First and foremost, whether you've had a hip or knee replacement, you're going to be in pain. This pain will last for several weeks (even months) until it's well under control again. In the meantime, it's undoubtedly affecting how well you're sleeping at night.
Examples of narcotics are codeine, morphine, and oxycodone. Other medications are sometimes used to treat pain. These include antidepressants, anticonvulsive medicines, local painkillers like nerve blocks or patches, and ointments and creams.
Opioids do provide relief by blocking pain. But as a result, your body reacts by increasing the number of receptors to try to get the pain signal through again. So when the drug wears off, you will experience more pain for about three days.
Acetaminophen is generally considered safer than other pain relievers. It doesn't cause side effects such as stomach pain and bleeding. However, taking more than the recommended dose or taking acetaminophen with alcohol increases the risk of kidney damage and liver failure over time. Bottom line.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that treats pain, fever, and swelling. Many people consider this to be one of the best pain relief medications. In fact, out of 892 reviewers, nearly 9 out of 10 said the drug was worth taking.