Pain meds after surgery?

[PhillipCinci]

Just curious....in the hospital I was on percocets...seemed to work and just about lasted the 4 hour intervals. When I came home on Sunday (today Tues. 9/25 is 1 week post op) they sent me home with Vicodin....They seem to be much weaker and do not last near the 4 hour intervals.
Two questions....1. Is this what you were sent home with? 2. How long is it 'normal' to feel the need for pain killers? Should I be needing less at this point and is this why they give a weaker relief?

Just looking for some insight...Thank you

 

[Cooker]

I was given Darvacet (sp?). everyone is different on the needs for pain meds. If what you have is not doing the job call the doctor.

I don't remember needing pain meds much past the first week home but again, everyone is not the same. There is no need to be in pain.

 

[geebee]

I was sent home with Percocet and took them as long as I needed pain meds. As the pain got better, I decreased the dosage even taking 1/4 & 1/2 pills. I agree that Percocet works much better than Vicodan although some folks swear by Vicodan. I am not sure one is any "safer" than the other as they are both potentially addictive if you take them long enough.

I would talk to your cardio about getting some Percocet. The worst he can do is say no. There is no reason you should have to put up with pain this early on - IMHO, it hurts the recovery process.

 

[Freddie]

I was told to take Tylenol.
Two Extra Strength tables when needed (about every 6 hours or so)

 

[Bina]

In hospital first 2 days were morphine, day 3 was oxycontin, day 4 came along and I refused pain meds because of the "trippy crap" they were forcing on me. I'm serious, this stuff is NOT good. I asked for the occasional Tylenol at night, that was it. On reflection, maybe I should have taken a bit more Tylenol during the day to keep me moving without any pain.

 

[WayneGM]

I came home with Oxycocet (similar to Percocet), but quickly weaned me to Tylonol 3, then Extra Strength Tylonol. They don't want you on Oxycocet for too long due to the addictive risk they have.

 

[Susan BAV]

Hope you're still doing well, Philip .

I'm one who dislikes to take meds, including pain meds. I only took extra-strength Tylenol when I came home from the hospital, for about a week, and that was just so I could do my incentive spirometer breathing exercises every hour. I didn't need any pain relief after the second week post-op. I was given morphine and oxy-whatever while in the hospital though and they did send me home with an RX for Darvocet which I never even opened.

Vicodin doesn't agree with nor work for everybody. I took half of one once after an out-surgery and hallucinated.

 

[marky]

Pain and Pain management are very personal things. Each person has a different perception of pain. If you dont' feel that the darvocet is doing its thing you should contact the doctor.

I had Tordol in the hospital and advil at home. I hurt for a good while.

 

[Ross]

Percocet IS STRONGER then Vicodin, so it's no surprise that you notice a difference. Generally, a week to two weeks after your home is all the longer you need them. Ask for more Percocet if your still hurting enough to need it.

 

[pamela]

Please note : I do not recommend changing or altering a prescription or dosage as ordered by your doctor. I do think you should consult your health care professional before changing any of your medication.

My son, who lost his arm after 3 weeks of struggling through horrendous pain and efforts to save his limb, was on oral hydromorph/dilaudid, as a breakthrough drug every 3 hours, once he came home. This is a med 6 times stronger than morphine. He is still taking oxycotin every 12 hours for management but no longer needs breakthrough meds.

The reason I'm using his example is because the pharmacist gave me a wonderful analogy about pain management tools, and that's really all the drugs are, tools. So, my concern lay in the possible side effects of withdrawal after taking (to my mind) such immense doses of narcotic (4mg hydromorph every 3 hours as req'd). I was assured by the pharmacist that withdrawal wouldn't be an issue unless my son made it one.

The important thing he explained to me, was that if my son's pain was likened to nails, then the management drugs would be the hammer used to drive them into control. Hydromorph is the equivalent of a five pound sledge... so if the pain is a thumb tack, why would we use such an unweildy hammer?

Be honest about the level of your pain and be realistic in your expectations. If you are perceiving pain vs discomfort with your meds, then yes, see your doc about better management. You may not need the Percocet but your Vicodin could be given in a higher dose tablet. Maybe you could combine Vicodin at 4 hour intervals with Acetaminophen every 6 to 8. It can never hurt to ask, but it will hurt if you don't do something about it.

Please note : I do not recommend changing or altering a prescription or dosage as ordered by your doctor. I do think you should consult your health care professional before changing any of your medication.

 

[briansmom]

I agree that pain is a personal thing. My son was on pretty gnarly pain meds for a while, especially with this last surgery. The pain specialist went out of her way to reassure me that whatever was necessary for him was what he should have. Do not compare yourself to others. Only you know what you feel like.

 

[67walkon]

They gave me morphin pills for about 12 hours. Then the switched to percoset, which I didn't do well with. Surgery was on a Friday and on Sunday, they started giving me Tylenol 3 when I went to sleep at night and that was it.

Pain was not an issue for me. Ever. The only pain that bothered me was in my shoulder blades and even that wasn't all that bad.

Don't worry about pain. The medical people will manage it for you.

John

 

[Mary]

Just curious....in the hospital I was on percocets...seemed to work and just about lasted the 4 hour intervals. When I came home on Sunday (today Tues. 9/25 is 1 week post op) they sent me home with Vicodin....They seem to be much weaker and do not last near the 4 hour intervals.
Two questions....1. Is this what you were sent home with? 2. How long is it 'normal' to feel the need for pain killers? Should I be needing less at this point and is this why they give a weaker relief?

Just looking for some insight...Thank you

The second day home I started coughing, and the pain from that was a "drop to your knees" level. I thought I would need pain medication forever, but it subsided a little more each day that passed.
Tobagotwo suggested I ask my family doctor for tramodol (I think that's the name?) and it was very effective. If you're having pain, call and ask if they can switch you to something else.