Hi guys! My surgery was successful. My doctor was able to repair my knee. Unfortunately, I am experiencing some pain. I didn’t want to take my pain medication, but I broke down and took it. Before my surgery, I knew I really didn’t want to take something so strong and addictive, but I just didn’t know what the pain would be like. I just have to remind myself that this is temporary and I will be better off in the end.
The Other Side
Everything stops.
Distractions no longer work.
My body is stiff,
my breathing shallow.
I’m heavy —
wounded by the weight of the world.
The clock ticks slowly
as I wait for a release.
This recovery seems daunting
but my loved ones are near.
It’s temporary.
The other side is waiting.
Great to see you posting so soon!
My two cents: TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDICATION AS PRESCRIBED. It’s actually more effective if you take it *before* you’re in excruciating pain. You heal faster and more completely if you’re consumed by pain.
If you have any concerns, keep a notebook near you with columns for time you took the pain relief, pain level 1 – 10, and how much you took. Despite the propaganda that someone took just one pill and instantly turned into an addict, it takes far more than that.
If this sounds like it might help, get your family members to massage your hands or neck or back. Massage yourself if you want. The endorphins released by a good massage might relax you and lessen your perception of pain.
It makes me furious that people in legitimate pain who need painkillers are denied because others just want to get high. Or they’ve started huffing glue at age 10, getting drunk by 12, and permastoned on stolen opioids by 13. So therefore, post-surgery patients can’t get pain relief.
Yay! So pleased for you , but . . . take the painkillers while you need them, being in pain will NOT help you heal, quite the reverse! I don’t know how many days supply of pain killers your doctor has given you, but you don’t have to use them all, however I am guessing you are supposed to keep your knee moving, and that is a lot easier to do if you aren’t in pain. You can always tail off the painkillers as you need them less, addiction really isn’t automatic or even that common, especially as you know it’s a possibility and can take the appropriate steps to make sure it doesn’t happen. The one thing I would say is that if they have given you opioid painkillers you will almost certainly also need to take a stool softener, as to be blunt they really mess up bowel transit otherwise; if your doctor hasn’t prescribed one you should be able to get something suitable from a pharmacy.
I hope your healing is smooth and quick 😉
@Jazzlet and everyone else–I read over what I wrote and what I meant to say was that you will heal better if you’re NOT in pain. Thanks for catching that, Jazzlet!!!
Somehow when I was editing my work, I deleted that word What a terrible mistake and it changed the entire tone of what I was trying to say. To be clear: TAKE THE PAIN PILLS IF YOU ARE IN PAIN. Working the knee will be more effective if you can go through your range of motion.
Agree also with Jazzlet that pain pills are not like antibiotics–it’s perfectly okay to not finish your prescription if you do not need it anymore. Check your local area–some fire stations will take unfinishished prescriptions. Some hospitals will also do this. Or police stations. I don’t know the rules in your area, but maybe your husband will?
Finally, you should be able to get stool softener at any drug store, some (if not all) grocery stores, the bigger discount department stores, or OTC at any pharmacy.
Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery. FWIW, my mother did not get addicted to painkillers after her hip surgery, you might be similarly lucky. I am not a doctor but assume that you actually need to move somewhat to recover properly and being in pain would hinder that – your actual doctors will no doubt give you the best advice. I only can give you best wishes.