It’s 8 days now since I injured myself, and 5 days since surgery (coincidentally, both events happened at 4 PM). As I documented a few days ago, the post-operative pain has been significant. Managing it has been my priority every day so far.
My prescriptions work well. When I’m dosed, life is quite manageable. I’m drowsy and a bit on cloud 9, but I can hobble around pretty much pain-free, get myself to the bathroom, make coffee, engage with my kids. When they start wearing off, I am quickly reminded of what’s really going on: my leg gets tight and uncomfortable in the brace, there’s deep throbbing in and under my kneecap, the acute pain of the incision presents itself, my swollen foot and ankle get fuzzy, warm and tingly, and moving around – even just adjusting the angle of my hips – hurts. Not to mention the odd times my quad flexes and my kneecap budges and it feels like a being tasered in the leg. Nothing provides relief once the pain sets in – changing positions, ice, elevation, meditation…
My pain management cycle goes kind of like this: wake up around 7 AM and take all 3 meds (Tramadol every 4-6 hrs, Gabapentin 3x day, Celecoxib 2x day); try to stretch the Tramadol out to 5 hours, so take again around 11 AM; Gabapentin at lunchtime; Tramadol at 4 PM; and all 3 again at 9 PM. I try to take the night-time meds as close to bedtime as possible, to maximize their effectiveness while I try to sleep (remember, my leg is locked in a straight position full-time, and I am using 4 pillows to gain various degrees of support and comfort). When I go to the bathroom at some point during the night, I can take another Tramadol if the interval is timed right.
I’m relieved (literally and figuratively) and also a bit surprised that the meds work so well. I’m also terrified of what to do when they run out. When this script ends tomorrow, I’m supposed to take, what, Tylenol? 7 days post-op?
I pestered my surgeon’s office to refill at least one of these (to no avail), and have been halving the dose of Tramadol for the last day or so to try and stretch it out. Which, you guessed it, provides about half the results. (I still take a full dose at bedtime)
I get the reason behind not prescribing me more, or giving me a refill proactively. Tramadol is an opioid. It’s wonderful how doctors are being so responsible now by limiting the long-term and potential over-use of these drugs. At the same time, give me some options for pain management please!
This must happen all the time. A solution could be as simple as communicating some sort of plan. As part of the surgical aftercare, how about a note that says, “you get # days of these drugs, then take these”, or b) “contact us to discuss next steps”. Instead, it’s just figure it out yourself.
Who knows, maybe I’m making a mountain out of a molehill. Maybe my surgeon is a genius and the pain will dissipate just as I run out.
I’ll get through this one way or another, but I hate the stress of feeling unprepared, unsupported and anticipating a full weekend or more of inadequately managing this. Tylenol it might just be.
cdub 