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 fairly significant. Managing it has been my main priority every day so far.

My prescriptions work well. When I’m dosed, life is quite manageable. I can hobble around pretty much pain-free, get myself to the bathroom, make coffee, engage with my kids. But when they start wearing off: my leg gets tight and uncomfortable in the brace, there’s a deep throbbing in and under my kneecap, the acute pain of the incision stands out, 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 time 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 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 really grateful and even 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, I’m supposed to take, what, Tylenol 10 days post-op? So I’ve been pestering my surgeon’s office to refill at least one of these, and I’ve also 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. General discomfort most of the time. (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 potential over-use of these drugs. At the same time, give me some options for pain management.

I think 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. And poor, lovely Shawna at the surgeon’s office. She’s heard from me about 8 times in the last two days, and she’s trying her best to facilitate some sort of remedy.

Who knows, maybe I’m making a mountain out of a molehill. Maybe my surgeon is a genius and the pain will be vastly reduced by the time I finish the prescription (tomorrow). I’ll get through this one way or another, but I’d rather not have the stress of feeling unprepared, unsupported and anticipating a full weekend or more without medication. Tylenol it might just be.