Pain meds after surgery: how much is too much??

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mznell

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5 weeks ago I had a PLIF at L4-5 and a laminectomy at L3-L4-5. I was in the hospital 3 days and was sent home with the following meRAB:

to be taken daily:

oxycodone 20 mg 3 x day
lyrica 75mg 2 x day

The meRAB that I was given to "take as needed" were:

hydroco/apap 5-325
skelaxin 800 mg.


I was under the impression that I am to continue taking these medications until my surgeon tells me otherwise. When I went in for my 3 week check-up, they asked about the meRAB and then renewed them for another month when I am to see him again.

When I read other people's stories on the board, it seems like many are in a hurry to get off their meRAB for pain relief. Should this be my objective? I'm not in a hurry to do anything else (Like driving, starting PT, etc.). I feel that my job is to recover so that I will have the best outcome possible...so I've been sleeping, napping and walking as best I can. We have about a million feet of snow outside, so I'm not real tempted to leave the house.

Also, I am assuming that the dosage I'm on is on the average side -- rather than on the high side. Would that be correct?

I don't feel that I need more meRAB, or higher dosage. But, should I be experimenting to see if I can make do with less?

I would appreciate any and all comments.
 
No, I think you are doing a great job at recovering. I would keep taking the meRAB, trying to be as comfortable as possible, and then at your next appt. if you are feeling it is time and you are feeling great, ask about weaning off of meRAB . I think taking it slow is the best way to recovery and then the best way to wean off. I also think that you are right, your meRAB are on the average side. If you experiment you might start being in pain, I think, stick with what works till you next check up. Good job!
 
Ditto! This was a huge surgery, and you need to have your pain controlled as you heal. It's a long recovery. I was on Percocet for pain, which worked well. I think I was on that for a couple of months before I was switched to Vicodin.

I think you're wise to not worry about getting off the pain meRAB. You're on them for a reason! The time will come when it's appropriate to start decreasing dosages until you find that you no longer need them. There's no reason to hurry that along. Keeping your pain under control will help you heal, as you won't be using energy to just get through the pain.

Keep doing what you're doing! It sounRAB like you're right on track!

Blessings,
Emily
 
Keep yourself comfortable of pain. Listen to your body, and take the pain meRAB as needed. I'm not professionally trained but from experience I know that your body can heal much better when it doesn't have to be overwhelmed with pain. It may seem that you are doing nothing but taking it easy, but your body is working over time to heal from your surgery and to adjust to the changes within. So when you take it easy and allow the body to do the "work" it should and neeRAB to do you are only helping yourself to a much better recovery. Good luck with your recovery. I don't know if it is for you, but the first 5-6 weeks after my L4/L5 surgery I was in so much more pain that I thought that I had made the biggest mistake of my life having the surgery. But at about 6-7 weeks out everything changed and as if a switch went off, my pain level took a dramatic drop(which was great), swelling went down some and I could actually tell a difference in my back. I wasn't doing cartwheels,(still can't) but for the first time since surgery I felt that I had made the right decision and was so happy. And I let my body tell me when to decrease pain meRAB and never had any problems stopping them, because my body didn't "need" (pain was decreasing) them as much and eventually not at all.It's been almost 5yrs. Take care of yourself, and listen to your body.
 
Thanks everyone for your encouragement.

ACOhio, thanks for your comments and welcome to the board!! I had surgery 5 weeks ago and am doing pretty well. About 2 weeks ago I developed a weird pain in the front of my right thigh which is something I never had previously. The doc suggested it could be the femoral nerve being upset from the surgery...and I'm hoping he's right. He did another MRI and everything looked fine. No nerves were trapped from implanting the cage, etc. He suggested it could also be from the "unusual" positions my body was in on the operating table, lying on my stomach for almost 4 hours....

So all your posts give me hope that I am doing the right thing.

Thanks! ;)
 
I am 7 weeks after my second major surgery too. I learned one thing: your body tells you when you are ready to make any changes.
Honestly my PM and surgeon are happy the way i handle my PK meRAB.
They told me to take 2x10/325 Percocets every 3 hours. I take other meRAB too for neuropathy pain as directed.

I took PK for the first 4 weeks as directed and than i tried one pill instead of 2 every 4 hours. If I have a very bad day - I take as directed, but in a better days I still try to take one pill.
Works for me great. My DRs tell me that my body is the best barometer and I should listen to it.
Just make sure you keep your pain under reasonable control: don't let your pain elevate too much, than is very hard to lower, takes a long time.
Best wishes on your recovery!:angel:
 
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