Pain Relievers Inaffective

I was the same and it will get better with time. I tried everything. I can say that Gabapentin helped me with nerve pain issues and helped me sleep as well. I took it prior to surgery and went off for a few months as I was taking the pain meds. I stopped my pain meds at 9 days due to being so constipated and had to have a bowel prep. After that I used Tylenol, muscle relaxes an started my Gabapentin again. I am 18 weeks out and I use Tylenol or Tylenol 3 occasionally and Voltaren cream and Ben Gay 3x a day and it helps me. Know that it will get better. If you are doing PT I hurt each day after and did it 3x a week. Now if I overdo I still have hurting and soreness. I hope your pain subsides quickly.

Thanks! Nice to know I’m not alone. I can’t take Gabapentin because I retain fluid and my legs swell up like an elephants. Now that I have my bandage off I will try some lotions —appreciate your suggestions.

Yes totally agree no relief from narcotics, anti inflammatories help a tad but mainly cryocuff cuff ice machine and bolster to keep down swelling but for me I just dealt with it didn’t sleep thru night til almost 4 months. Getting up and walking was helpful. Brought any issues I would have to my physical therapist who addressed them all. My new knee is awesome but need to keep exercise regimen going to keep it in shape. Joint replacements require so much work on our parts but if surgeon did their part it’s up to us to do ours.
TKR in 2021 RTS 2019 CMC 2022

Agreed!! It’s like childbirth so I’m sure it will all be forgotten soon!

Did anyone ever get answers as to why the pain meds didn’t work??

Mine work better with naproxen or aspirin to stop inflammation.

Unfortunately I am unable to take any NSAIDS

I too cannot take any NSAIDS. This is made the last 15 years very difficult and the overuse of prednisone has caused me to now have myopathy and still no NSAIDS so pain is an all day all night reality and pretty soon i will not be able to use my legs. I sympathize with you and I have no answers except find someone you can be honest with and ask them if they will listen to you so that you know someone understands how you feel. Perhaps a fentanyl patch - I don’t know if you’ve tried that yet - maybe that would help.
Good luck in know someone understands and is with you and cares

I have Axonal Polyneuropathy and severe DJD in multiple joints. am also unable to take NSAIDS due to Portal Hypertension. Trying natural ways to relief pain with Medical Marijuana, Omega 3’s, Tart Cherry Extract, etc. Trying to avoid Tramadol, Cymbalta, Lyrica, etc if at all possible.

I’ve been on Cymbalta for years for my back and it does help. The doctor says I should not get off of it. Lately, they’ve increased my gabapentin for my neuropathy and that also helped a little bit. They said they have a lot of leeway with that because it’s not a narcotic. gabapentin might be one thing that can help. It’s been suggested that I try marijuana and I haven’t so maybe that’s my next step. Thank you so much for reminding me. I wish you well. There are so many people with all these auto immune diseases and we look OK but we’re always in pain, so my thoughts are with you.