Tramadol and TKR

Posted by jennyr @jennyr, May 24, 2019

Interested to know effectiveness of Tramadol for pain management and any benefits/concerns. My doctor has recommended it.

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@boosaw

Had right TKR in Feb of 2023, all I used was Tylenol.
Had no issues with pain at all.
Hope the left knee is that good when done in Late Oct or November.

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You are very lucky having no pain. I had TKR in May and found it very painful. I was prescribed oxycodone for pain every four hours.I a trying to use Tylenol instead but it wasn’t helping. I had bad headaches so I switched to extra strength, Excedrin, which got rid of my headaches. I do use the Oxsee mainly at night because I can’t sleep. I am up every 2 hours. I I only take oxycodone twice a day not every four hours.

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@boosaw

Had right TKR in Feb of 2023, all I used was Tylenol.
Had no issues with pain at all.
Hope the left knee is that good when done in Late Oct or November.

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I hope that for u too. As they say, everyone is different. Best wishes.

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Be careful with Gabapentin. I took it for shingles but realized it helped knee pain before TKR. Not one Dr told me that you had to slowly taper off of it!! I had the WORSE withdrawals. Migraines, nausea & shakes. I even stopped and went back on regular dose to stop the Migraines! It took over 3 months. It was awful. Pain pills are just a bandaid. I take use CBD cream & Voltaren during the day. I take 10 mg of Indica gummy at bed. So much better and I go to sleep. Always ice when I am really hurting.

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I could not take the pain meds on a daily basis no matter what they were due to severe constipation (I already have issues). I used some muscle relaxers occasionally and Tylenol. On really bad days I might take 1 Tylenol 3. I can use Voltaren cream as it's topical and doesn't have the same effects as the oral medication. I do take Gabapentin and took it before my TKR and was taking 900mg. Yes, you do have to wean off it and I had weaned off it totally prior to my TKR but because of nerve pain I went back on 300mg. We're all different so reactions will be different but you do have to wean down. I took one month when I completely weaned off it. If you don't do it slowly you can have issues....I was told that 900mg is not much and 300mg isn't hardly any at all,. There are some people who take 1800 or 2400 daily. I also took mine only at bedtime.

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@lk3xs

Be careful with Gabapentin. I took it for shingles but realized it helped knee pain before TKR. Not one Dr told me that you had to slowly taper off of it!! I had the WORSE withdrawals. Migraines, nausea & shakes. I even stopped and went back on regular dose to stop the Migraines! It took over 3 months. It was awful. Pain pills are just a bandaid. I take use CBD cream & Voltaren during the day. I take 10 mg of Indica gummy at bed. So much better and I go to sleep. Always ice when I am really hurting.

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You are correct about pills and painkillers in particular being band aids. I had both knees replaced last year. Recovery has been just great. I did take some oxygen for a few days, but then just used Tylenol for pain.

Does gabapentin require an Rx? I've never taken it, and would like to avoid drugs that cause withdrawal. Thank you.

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@cindymattern

I could not take the pain meds on a daily basis no matter what they were due to severe constipation (I already have issues). I used some muscle relaxers occasionally and Tylenol. On really bad days I might take 1 Tylenol 3. I can use Voltaren cream as it's topical and doesn't have the same effects as the oral medication. I do take Gabapentin and took it before my TKR and was taking 900mg. Yes, you do have to wean off it and I had weaned off it totally prior to my TKR but because of nerve pain I went back on 300mg. We're all different so reactions will be different but you do have to wean down. I took one month when I completely weaned off it. If you don't do it slowly you can have issues....I was told that 900mg is not much and 300mg isn't hardly any at all,. There are some people who take 1800 or 2400 daily. I also took mine only at bedtime.

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You suggest that you already had issues with constipation and opiates make it much worse. When I had my TKRs my Dr. recommended Sennokot stool softener with a mild stimulant. Very little relief. I finally took Dulcolax bisacodyl and that worked, but it's harsh.......

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@heyjoe415

You suggest that you already had issues with constipation and opiates make it much worse. When I had my TKRs my Dr. recommended Sennokot stool softener with a mild stimulant. Very little relief. I finally took Dulcolax bisacodyl and that worked, but it's harsh.......

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They gave me that in the hospital.....and didn't work. Dulcolax works great however it's awfully harsh so you are right. Not sure I'd want to do this on a weekly basis. I take Amatiza 8mg and a stool softener daily. Works great unless you have to take daily pain meds for anything.

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@heyjoe415

You are correct about pills and painkillers in particular being band aids. I had both knees replaced last year. Recovery has been just great. I did take some oxygen for a few days, but then just used Tylenol for pain.

Does gabapentin require an Rx? I've never taken it, and would like to avoid drugs that cause withdrawal. Thank you.

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Yes gabapentin requires RX. I have empathy for those trying to get off drug if it a faction of what I experienced with it. Never had issues with pain pills but didn't take them daily.

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I don’t know I have used the ducolax chewable with a glass of water not so bad ….. worked within few hours …. That is my go to when I had issues…. Good luck ….. after my first knee surgery due to the incorrect size I ended up taking pain meds a lot longer than I wanted to ….. but tramadol worked great was not sedative took edge off pain …I used Gabapentin before for migraines many years ago not a fan ..made me tired all the time so for me that not an option …. But I know meds work differently on different people this was my experience……

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@heyjoe415

You are correct about pills and painkillers in particular being band aids. I had both knees replaced last year. Recovery has been just great. I did take some oxygen for a few days, but then just used Tylenol for pain.

Does gabapentin require an Rx? I've never taken it, and would like to avoid drugs that cause withdrawal. Thank you.

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Yes, Gabapentin require a RX. It's been around for a long time. Brand name is Neurontin and they usually start you on the lowest dose and then go up from there. It's' given mainly for seizures to people but has some off label uses. I am only on 300mg right now. I take it at bedtime only because it does make you sleepy but have had no issues during the day. I was on 900mg prior to my surgery and weaned totally off but you have to wean off of it. If weaned off slowly tapering down I had no issues whatsoever and the lower doses I don't think cause much of an issue. It's really an individual thing I think. Even Tylenol can cause issues it you take it a few times every day for weeks and then just stop (I had more of an issue with that). Good luck to you and I hope they find the perfect answer.

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