Leaving the Pain Pills
So as we near the three week mark, my wife reminded me of the fact that the doctor had suggested that I would probably be walking in 3 - 4 weeks. I’m definitely not walking yet. As I mentioned in the last post, my quadriceps are just now starting to respond, so the sooner I can build up muscle tone in them, the sooner I’ll be back on my feet.
Another important development is that this week (about three days ago), I stopped taking the pain medication. I wonder if there is a connection between that and my quadriceps starting to respond. Originally I was taking 4 - 5 doses a day of vicodin or lortab (I started with vicodin, then after the first week the doctor prescribed lortab.) Both are forms of hydrocodone combined with about 400 mg of ibuprofen. Hydrocodone can be highly addictive and can also produce nasty side effects, so I decided that the sooner that I stopped taking it the better off I would be. The only side effects that I experienced were nausea, dizziness, and constipation, but there was no point in waiting until things got worse.
At first I moved from one dose every 4 hours to one dose every 6. I did this for about two days and then started taking one dose only in the mornings, after breakfast. (Mornings are by far the worst time of day for me.) After two days of this I am now only taking ibuprofen when I have a headache. (Which occurs semi-frequently since I spend most of the day not moving very much).
As with all things on this site its important to know that your experience with pain medication will certainly be different than mine. The people I’ve talked to said that some people are off after a week, while others will keep taking it for a month. It really depends on you and your doctor.
Filed under: ACL Recovery
Good luck with your rehab! I am 8 weeks out of surgery and remember looking at my pathetic quad wondering if it would ever be able to do a straight leg raise. I too was using other parts of my body but if you focus and tighten your quad then raise your leg - it works. I am now using weight during my sessions. I am walking (with a limp) without a brace or crutches. I injured my leg while I was teaching karate and am very determined to get back.
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my son had acl mcl and miniscus tears - surgury 5 days ago and pain is still very intense. cannot walk even with crutches without severe pain taking Percocet only when trying to sleep — he is in excellent shape and expected a faster beginning to rehab, is this normal?
It was for me. For the first two or three weeks the pain was pretty intense, especially in the mornings. I was taking pain medication every 4 hours for the first week or two. Standing upright (on crutches) for more than a few minutes would cause extreme pain during that time as well, I really limited my being up to only when it was absolutely necessary. As you progress through rehab your physical therapist will tell you how often and for how long you should be working with crutches. After a point he/she’ll have you switch to one crutch and then no crutches.
Being in good shape pre-surgery will definitely pay off in the days to come in terms of rehab speed though, but don’t rush it or you’ll be back where you started.
Hey, i got my ACL and lateral meniscus repaired 9 days ago and I am progressing very well. already going to school almost full time now. Taking Vicodin 3 times a day and getting along pretty well.
Got injured in a Lacrosse game and since then have been dying to get back on the field, and have been 100% dedicated to my physical therapy and getting back to the competitive level.
I love coming here to see a group of people going through the same experience and all supporting eachother.
Good luck with your rehab!
I’m three weeks and one day out of an ACL allograft and am off the pain pills (except one before physical therapy) and almost able to walk. I’m hoping to be off of crutches at the end of next week. (fingers crossed!)
The physical therapy is not always fun… but definitely makes a difference. I didn’t start any therapy until almost 2 weeks after surgery and did not use a cpm machine either. It can be frustrating not knowing what will happen when… but you have to stick with it!
Hi Acl reconstruction ten days ago - they used hamstring tendon for the graft. Also torn meniscus - both lateral and medial. I ve stopped the loratab completely but still experience a lot of pain in the morning. The back of my knee as well as the incision hurts the most. Stretching it out is the worst. I’m still on crutches and can’t imagine at this point even having the strength in my quad to help me walk. Its a very slow going, almost depressing recovery as I was/am an active mom of four who loves to work out. HELP!
Shannon,
I feel your pain! Mornings were definitely the worst part of the day by far during recovery. I know exactly what you mean about quad strength, there was a while there when I wondered if I would ever walk again. Then once I started walking again I wondered how I would ever be able to go up or down stairs (especially down), but my day came and so will yours! Hang in there and keep up with your physical therapy. I know it must be extra tough being a mother and doing this, but you’ll make it.
Last month was the one year anniversary of my knee surgery, today I played paintball with my brothers in law and nephews! I was running and diving, crouching and crawling with the best of them. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!
Good luck with your recovery, let me know if you have any other questions,
Lee
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good luck i have finish my first week with only one pain pill on the 4th day after surgery. I have oxycodone. but they are very powerful so I have not taken any.
They use the hamstring tendon. I am using 2lb with my straight leg raise.
I rehab 5 times a day once when i wake up. I go to treatment 9am 3pm and 6pm and then we i go home i do my rehab.
today i did russian stem. hurts but i think it will help.
Day 12 from ACL reconstruction with an allograft. Did the CPM for 10 days and got up to 70 degrees. Down to one Vicodin/day supplemented with Aleve and a prescribed antiflammatory (Meloxicam). I’m out of the straight leg brace except for walking outside the home. I too, injured myself in a lacrosse game and hope to fully recover and get back onto the field. At 47, joints don’t heal like they may have in my 20s but it is a goal. I’d be interested to know how quickly the range of motion returns. I did three weeks of pre-habilitation that seems to help but, my official PT doesn’t start until Day 19.
Should I start sooner?
How about icing? I used a cryo cuff for the first 10 days 24/7 and the doctor says I can reduce it to evenings after PT.
Do others find it helpful using it more often to reduce swelling?
Thanks in advance for any guidance
I has acl (allograft) done two weeks ago today. I stopped the pain pills after one week because they caused constipation and when I took meds for that it really made me sick. I started PT this week, and range of motion is 70. Today I noticed my knee “catching” at times during the reps. It is such a strange sensation when your knee feels stiff and thick and then you feel like it is going to pop. But, I am working on it. I was allowed to go back to my job part time this week and full time next week. I am still in the mobilizer and able to walk without crutches (but I get scolded by therapist). I want to say thanks for the website and good luck to everyone with their recovery.
I tore mine scaling a 5 foot wall for police agility entrance exam.
I had acl (allograft) done two weeks ago today. I stopped the pain pills after one week because they caused constipation and when I took meds for that it really made me sick. I started PT this week, and range of motion is 70. Today I noticed my knee “catching” at times during the reps. It is such a strange sensation when your knee feels stiff and thick and then you feel like it is going to pop. But, I am working on it. I was allowed to go back to my job part time this week and full time next week. I am still in the mobilizer and able to walk without crutches (but I get scolded by therapist). I want to say thanks for the website and good luck to everyone with their recovery.
I tore mine scaling a 5 foot wall for police agility entrance exam.