Painkillers - Paracetamol

[Cobra2018]

Was discharged from hospital a week today after AVR on 26th. Yesterday thought I would reduce my painkillers by half (1x4 p.d., instead of 2x4 p.d.) - big mistake. Today I’ve cut out one doze, not so drastic, so far so good, I know silly me 😞

[Nathan53]

Well it was worth a try. Stop being brave though paracetamol is a basic and safe painkiller. I think with pain it's important to keep on top of it. Sure you will be able to reduce soon but until then keep taking the tablets.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

There are no medals for reducing or coming off painkillers too quickly as pain does reduce quality of life. I came out thrice daily Tramadol as paracetamol were no better than blue Smarties at pain relief for me. I reduced these over a month coming off the last mightiness one in week five. You have to remember that the surgery is massively invasive and that bone, muscle and nerves all have to heal. I had issues with some fingers on my right hand for four months that was probably caused by damage to a shoulder nerve as the Rob cage was parted. Remember no medals!

[werd]

I was told many years ago 45 in fact that the avr op i just had was equivalent to a major car crash to the human body.so just keep poping the pain killers

Ps in the years to come you are go to learn to love paracetamol

[Serg12]

It's only a week since discharge so probably 2 weeks post AVR. The chestbone takes about 6 weeks to knit together again properly, this knitting together for bone, muscle, and skin is what is causing the pain. Don't worry about the paracetamol yet you will naturally take less as time goes on.

You are going through enough just with the recovery, don't put you or your body through excess anguish, keep on top of the pain.

Like many others here I have been through AVR so understand what you are feeling. It will all be back to normal soon.