IM having a very rough time second knee replacement operation , four months after the first.
I should be grateful its all happened so quickly but omg the pain , its constant and brutal.
Im 4 weeks post operation . I had a bad reaction this time to morphine which left me ( normally a hugely positive person) depressed with severe suicidal thoughts .
Thankfully I sorta realised it and called my GP 8am . He was very down to earth and just said , its your morphine , stop it now! Which basically was all I needed.
So im still in pain but coping a bit better. See physioterrorist tomorrow and will have to explain why I lost a lot of last week.
Im letting you know this just so you are aware of side effects of drugs, you may like me, have taken easily in the past.
Im so grateful hubby here, i dont know how people do this on their own , never mind both at once .
Anyway yall have a good sunday. Oh just seen about the queen, sad , she was a good one x
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allanah
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Oh it just wasnt me , was it!!! Sat planning clean methods of finishing me off lol . So glad the gp was right about the morphine , horrid how badly you can be affected. Luckily can see the " funny" strange side of it now ....
im on codeine , paracetamol , diflophenac suppositiries at night and i called rheumy and was allowed to go back on my rhemy drugs on tuesday , so lets hope they take effect soon as of course hands shoulders feet all hurt too! Thanks xxxx
sorry to hear about your knee! You are very brave to talk about morphine! I must say that I had a similar strange reaction. I was having a very long conversation with my dad about it every day- problem is- he died 20 years ago. Dr smiled and told me to give my prescription back to him……
I had aural hallucination s on a high dose of Fentanyl patch around ten years ago (I have half that dose now) and it was as clear as anything I could hear my late auntie talking to me and calling my name. The GP said go back to your previous dose as it’s common to get the AH’s when you have a higher dose of morphine. Oramorph didn’t give me the AH’s. Just made me feel so down and that’s not something I ever felt before. At least I knew why l.
worse..... i was planning using the bath so it would be easier for them to clean doh 😪, bad stuff. Ok now though apart from this stitch loop come out through wound tonight. Doctor specialist 9am ....
Hope you get this sorted tomorrow ASAP. Sounds like movement as you try to become more mobile has caused it to come prodding its way through and needs modifying and also swelling and skin being taut so soon after the op leaves the skin thin and unable to keep the stitch loop from breaking the skin. Presume your stitches are dissolvable and disintegrate with time but my dissolvable ones took some time to actually disssolve with two (non rheumy) ops last year/year before. They hurt as I moved too. It was the knot on one that hurt the most as it touched against my clothing and any pressure against it. I’m hoping your stitches will break down soon but at the mo they’re needed there to hold things together as it’s early days I’m a huge op. 💗
“Bend” meaning reach/range of movement improved already? I hope so! The knots are often tight and painful in the dissolvable stitches ... I kept sitting on one. Ouch. Yours will be soon be gone. Glad you got the reassurance from the doc.
With knees its back , forward , bend behind in direction of your bum but they are happy with what you need to go upstsir ride a bike etc which is 125, mine is 100 today!
Our minds can do strange things with the help of some drugs. Pity you can't know in advance how they are going to affect you. Hope your knees improve quickly. The physioterrorist (great description which shows you've got your sense of humour back) should understand. Best of luck xx
I was having conversations with my dad standing at the end of my bed in the hospital. The nurses said I was quite lucid! Trouble is he died in the late 90s.
Consultant just smiled told me my dad was very sensible and changed all my meds starting with morphine it is the strangest thing I have ever experienced 💐
My uncle was in hospital aged 80 . Said to the nurse his mum was coming to visit him. She smiled xx visiting time comes along and my auntie aged 100 marches down the ward to see her boy !!!! She was a character!
So sorry to hear about your pain and the reaction to morphine, very scary for you. Hope things start to improve for you now allanah, sending big hugs 🤗
I am so sorry to hear this allanah and glad you sought help there via your GP.
My heart goes out to you and please know I am sending you some positive, supportive and good wishes and vibes. Take one day at a time and little by little. I hope that things begin to turn a corner for you and start to improve. Bless you xxx 💐
So sorry to hear it’s been so hard for you this time and coping with such constant pain is so awful for you. Thank goodness for your good GP and attentive hubby I’m sure coping would be so difficult otherwise.
I do hope Nella starts to behave nicely very soon and sending hugs 🤗 to keep you going xx
No indeed! Both my elderly neighbours who live alone went to a convalescent home after their hip replacements. I will do the same if I need my hips or knees done I think!
I'm really sorry to hear you've been going through this with the Morphine, on top of everything else. It really does sound scary - thank goodness your GP was on the ball. Quite shocking to think you've had it before and been ok - you really never know, do you?
Like you, i've had morphine a number of times previously and still using oramorph at night on top of the tramadol etc, for my leg. Although I've always been ok so far, your experience is very much a cautionary tale. Only once have i had a bit of a weird experience, 6 years ago when i had a hip revision. I was given MST (which i understand is a type of morphine). At one point i was lying in bed, with a group of doctors around the end of the bed, and i was having a very animated discussion. Turns out i wasn't! My friend turned up to visit and saw me in the bed, eyes closed , my mouth moving and sort of moving my arms around! It must have been a bit of a hallucination, and as no harm done, in that moment it seemed amusing. What's happened to you shows the other side of how it can be - and the fact you're not necessarily aware as it all seems very real. I'm glad you're starting to feel more normal.
As for the knees - they are tough ops to get through, and you certainly haven't had the easiest time of it - starting with being discharged way too soon. I hope your physio goes well tomorrow and isn't too painful. Ive got physio tomorrow too for my leg. I'll think of you trying to get those knees bending whilst my leg is suspended from the ceiling!!😄😄 We have to try and see the funny side when and where we can, don't we?! Very best wishes xx
Hi Allanah. People seem to think that knee replacements are all straight forward and easy because they are so common. I had my right knee done in 2014 after two falls (and osteo) and then sideswiped by our mad labradoodle. That completely finished me off. Decided on an epidural and sailed through the hospital physio. When I got home it really hit me. It was easier once the staples were out but even so….. nothing can prepare you for the pain. My sister is coming out of hospital today. She had only recently had her right hip replaced but had both knees done together. I don’t think she realised what it was going to be like but she’s braver (and older) than I. I hope you improve quickly now you’ve sorted out your drugs. I bet you’re already thinking about Glastonbury next year. xx
Aww you’re still making me smile, re physio terrorist! .. even though you’re having a bad time. 😢 Let’s hope the physio can work some magic for your knee. Was going to say morphine makes you feel all over the place. It made me depressed when I had to take it when my RA’ infusion was delayed for almost two months in 2015 and I was left by rheumatology to go downhill. 🤬 Thinking of you. Healing vibes and Gentle hugs. 💗xx
I am so sorry to hear you are in such pain. I hope it settles down soon and you can start to build up the strength in your legs. Try to be positive and see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am sure it will be worth it in the long run. Sending healing hugs. x
So incredibly sorry that you are having such a crappy time. I hope that things will start to improve now for you. Good luck with the physio🤞. Lots of love and hugs 🤗 xx
Sending love and gentle hugs...thank goodness you are so grounded and have the good support. Hope the worst is behind you, physioterrorist notwithstanding, and that you heal well from now (that stitch looks something else!)
I’m sorry to hear how you are after your 2nd knee op. I read with interest about your reaction to morphine as I’m on the waiting list for my first knee op. You’re in my thoughts and I send you gentle hugs.
I'm so sorry to read this but love your humour and staying posative. I know what you mean my broken leg is a bit more than sore but the impressions of time walking by my husband and his blackmail of I'm devoted to you as long as you say that I can go for a week in May to play golf in Portugal is keeping me going. My boot is covered in Peppa Pig stickers and its the silly things like putting on socks which is making time. But at least no morphine just paracetamol although I was offered gas and air when they xrayed my leg. It was a no no for a lot of pain relief as it has a low clearance rate so my kidney function could be affected. Luckily taking paracetamol worked fine and now as the bruising fades the pain is improving. I'm so lucky the break was not down to bone problems and it is healing which is a good thing. I know its healing as movement is much easier and so hopefully at fracture clinic tomorrow its off to the phsioterrorist (I love that) for more help. Worst thing so far is the crumbs on the kitchen work surface and resisting the urge to say " can you wipe the tops please" as I don't think he can even see them because he doesn't notice trivia like crumbs. The cleaner comes today and so by tonight things will look nice again and no crumbs anywhere and I'll be able to see in my mirrors. lol XX I hope this makes you smile too as your post made me chuckle. All best wishes and love.
Sending gentle hugs Allanah, my brother in America had the same op and is still in pain but hes coping. He says hes coping with help from his wife and family and numerous phone calls to me! God knows how i help him cope!😅 Youve got this, you took the right steps already by contacting your gp, then coming on here. Keep fighting.
ah he knows the feeling the american fb site is awful. They boast day 1 back at work, day 2 on my bike like pinocchio!!!! The uk knee replacement site us better!
He doesnt do Facebook anymore, but he used to phone my mum every Sunday but she passed away last year so now he phones me instead. Sadly Idont hear anything from my other brothers who live 5 and 10 minutes away from me but hes the only one who keeps in touch, well thats families for you.
Sorry to hear of the negative effects morphine had on you and I hope that your healthcare team are taking actions to find another pain medication to help you during this time and to support you in your mental health as much as physical.
Please remember you can self-refer onto a talking therapy here: nhs.uk/mental-health/
Below are some other resources which I hope will help you take care of your mental health and wellbeing at what I am sure is a difficult time for you.
I hope you find this information useful and wish you all the best. Should you require any additional information or support please contact our helpline on 0800 298 7650 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4.30pm) or email us at helpline@nras.org.uk
I was in a place i didnt know i was wrong to be thinking that way !! It was when i stopped the morphine i felt, omg what was that. At the time it was very sensible!!
Im glad the gp was so straightforward and helpful. Thanks for all the nras help x
Just read your post E, so sorry to hear what you’re going through. I hope that you have managed to get your stitch sorted out today and that you’re feeling better despite the pain. It’s surprising how some drugs can affect you, especially when you’ve had them before without a problem. It’s good that you realised what was occurring and that your GP was on the ball (and reachable). Hugs xxx
yes the receptionist was like whats the problem, i said its personal , she said can you give me a clue so i can help more quickly, i said im gonna kill myself, phone call back 1 minute!
Weird as im the most positive person on the planet by nature! Very strange ..... and i hope thats the last i ever get !
Allanah. Me again! I’ve just remembered. When i was first diagnosed with RA. I was 21 like i said. I was on alot of serious painkillers, steroids, anti inflammatories. I was on sulphasalazine. (8 a day of those). Indocid (6 a day of those). Serious meds. I was married at the time. My brother in law came into the room. Suddenly i didn’t recognise him. I asked who he was. We often joked around. He laughed. Then he could see by my eyes. (They were blank, dead). He was worried. Told my husband. I couldn’t make any sense of a tv programme we were watching. I couldn’t read, or write. I was a total zombie. My husband rang my rheumatologist. She was lovely. Very calm & said that’s fine. We’ll just lower the dose. I was ‘normal’ the next day. A very scary experience. Glad you’ve come off the morphine. X
Sorry to hear your struggles Allanah, it does sound grim. It can only get better so stay with the physioterrorist - loved this. It’s a long journey sometimes.
tired of it 2011 ra , wheel chair bound, treatment for ra started , onto sticks etc . Chemo and radiation for RA non malignant growths 20 weeks , day care monthly tcz , more physio, etc etc hand surgery for weird joint fibromas .spinal surgery . Left knee replacement last november , right knee 4 weeks ago .yep long haul.
However i have a very RARE form of RA , so dont panick!!!
Gosh you’ve had a journey and a half. Just take it easy and day at a time type stuff. I will need to get my knees done in the future but reacted badly enough to cocodamol!! Gas & air for me I think. You’re very brave for having both done in a year. I predict limbo at Christmas. Take care xx
Hey Allanah. We’ve never ‘met’. But we all know about pain on this forum. I’ve had RA since i was 21. (51 now). About 20 yrs ago I had to have both my big toes fused at the same time. (I found walking very painful). Had to wear those awful big shoes after with crutches for about 3/4 months. Total agony. The only plus about those horrible big shoes, was. I always got a seat on public transport! One day i was getting on the escalator at Holborn Station. A couple were giving me a weird look. So i was giving them a weird look too. Then as i got to the top of the escalator. They yanked me up!!! I was so grateful. People are very kind when they see someone’s vulnerable.
I was on morphine too. Thank God i didn’t get a bad reaction to it. It’s so important to address any mental health issues as soon as possible. You totally did the right thing. Great gp too. I’ve felt quite low when i’ve overdone the vino & i’ve told myself, this is only a temporary mood. Then i’ve made myself a coffee, put something funny on my tablet & sobered up!
I’m actually in bed now. In agony. Because of the immuno infusion i have for RA. I’ve got strep throat. On antibiotics. 8 a day for 5 days. Feels like i’m swallowing glass. Plus i feel so ill. The immuno drugs really help treat the condition. But they leave you open to infection too. I’m still so grateful for the treatment though!
It is sad about the Queen. I can honestly say. I will not be queuing to see the body. I can’t stand for 20 mins. Let alone 20hrs!!!!!!!!! I might go & look at the crazy people queuing. I can’t believe people are actually going to do this.
Good luck with your knee. Pain is a bloody pain!!! X
today is better! I slept !!!! and hubby drove me to a coffee shop , it was lovely. Back in quickly ice and ekevated legs and painkiller but it was lovely
Hi, so sorry you've been having it so bad. I vividly remember my tkr.....unbelievable pain. Had a hip replacement last year, and couldn't believe how much easier it was!
Despite the pain then, I have been so grateful longterm that my knee was done, it gave me my life back!
Wonderful that you are expecting a grandchild. That will pull you through.......the most brilliant experience! Gives you an incentive to get there quickly.
Take care, don't give in.....you will make it!! xx
thank you xxx week 5 now , knee 1 creaking and groaning and knee 2 aching but im managing physio and sleeping a bit !! Doc said i need the morphine but only 2.5mls at night for break through pain so ive taken his advice, all be it reluctantly but it seems to have helped
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