|
...I'm a former bankhart repair club member, and pain management specialist.
Certainly, narcotic pain meds may serve a purpose in your recovery, but many people don't use pain meds correctly, so I'm gonna explain what your doc didn't (they never do).
Try taking ibuprophen (Advil, etc) 400-800 mg every 6 hours AROUND THE CLOCK - even if you're not hurting. If that doesn't work, try your percocet as prescribed at the recommended intervals - even if you're not hurting bad. Combining the percocet with ibuprophen can provide almost *miraculous* results.
One caution: Both ibuprophen and percocet can cause stomach upset. This may be relieved somewhat by taking with food and/or milk.
Also, use ice packs every 4-6 hrs for 20 minutes as necessary to help reduce post-op inflammation.
The problem with pain is that most people don't take pain medicine until they start hurting. Then they pop a pill. Because the half-life of short-acting pain meds is brief - pain relief is temporary. By taking pain meds around the clock, a better therapeutic dose level is maintained in the bloodstream - and thus better pain relief. Don't dicount the use of ibuprophen in combination with a mild narcotic, I have used this technique quite effectively in many terminal cancer patients who had intolerable pain prior to this simple intervention.
* One other thing: Drink plenty of water and eat high fiber foods. Pain meds can cause *blockage*. |
|
there are alternatives to narcotic pain meds - but you may not believe my advice... New 
BoaterTalk 
