Pain after operation - really struggling here :o(

[Greensleeves]

I had a knee operation on Thursday and have been given pretty strong painkillers to control the pain, I didn't get on with the first drug they gave me (Tramadol) as it made me feel completely out of it/panicky, so they have given me codeine phosphate, 60mg every four hours (which is more than I had after my first operation last year and it was adequate then)

so I am taking the codeine, plus paracetamol and ibuprofen also every four hours, and up until today I was managing it OK. I had a physio appt yesterday and the exercises they gave me are very gentle and I didn't have any problems doing them

until today - the pain has got steadily worse today, it seems to be everywhere and the pain medication isn't covering it to a tolerable level now. I also have a slight temperature and am feeling generally knackered and crappy. I can't ask GP for anything else for the pain, he was very nice yesterday and explained to me that what I have got now is the most I could have.

I have tried alternating ice/heat packs but it doesn't really help. The knee is still very swollen and bruised around the cuts but the dressings are clean etc.

any natural pain relief miracles out there?

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Sounds very much like you have an infection. Go to A & E now.

Sorry you're in pain - I am not medically trained at all but it sounds like an infection of some sort - can you call 111 for advice and then go back to GP in the next couple of day so that he/she can look at it?

I would've also tried the ice/heat thing but don't know what else to suggest. It's horrible being in pain, it's tiring and mentally v difficult. Have you got rl support?

I am medically trained. Don't mess about or 'wait and see'. This needs to be sorted now not later.

It doesn't look infected, no nasty weeping or anything

I don't want to be the MNer who posts "My head is hanging off, will I live?" and then just ignores the advice

but I can't walk more than a few metres, on crutches, I don't drive and neither does dh, the kids are asleep in bed... I can't just leap up and go. I will go if I start to feel much worse. We would have to get the kids up, bundle us all in a taxi...aaargh

Take care Greensleeves, and err on the side of caution. The thing is, the infection may not be specifically at the site of the surgery/incision. It's also possible to get more general infections postoperatively, like a lung infection because your breathing has been compromised, or even sepsis, which is truly nasty. If you need to, you could always go in a taxi alone and leave DH with the kids...

raised temp = infection = need medical intervention urgently
Did you get some? I realise your post was last night but you can leave your DP at home with kids as you go alone.