Dr Mark Lennon
Anaesthetist
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Hospital Avenue
Nedlands
Perth, WA 6009
AUSTRALIA
Bethesda Hospital
25 Queenslea Drive
Claremont
Perth, WA 6010
AUSTRALIA
Hollywood Private Hospital
Monash Avenue
Nedlands
Perth, WA 6009
AUSTRALIA
Pain Medications - Joint Replacement Surgery
Continue for 6 weeks after surgery. However if you feel like you would still benefit from further use beyond 6 weeks please consult your GP. You can continue for longer but your GP may wish to consider any cardiovascular risk factors, kidney issues or stomach upset. Generally a dose reduction is appropriate such as only taking for 4-5 days each week.
2 - 6 weeks: Usual total duration
6-12 weeks: Uncommon: needs further medical input
> 12 weeks: Rare: Important to see a pain specialist
AIM TO REDUCE AS SOON AS PAIN LEVELS IMPROVE
Typically patients experience most pain during exercises and walking. In the early stages of recovery (1st 2 weeks) opioids are very useful to facilitate mobilisation and exercises. Over time the expectation is that pain will gradually subside and activities will become easier. At any stage if the activity is causing excessive pain it may be preferable to modify the activity rather than simply increasing the amount of opioid taken.
Opioid medications are very useful in preventing and treating severe pain in the early recovery phase after surgery. However prolonged use can cause problems for some patients. The usual side effects are well recognised and understood. These include drowsiness, constipation, itch, confusion, dizziness, dry mouth and nausea. The less common side effects are potentially more serious and less well understood. These include altering the perception of pain so that over time the body becomes more sensitised to pain and less sensitive to the pain relief effects of the medication. This can lead to increased dosing requirements and potential dependency issues. Opioids can also suppress the immune system and increase the potential risk of joint infections.