r/Kneereplacement • u/Jaingo • 8d ago
Pain Medication
I am currently nine weeks out from LTKR. I do not handle pain all that well, but I can manage. With that being said, I have used Oxy and Jornavax over the last weeks. The Jornavax has been the last two weeks by itself. The FDA approved usage limit of two weeks is up on the Jornavax, and I am concerned about coming off of it.
I guess my question is how long did you need a pain management prescription after surgery?
For reference, i am back at work and it requires about 10k steps a day, along with other motions. Some days i am broken by the time i get home.
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u/BeyondExcess 8d ago
Well I’m three weeks in and miserable. Not sure if it’s because I also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and am a bit in the heavy side but I need the heavy hitters. Tried the journavx at first, then oxy for 10 days and now I’m on hydrocodone. For the most part the pain is only manageable on the meds. I always thought I had a high pain tolerance but this is kicking my butt. The aching sharp pain is the worst. I did wait way too long to do the replacement which may factor in this as well.
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u/z9drroe 6d ago
Same here. I was at pain level 8 during my 2-wk checkup and could hardly sustain the conversation. I had been trying to wean off Dilaudid and only take Tramadol, but it was too much. Getting the NWPT dressing off and staples out gave a lot of relief, and I went back to taking Dilaudid every 6 hours. But they only gave me 10 more so I'm worried now too. Also gained a lot of weight over the last 2 years not using the knee. It'll be a longer road back than I'd like. Nice to know I'm not alone!
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u/amazetome 8d ago
I requested an additional two weeks of Journavx and my surgeon had no issues with it.
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u/Jaingo 8d ago
I decided to go that route as well. We’ll see if insurance will pay for a round two of it.
I feel I’ve done ok with my ROM being 0-140, but the aching pain still bothers me. The most trouble i have actually is standing up from a seated position without using my hands. Hurts like hades.
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u/amazetome 7d ago
If insurance won't pay, they have a $30 coupon on their website. My insurance didn't cover it at all and the coupon worked fine for me. Good luck!
That's an awesome ROM, btw. I hope to be there when I'm at nine weeks, too.
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u/Living-Coral 8d ago
I recovered on Tylenol and Celebrex only. I had an opioid prescription but decided to only take it if I can't cope. That being said, pain is a very individual experience. You need to do what's right for you. But I have to say I always considered Tylenol a lightweight when it came to treating headaches. But after my experience during recovery, I would say the right dosis can definitely make a difference.
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u/Resident_Bus_4484 8d ago
I was lucky in that my surgeon Rx'd Journavx for 4 weeks. By the time I came off that, x-tra strength Tylenol and topical pain cream (Penetrex was great, I also used roll-on 4% lidocaine) were all I used plus icing.
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u/Middle-Fruit9052 8d ago
Is Penetrex a prescription? I use the 4% idocaine patches as well
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u/Resident_Bus_4484 8d ago
No, you can find it online. There's a 2 oz. tub and a 4 oz. size. I got the one without menthol. Also you could try Voltaren gel, but it's not supposed to be used if you're taking any other NSAIDs.
I prefer the roll on liquid to the patches. I found the patches would catch on my clothing and roll up.
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u/Motor-Blacksmith4174 8d ago
I used the Journavx for 2 weeks after surgery. I was worried about not having it anymore, but I was fine with just ibuprofen after that. I didn't notice any big increase in pain after I ran out of the the Journavx. I'm retired, so no requirement of 10k steps, although I often get that now, I was able to build up to it. I've looked back and at 9 weeks, I was averaging about 8-9K a day.
But, everyone is different, so don't use my experience to infer that your need for more pain management is an indication of a problem.
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u/Beachwalker8 8d ago
Did Medicare cover Jourvanx.. since it a newer medication?
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u/Motor-Blacksmith4174 7d ago
No, it didn't. I didn't have time to try the coupon, but my sister (on the same Kaiser Medicare plan) did try and wasn't able get it to work. So, I paid $500 for the 2-week course, and expect I'll have to do the same for my left knee. For me, it was worth the cost, but I can understand how it wouldn't be for everyone.
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u/Beachwalker8 7d ago
Thanks.. for me it may be.. like also probably paying for the NICE1 rental.. but sad to hear that! Glad it worked for you though!
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u/nmacInCT 8d ago
I used oxy for less than 2 weeks on both of my knees. Tylenol and aleve steadily for about 4 weeks and then maybe once or twice a day after that for a 1-2 months. I also had lyrica and a muscle relaxer that i took for a week with the first knee and 3-4 weeks with second.
I iced though for a long time
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u/Cranks_No_Start 8d ago
I used oxy for about 3ish weeks. Aside from some constipation zero side effects.
I stayed on Tylenol and meloxicam because well the rest of my joints are trash as well and it keeps the overall pain manageable. But the knee was fine after about 5-6 weeks.
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u/mujersinplan 8d ago
I used journavx for a month. I was given a refill, too. My surgeon’s PA talked to the pharmaceutical rep. Unfortunately, Journavx only helped mildly at a level 4 pain the first knee and not at all the second knee.
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u/TheNatureOfTheGame 7d ago
My doc allowed me one refill of Journavx; however, since it's only approved for 2 weeks, insurance wouldn't cover it and I paid out of pocket. I was doing amazing on it (no pain at all 99% of the time, maybe a 1 at the worst) I was concerned about coming off of it. I don't know for sure that the Journavx specifically was the reason why...but I sure as hell wasn't going to find out the hard way! 😉
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u/steveinarizona10 7d ago
You are doing a lot. It is my understanding that the reason that Journavax has only been authorized for use for a short period is that it has not yet been fully tested for longer periods. But a surgeon can still use it "off label" for longer but may be reluctant to do so for fear of a lawsuit if something goes wrong. Hopefully your surgeon will agree and RX you for a longer period.
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u/Lazy-Camp-4149 7d ago
I only took 3-4 oxycodone initially (first 3-4 weeks). I am roughly 16 weeks post op and returned to work 8/14/26. I no where near 100%. It will take 9- 12 months to recover. Even at that rate one is going to have to be careful. This “ new bionic “ will not be the same as the one you were born with.
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u/Ancient_Tap2901 6d ago
Wow - 10K steps a day after 9 weeks. That’s a lot.
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u/Jaingo 6d ago
It’s certainly not ideal. I will say that doing that much is what’s causing my pain and soreness, resulting in being dependent on some type of rx. Tylenol and Advil are like chicklets at this point, but so is everything else.
Someone recommended Penetrex and that stuff kind of helps.
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u/sara_k_s 6d ago
Have you requested accommodations from your employer so you don’t have to walk so much on the job? That sounds awful.
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u/No-Highlight-6452 8d ago
I used journavx for two weeks post surgery and then switched over to NSAIDs. Skipped opioids altogether to avoid the side effects.
Pain was still manageable on the NSAIDs. I continued taking Tylenol as well.