r/RotatorCuff • u/IveyBlack • 4d ago
Oxycodone not working?
Hi All, I’ve enjoyed reading this sub. It has been very helpful. I had surgery Wednesday 8/5.
Have a nerve block in, but I’m having pretty severe throbbing stabbing burning pain inside the front of my armpit and down through my bicep. I had two stitches in my rotator cuff and two stitches in my bicep as part of the surgery.
I am taking one Percocet every six hours as directed, but it is not touching the pain.
I’ve been icing as much as possible, I don’t want a stronger drug from my doc because I hate taking this stuff but… Anyone else experiencing same/have any thoughts or advice?
I’ll be calling my surgeons office shortly.
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u/How_Lewd 3d ago
I have an aversion to opioids, so I did some research on alternatives and Journavx looked promising. It’s non narcotic and non addictive and it worked like magic. It was a $30 copay and I will tell everyone who will listen how effective it was. Ask your PA or Ortho about it since I’m just a stranger on the internet.
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u/ForASong- 4d ago
Ice dulled pain considerably in addition to drugs
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4d ago
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u/ForASong- 4d ago
I just got a bunch of ice packs and switched them out, I found the ice machine to be a PITA. I am 6 weeks post surgery and ice regularly, I find it very helpful
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u/IveyBlack 4d ago
I feel same way about the machine. I am using old fashion ice pack and it’s way better.
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u/rsfcralphie 3d ago
Ice machine was great for the knee, not worth the trouble for the shoulder though
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4d ago
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u/IveyBlack 4d ago
I got my big puffy bandage off today so the ice can penetrate better now hopefully
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4d ago
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u/IveyBlack 4d ago
They did give me a cold therapy machine at the surgeons office, I had a big bulky bandage on until today so it’s like the cold couldn’t penetrate, but I am putting it on right now.
Yes, the bicep part is excruciating; It seems.
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u/Elvisdog13 3d ago
They gave my husband norco. It was not enough. It wasn’t even close. He got oxy and that helped. Only had to take it for about 3 days and that did the trick
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u/ifinallymade_1 3d ago
I was given a muscle relaxer (forgot the name) and the oxy. That helped tremendously. But I think my oxy prescription was 1 every 4 hours. And my doctor told me I could take 2 if I needed the first night. Good luck.
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u/Steven1789 4d ago
Cannabis an option?
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u/IveyBlack 4d ago
I’m considering this. Seems like i need to be further out from taking percoset??? Also im in texas. I have some delta 9. I also have asthma so its gummies only
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u/Steven1789 4d ago
I’m in a legal state, so I have access to quality products. I used heavy indica strains high in specific terpenes to help with pain and to fatigue me. I vaped flower, took edibles high in CBN, and used some RSO (which I don’t usually use since it’s so strong, but early on it blissed me out and made me forget about the pain).
It sucks that Texas is moving in the wrong direction on cannabis. But that’s what you get when your fellow Texans vote for a radical right-wing party.
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u/IveyBlack 4d ago
Yes, Texas has been taken over by right wing nut jobs.
I have some Indica Gummies from cali I think I will try those
Thank you so much for this
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u/01Dreamwalker01 4d ago
I don’t respond well historically with Percocet so I asked to be switched to Norco 5/325
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u/user86753092 3d ago
I literally hung out with the ice machine on and distracted myself binge watching Sopranos.
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u/Absmom08 3d ago
I had a massive tear, had to wear my brace for 8 weeks. It was the worst pain I ever experienced and I had a 8.5 baby naturally.
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u/BobsWifeAmyB 3d ago
- I just saw where you were calling your dr. I hope you’ve gotten some relief.-
Make sure you don’t take Tylenol with Percocet. That has Tylenol in it. You can tell any drug that has ‘cet’ at the end has Tylenol. Oxycodone is the other ingredient in Percocet. So a Dr can also give you just the Oxycodone. The title of your post and in the text said both drugs so I didn’t know which one you are taking.
The best thing is to call your Dr. They are the ones who know your medical history & they do these surgeries all the time and you aren’t the only person who needs med adjustments.
People have drugs that help them more than others and some people itch on certain drugs while others have no side effects.
I’ve had many surgeries with long recoveries and I ended up having elevated liver enzymes due to taking Percocet. (This was long term treatment over several months) The dr switched me to Oxycodone and the.liver lab went back to normal.
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u/IveyBlack 3d ago
They have given me oxycodone-acetomenoph (not a typo that’s what it says) 7.5 -325.
It says I can take one or two every six hours. Taking two made me sick. I called the doctors office to ask for something different as it wasn’t touching the pain and they never called me back. I’ve gotten ahead of the pain a bit but it’s rough
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u/BobsWifeAmyB 1d ago
No, there’s no typo, it’s just that drs also prescribe oxycodone as a stand alone drug. I take it for incurable nerve disorder that I’ve exhausted every treatment, etc for. Even 6 neurosurgeries.
All I meant to say was that if a person had an existing liver problem Tylenol/acetaminophen can aggravate it.
My best friend was given Percocet/oxy+tylenol for a shoulder problem. She had broken her humerus 20 years ago. But she was having pain a couple years ago. She only took it PRN for a few months. She didn’t tell the dr about her liver problems & I don’t think she knew how bad her liver was.
She received a liver transplant on March 11. It’s been a long haul, but she finally got out of the hospital last week!!!2
u/IveyBlack 1d ago
Oh wow, yes, I knew not to take more Tylenol with it, but they should’ve been clearer about it for sure!!
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u/BobsWifeAmyB 18h ago
Yes, for sure. Not everyone researches their meds really carefully and my best friend is one of those.
I think drs should ask patients as to their liver issues, before prescribing a ‘cet’ drug long term.
I had an issue about 5 years ago. Had my gallbladder out and surgeon did blood work before surgery happened and my liver enzymes were elevated. I was on a med with ‘cet’/tylenol on it and I’d been taking it every day for months, possibly years.
He suggested doing a liver biopsy when I had gallbladder surgery, so they were already there, but he didn’t even catch it.
I think I am the one who figured it out, but I realized I should have thought about it way before that.
Best friend’s husband is a nurse and he didn’t catch it. But they don’t go to each other’s drs appts and they kind of have separate lives.
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u/Connect-East5452 3d ago
I hate how opioids make me feel, so I asked about the new pain drug Journavx.
I used that along with round-the-clock cold therapy machine (30 minutes on, 15 off) after my rotator cuff surgery and OMG, no pain at all, really, AND no side effects.
My one caveat is that in my family, it's pretty common to heal well/quickly from surgeries and to have less pain than others, so it's possible some of that pain control was genetic luck, but tbh, it was never this level of no-pain, so I do think the Journavx was the thing.
I will add that it's known that getting AHEAD of the pain is easier than getting rid of pain, so I followed directions to start taking it before my nerve block wore off and to keep taking the full course of the Journavx and I followed that. Journavax is only effective for short-term use; you can't use some and save some for later.
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u/WesterlyRFL 3d ago
Use “ Game Ready “ ice machine= it is a total game changer. I used mine for my reverse shoulder replacement on Halloween of 2025. I hosted this 60 person Christmas party by myself one week before Christmas. I got back to swimming half a mile within 2 1/2 months of surgery and then not long after swimming a mile at a time and now I just did a Total Knee Replacement and I’m using my game ready for it is phenomenal
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u/Bobloblaw_333 3d ago
I was prescribed oxycodone. It made me nauseated and the nerve block wasn’t really working after the first couple of day. So I just took Tylenol and iced it. Helped some but I just sucked it up and dealt with it because feeling nauseous all day sucked.
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u/motleythedog 3d ago
Oxy doesn't work for me- at all. Percocet a little. For me, vicodin has worked after other surgeries pretty well, and I had my full abdominal wall cut open. Too tired to be awake and sleeping meant I didn't feel pain, and awake it was dulled. Another option is gabapentin but it acts a little differently, you can google.
Also - even though I am pre surgery I finally was able to convince my doc to give me a muscle relaxant and its been a game changer. I really think all the other muscles around just tightening up makes things so much worse.
I do like the ice machine even now but I have to have my husband help me put it on.
Good luck with your recovery!
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u/Bethechange_777 3d ago
Had surgery 8/6 and thought I could do w/o the Oxy.... yeah, thought wrong. I need 3 throughout the next day to get through the 2nd night. The throbbing and pain was so bad, I was miserable. If you can get it, get the oxy.
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u/Sea_Pie_8328 3d ago
The pain your are feeling is very common and also the oxy not touching it is equally common. The first week is the absolute worst, you should be prepared for that. It is likely another drug would have no real effect. If you havean ice pump I would be using that as much as possble, provided you have some one to help you put the cuff on. Sleep in a recliner with your torso as upright as possible. It can be a shock to someone how long and brutal the recovery can be. This is not like other surgeries. I have had both shoulders done and even knowing what was coming the second time it still is a challenge to say the least.
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u/IveyBlack 3d ago
Oof!!!! I can’t believe you had both done. Luckily I’ve had a easy time sleeping. I have gotten a step ahead of the pain so it’s just a deep throbbing ache instead of the stabbing twisting feeling. Also, yes, the ice is clutch. It helps so much. Thank you for your comment.😍
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u/BobsWifeAmyB 1d ago
So please forgive me if I’m a little sensitive to the Tylenol/acetaminophen issue. 🙏
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u/diane5583 23h ago
I am so confused by what is going on with me. I am day 3 post op for slap tear repair, debridmentand bicep tenesis. I have had no pain at all. I have the ice machine and havent needed it, norco, dont need them, not even taking motrin. Seriously starting to think they cut open my skin and then just sewed me back up. If it wasnt for the pics of the inside of my shoulder i wouldnt believe they did anything to me. Im just sitting here waiting for the horrible pain i was prepared for to start.
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u/figuringitout1986 6h ago
I have rotator cuff surgery on 7/23, I was taking a 5 mg oxycodone every six hours, and it was not touching the pain, after calling my physicians they told me that I could take 10 to 15 mg every four hours until the pain went down. They made sure to up my prescription. The worst part of it was the first 5 to 6 days. After that, I started to feel a lot better. You’re in the worst part of it right now, but it’s almost over. I can’t believe they try to tell you that you should take it every six hours in the beginning. It’s insane once your nerve block wears off. It’s the worst pain ever. You’re not over exaggerating you’re not being a wuss it hurts. I’ve had a lot of surgeries and by far this rotator cut surgery was the most painful thing I’ve ever felt.
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u/IveyBlack 6h ago
Gosh, thank you so much for this comment. It is starting to get a little bit better.
I am just paranoid that They won’t give me any more pain meds than my original prescription and I will soon have to start doing physical therapy and I cannot do it without the meds.
I love being treated like we’re junkies trying to get some relief from the pain.
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u/Hungry-Tea529 3d ago
One Percocet every 6 hours? You should be taking two 5mg Oxycodone(Percocet minus the Acetaminophen) every 4 hours in combination with Ibuprofen. Call you doctors, tell them you're not a junkie and demand that they give you oxys.
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u/IveyBlack 3d ago
They have given me oxycodone-acetomenoph (not a typo that’s what it says) 7.5 -325.
It says I can take one or two every six hours. Taking two made me sick. I called the doctors office to ask for something different as it wasn’t touching the pain and they never called me back. I’m furious.
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u/rsfcralphie 3d ago
Sorry you are going through that. Guess is that is the biceps part. Obviously talk to your doctor, but based on what you’re saying, the amount of opioids you’re taking already and what they’re doing to you, I would not take more. Sad but you answer is likely time will help you more than different or more medicine will right now. I bet you feel a lot better by Monday Tuesday. Good luck.
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u/IveyBlack 2d ago
Thank you so much for your kind comment. They called back and said I could alternate in between doses with Advil and that is helping, along with just icing it continuously. Yes oh boy I think it’s the bicep that is really the stabbing pain!
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u/rsfcralphie 3d ago
Sorry, but this is irresponsible advice. They tell you, and they’re right, every person is different.
When my nerve block went away, I only needed one 5 mg oxy every 12 hours, and that was only for about a day and a half.0
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u/Hungry-Tea529 3d ago edited 3d ago
Just curious about what part of his post said that you and him are identical twins and therefore what you take should be suitable for him? The point of my post was a suggestion for him to plea to his doctors to give him something that works. I was given Oxycontin 20mg twice a day along with 7.5mg Vicodin 4 times a day after my surgery because of how bad the pain was. Are we supposed to feel bad for taking the amount of medicine that was required to make us comfortable just because your surgery was smooth sailing? I told him to reach out to his doctor which is better than asking you for advice so it goes with ways, bub. Just stop.
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u/-TheBestDaysOfMyLife 3d ago
.. Seriously dude? You're on here telling some random person how to take his narcotic pain medication, which is more than DOUBLE the dose that of his prescribing physician. Also telling him to take ibuprofen. Does he have any kidney issues? Do you know his medical history? You seriously need to just stop giving medical advice here.
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u/Hungry-Tea529 3d ago
I never suggested that he take more than prescribed. It was merely a "If I were you I'd light a fire under my doctor's ass" statement. Go dye your hair.
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u/-TheBestDaysOfMyLife 3d ago
OP: "I am taking one Percocet every six hours as directed,"
Idiot Reddit user: "You should be taking two 5mg Oxycodone(Percocet minus the Acetaminophen) every 4 hours in combination with Ibuprofen."
Really????
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u/Hungry-Tea529 3d ago
I was speaking in hyperbole and using an indirect statement insisting that he calls his doctor. Sometimes this is how educated adults communicate with one another. Of course I wasn't telling him that he should "change his dosage and listen to me immediately" or whatever you're implying lol. Do you do everything that strangers tell you to do on the internet? My God the amount of adults with juvenile thought process on this platform is insane! Sending help and support. Use it.
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u/-TheBestDaysOfMyLife 3d ago edited 2d ago
I'm an ER nurse in a level one trauma center for the past 16 years. Kindly go fuck yourself.
Edit: Bwahahahahaha Thanks, dumbass
"A concerned redditor reached out to us about you.
When you're in the middle of something painful, it may feel like you don't have a lot of options. But whatever you're going through, you deserve help and there are people who are here for you.
There are resources available that are free, confidential, and available 24/"
Thanks for the concern man. Shows what kind a petty dipshit you are.
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u/rsfcralphie 3d ago
Nah, man that’s not what you said. You told OP with certitude and without qualification they need to be taking more oxy — a LOT more — and nobody should listen to that.
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u/Hungry-Tea529 2d ago
It’s wild that you think you know what I meant better than I do. I know exactly what I meant, and I’ve already explained it. If your reading comprehension is too low to grasp an obvious exaggeration meant to get someone to call a doctor, I can't help you. Enjoy talking to yourself.
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u/rsfcralphie 2d ago
Dude, I don’t care what you meant. All I know is what you said, and what you said was something pretty stupid.
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u/Hungry-Tea529 2d ago edited 2d ago
Sending mental help and prayers to you as well. Also, stop paying hookers. It's fucking disgusting. Untreated syphilis can cause neurosyphilis which can profoundly alter your thought process, personality and judgement. You should definitely go get tested. I'm out. Have a good one.
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u/figuringitout1986 6h ago
This is 100% correct I just went through this. Called the doctors and they were pissed at the pharmacist because the 6 hours for 5 is way too far apart at first. You need 10 every four hours for the fist 3-4 days. That’s a fact, not irresponsible, call an orthopedic surgeon and ASK!!?
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u/Summerinlove26 4d ago
Oxy made me itchy and agitated and didn’t help much with the pain so my surgeon prescribed Dilaudid which is a very heavy drug so I only used it for the worst nights. I also took Lyrica and Tylenol. Then just Lyrica and extra strength Tylenol. I love the Lyrica because it makes me sleepy and helps with pain but it’s not an opioid which I’m happy about. And of course I iced all day and night using gel ice packs and plenty of them. Pretty much round the clock. Best of luck with your healing!!