Abrignac wrote:... my fingers hurt like hell. Getting Norco every 3 hours. Not really helping.
Norco = Vicodin = hydrocodone with Tylenol. Comes in 5mg, 7.5mg and 10mg. Usually prescribe 1-2 every 4-6 hours for pain as needed. Don't know your opiod tolerance and don't know your dosage. But, I would expect something stronger for the first 2-3 days after surgery , like oxycodone (Percodan/Percocet). More potent and Slightly shorter acting than hydrocodone.
MS Contin and Oxycontin are slow/constant release and last 8-12 hours and provide for a baseline level of pain med in your system. Then you can take something additional when you have break-through pain. But, most orthopaedics don't prescribe like this- pain management, however, does. Some doctors prescribe Phenergan at the same time. It is for nausea and potentiates the opioid painkiller (makes it stronger). It also can make one sleepy.
The biggest mistake people make with opioid pain meds is that they wait until the pain returns before taking the next dose. That is the worst way to do it as long as taking it before the pain breaks through doesn't exceed your dosages. The reason is that once you feel pain and take another pill, that other pill takes about 45 minutes to begin to work.
Hope this helps. Be well...
