Lortabs and the ortho doc & knee replacement

Your ortho surgeon sounds like an ass. Is there another one you can go to? Chronic pain is MUCH different than acute pain and pain control differs depending on what category you fit into. I had bilateral total knee replacements less than a year ago and took Aleve in the AM and PM and Vicodin as needed. Because my knees were so bad, I didn't find the Vicodin helped much and only took about 3-4 pills a week.

The fact is, once your knee is replaced and you get over the acute post-op phase, you won't need ANY pain medication. Right now, you need the pain medication to function on a daily basis and not to get a high. Any rheumatoid specialist will tell you to remain on your pain mmanagement regime until surgery. Start looking for another surgeon.

Stacy,
There is not another ortho in the area that I would trust to be honest ! He just really scared me with his talk of getting off the Lortabs pre-op. You are right Chronic pain is different from acute pain.  I wish I could take Aleve, but can't as it is an NSAID.

I am looking forward to no pain meds ! Last night I sat in the hot tub and let it massage me. I hurt so bad after he manipulated the bad knee ! Then I came in and took a pain pill and a sleeping pill and headed to bed. Needless to say I slept like a log. I do have less pain this a.m., but I have not done much this a.m. yet as I am sitting here with breakfast.

I am going to see how I do this a..m. without pain meds. I have some clients to take care of and a little laundry to do. If it starts to get bad maybe I will try Tylenol first and see what happens. If it does not work, I can go back to the Lortab and fib to the ortho ! Bad I know..but I need to function on a daily basis !

If he's the ortho you're stuck with, I agree with you. Do what you have to in order to function, tell him what he wants to hear, and let the anesthesiologist know that you've been taking pain medication for X amount of months/years.

Good idea on just tell the anesthiologist !  I will be having a spinal, so I will just be given twilight meds.