# Surgical Question (need answer fast) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491 "2009-01-15T21:02:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/1 "2009-01-15T21:02:36Z")
So I had an ACL reconstruction this morning at 7:30 CST. They reconstructed my ACL with a chunk o’ patellar tendon under general anesthetic. I had a femoral nerve block prior to general anesthesia. Woke up in recovery about 11 am and was - according to the nurses and anesthesi-whatsits - remarkably lucid from the get-go. So they send me home (with the wife’s assistance) about an hour early (11 am) and here I sit, several naps later, on my couch. ITCHING LIKE CRAZY EVERY 5 MINUTES. Is this a side-effect of the general? Or (please god not) a side-effect of the Oxycodone that I’m supposed to take like clockwork every three hours for next 48h+. Is this normal? Anything I can do to mitigate or eliminate? HOLY CRAP THE ITCHING WON’T STOP!! thanks in advance, you are not my doc, I am not your patient, etc etc. make it stop please _whimper_ ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/2 "2009-01-15T21:16:18Z")
Is your itching all over or located in one spot? When I had hand surgery, they did sedation with a nerve block. My hand/arm was itchy due to the nerve block. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/3 "2009-01-15T21:19:19Z")
All over my body - and it definitely comes in waves. I idly scratch my nose or something and suddenly I’m consumed with waves of ‘OMFG it itches!!!1!’ for a few minutes and then it stops. Really odd, and horribly bothersome. (No real pain whatsoever, though - so I’ve got that going for me, which is nice…) Oh yeah, I’ve also had the hiccups 3 times since I woke up. Is that normal? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/4 "2009-01-15T21:25:47Z")
IANAD but with my surgeries I often had itching as a result of pain meds. They gave me benydryl for it. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/5 "2009-01-15T21:32:59Z")
It’s probably the oxy. According to [drugs.com](http://drugs.com): Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as: nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite; dizziness, headache, tired feeling; dry mouth; sweating; or itching. I had the same reaction to Vicodin. Just waves of itching. Unbelievable itching. Fortunately, I was able to handle the pain with Tylenol 3. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/6 "2009-01-15T22:31:55Z")
I get itchy from codeine. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/7 "2009-01-15T22:36:31Z")
Opiates do that. Scratch lightly. It’s OK ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/8 "2009-01-15T23:11:01Z")
Is itching a side effect of hydrocone or only oxycodone? ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/9 "2009-01-15T23:11:03Z")
I agree with **Khadaji** take some Benadryl for the itching. It is probably the pain meds making you itch. IANAD so I would call your doctor first to make sure. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/10 "2009-01-16T00:30:33Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I get itchy from codeine. So what’s your problem? Minor side effect, that.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hirundo82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/919ad9/32.png) [@Hirundo82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirundo82)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/11 "2009-01-16T01:20:12Z")
Opioids can cause release of histamine from mast cells directly (ie it is not an allergic reaction as it does not require antibodies that recognize the drug), resulting in itching and sometimes in hives. Benadryl usually takes care of the symptoms–it may also increase the effect of the narcotics. IANAD. As always, check with your doctor before mixing medications. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/12 "2009-01-16T04:36:01Z")
> [@](#): > > IANAD. As always, check with your doctor before mixing medications. Also check with your pharmacist, as they’re more extensively trained about drug interactions than are most doctors. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/13 "2009-01-16T06:53:17Z")
It seems picker has never been around a junkie. heh heh. It’s the Oxy. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/14 "2009-01-16T15:08:18Z")
well, that’s a bummer… I was hoping it was a side effect from the general. So I’ve got a month of this too look forward to? Great. And in other news, my nerve block wore off in the night. Holy crap. I swear I can feel where they drilled the hole in my tibia. They were very loose in their recommendations for when to take the meds - 1 to 3 pills as needed every 2-3 hours for pain. What’s the safe upper bound here? I’m 6’, 230 pounds, more muscle than fat (but plenty of both). I’d like to kill the pain as much as possible but I’m petrified of opiates and the possibility of addiction. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/15 "2009-01-16T15:46:58Z")
May be a little late to help you, but in exactly the same situation, I found that the nerve block wore off a little faster than the opiates kicked in, and I should have started the pain pills the instant I got the first twinges of feeling, instead of waiting until it really started hurting. Well, that was two hours of no fun, but the opiates did eventually kick in, after something like 4 pills in two hours, and after that I never needed to go above the recommended 2 per four hours (or whatever). I wouldn’t worry if you’re right at the upper recommended dose; particularly if you’re paying attention and lowering the dose as soon as you can. I found I didn’t have to worry about addiction: the pills were sometimes amusing, but pretty soon I wanted my digestive system working again. Also, I found that not eating when I was nauseous made it worse, and making sure I put something in my stomach helped. And don’t forget the metamucil! ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/16 "2009-01-16T16:35:40Z")
Contact a medical professional, not us. Seriously. We’re great for anecdotes and support, not diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/17 "2009-01-16T18:08:39Z")
As others have said, the itchiness is probably a side-effect of the medication. But it might have a more mundane cause. Presumedly they shaved the area around the surgery and now your hair is growing back. ---
**Author:** ![purple\_cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@purple\_cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_cow)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/18 "2009-01-16T18:48:44Z")
Try getting your doctor to change your opiate. People react differently to each one. Hydrocodone makes me throw up continually, oxycodone is fine. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/19 "2009-01-16T19:16:37Z")
oops! see below post ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgical-question-need-answer-fast/481491/20 "2009-01-16T19:19:18Z")
The itching can be from the pain meds, or it could be from narcotic administered during surgery (morphine/fentanyl). You really don’t need to be taking more than 2 pills every 4-6 hours. You shouldn’t get addicted to the pills as long as you are taking them only for pain relief–you also shouldn’t need to take them for more than a few days. Contact your doctor and find out if you can take something OTC like ibuprofen for breakthrough pain. I would imagine they also gave you post-op instructions regarding the use of ice. --Disclaimer–This is only given as general advice, and you should check with your healthcare provider regarding any questions you might have–