Knee Surgery and Constipation

Laxatives, plenty of water and high fibre food - think prunes, grapes, figs!
It’s your pain relief causing the problem.
If you are desperate, suppositories from the chemist will shift things!

If you are on painkillers you will get blocked up and you should have been started on laxatives as a preventive measure before even the first mouthful/needleful of analgesia went in.

Laxido/Movicol is what you need, on top of all the usual dietary measures.

If you're taking painkillers such as codeine it'll make you constipated.
Try taking lactulose but must take with lots of water to make it work properly. Good luck

Thanks so much everyone - I really appreciate it.

An update: It's now 10.30pm in the Uk - I am going to have the worst night sleep ever due to this issue!

Any operation can cause a slowing down and give you this problem
I had it badly after the last op I had and went quite a few uncomfortable days but the advice others have given you is sound Get some ‘stuff’ tomorrow

I didn’t have an operation, but since a bout of food poisoning , my bowels are very sluggish

You must phone the GP tomorrow and get some laxatives.
This happened to me, caused by painkillers (codeine) and probably not moving around much.
The Nurse Practitioner said if it goes on for more than a few days, "you must get yourself to hospital".

Prunes, sprouts, etc didn't help but Laxido did.

I 2nd laxido. Just had hip replacement done and am using laxido and senna morning and evening as on codiene 30mg. Both are helping.😊

After surgery last year I had huge problems induced by all the medication. I took Dioctyl at first which was recommended by the hospital, and then started on a daily dose of Rheal Clean Greens which I still take daily. Makes the world of difference. Expensive but worth it!

The pain relief given in hospital after joint replacement was always accompanied by Laxido. Constipation caused by painkillers affecting bowel motility is well known.
A previous poster on GN once told me that, when he finally 'went', he felt he should notify the coastguard of this new danger to shipping!
This too shall pass...

After Both Hips and a knee replacement, I too was "stuck " it's due to the meds. I was sent home with something but it didn't shift much.
I got more action from just adding pure Bran (I use Oat bran don't do Wheat) and that got it rocking? It's a natural product, I was advised this year's ago by a Hospital Dietician, it worked for me just added it to my Breakfast cereal (bran flakes don't work as well).
Good luck

Strong coffee and oranges for me!

Came home from hospital with Laxido. Didn’t like it but it was very effective! Only needed it for a day, after that my usual diet, plus extra prunes worked fine. Probably helped by the fact that my daughter uses a lot of beans and lentils in her cooking (I was staying with her at the time).

The hospital sent me home with movicol laxative after both knee replacement surgeries. It’s the pain killers blocking you up. Apparently kiwi are natures evacuation fruit I heard a gut doctor say that works for me. Also as soon as you are able reduce the pain meds for me the constipation was worse than the knee pain so with my second knee I only took the meds at night then I didn’t suffer tummy aches.

Years ago greasy bacon and a cigarette worked for me! Not advisable nowadays.
Definitely strong coffee and rock on the pot!
Good luck

I assume you’re on some form of painkillers. I’d ask your gp or pharmacist for some laxido sachets, they not too unpleasant but work quickly.

Have you been prescribed Codeine for pain ?
I call it cement mix !
I recommend Dulcolax .

Bless you and hope you’ve managed some movement . Sennacot liquid is excellent for codeine issues and a good spicy curry can also help things along . Good luck !

After a total hysterectomy. Senna didn't work. I started taking Magnesium Citrate each night and have been regular since then.

I'd problems for 2 days, with both TKR. It's the codeine.

I ate prunes, lentils, and took on a lot of coffee and water.

Pain lasted a short time, hopefully you'll be off painkillers soon.

Rebecca I am SO surprised your GP didn’t send you to the hospital with very strong laxatives. GP’s know the strong painkillers needed post TKR cause chronic constipation!

Just to add I’m post operative 2 TKR.

Try a stool softener like Movicol. Also liquorice is a brilliant laxative. I always eat it after an operation so my bowel doesn't grind to a halt.

I wasn’t sent home with anything other than the injections which I needed to do every day for what seemed too long. Also a raised toilet seat and two sticks.
You just need to get some of the drinks mentioned. It’s coedine that causes constipation. Best avoided if possible otherwise laxido etc. or try lots of warm water…hope you feel better soon.