Health - Bursitis knee injury. Opiates? Medical records?

[ChoppedandFaded]

A few years back when swim was wrestling in highschool he took a hard shot to the knee when his opponent hit him with a double leg takedown. He twisted it and landed in an extremely weird manner and has had problems ever since.

The doctors said the problem was bursitis of the knee, where the bursor sac fills with fluid and causes pain. Swim initially waited a couple weeks after the hit until his knee was completely full of a orange goopy substance. This was drained and swim wore a knee wrap for several weeks. After this, swim continued to experience problems throughout the last several years with his knee.

He has had to go back several times to have it drained during flair ups and has been limited from doing any long distance running or lower body weight lifting because he is certain that the knee will fill once again with the devilish orange goop and cause pain.

Recently, whether it be from the extremely cold weather or perhaps swim causing unbenownst injury to his knee the problem has once again returned. Only this time the pain is nearly unbearable. Swim can hardly walk around his house without a sharp nagging pain in the knee.

Now swim plans to go and visit an orthopedic surgeon asap but was wondering if pain medications are typically given for Bursitis of the knee. He knows a few friends who've had similar problems with the shoulder and been prescribed oxycodone. Swims goal is not to just walk in and get pain meds, but this has gotten to the point where swim is in a lot of pain and a few vics would definitely help at this point.

Swims question is, does anyone know if pain medications are typically given for knee problems such as "Water on the knee"? Obviously a long term solution to the problem is what swim is looking for. He's expecting to go into the doc, have the knee drained once more and then be injected with cortisol or some other NSAIDS, but figures a script for a mild painkiller might not be out of the question considering how much pain he is currently experiencing.

The other question swim had is, in the US, do all doctors have access to a patients full and complete medical history, perhaps even dating back to before the person was 18? The reason swim ponders this is he was sent to rehab at 16 in relation to Oxycodone addiction. Would something like this be available in swims medical records and if so, would every doctor swim ever visits be able to view these records openly, w/o swims consent?

Swim wonders this because if this is the case, his chances of receiving any narcotic pain killers pretty much goes out the window.

Once again, swim realizes that a long term solution for his knee is what is needed, not simply a script for 30 vics, but also figures when swim is in this much pain, a little assistance in the way of some opiates would certainly help the process along.

Thanks so much to any swimmers who can answer these questions or perhaps fill me in if they've experienced bursitis of the knee in the past. Swim apologizes if this is posted under the wrong section but is pretty sure he may have posted it under the correct area.

Thanks

[award11]

It would not be uncommon for a pain doctor to prescribe an opiate along the lines of oxycodone or hydrocodone for your knee pain but it really depends on the dr. If swim knows someone that goes to a particular dr and gets said medication it might be a good idea for you to consider going to the same doctor. You should be very clear about the severity of your pain.

Most states will not have access to an entire medical history of swim however some states are in the process of setting up such a system. Tennessee is one.. It is likely that you will be asked questions concerning opiates and addiction in the paperwork you fill out on your initial visit. This may or may not be the case depending on what kind of doctor you see. SWIM should ask friends and co workers about who they would recommend seeing, some doctors write very liberally while others seldom write. I would not worry about the rehab visit unless your primary care physician was involved with that visit and then you get him involved with this situation as well. Then it could show up.... Lastly, if SWIM used had a problem with oxycodone in the past, SWIM will likely have a problem in the future if he begins using them again. It's easy to go from "just enjoying the feeling" to having to take them just to function. True opiate addiction or physical dependence is not fun..... It's a long, tough road that often leads to jails, institutions and even death.

[ChoppedandFaded]

Originally Posted by award11

It would not be uncommon for a pain doctor to prescribe an opiate along the lines of oxycodone or hydrocodone for your knee pain but it really depends on the dr. If swim knows someone that goes to a particular dr and gets said medication it might be a good idea for you to consider going to the same doctor. You should be very clear about the severity of your pain.

Most states will not have access to an entire medical history of swim however some states are in the process of setting up such a system. Tennessee is one.. It is likely that you will be asked questions concerning opiates and addiction in the paperwork you fill out on your initial visit. This may or may not be the case depending on what kind of doctor you see. SWIM should ask friends and co workers about who they would recommend seeing, some doctors write very liberally while others seldom write. I would not worry about the rehab visit unless your primary care physician was involved with that visit and then you get him involved with this situation as well. Then it could show up.... Lastly, if SWIM used had a problem with oxycodone in the past, SWIM will likely have a problem in the future if he begins using them again. It's easy to go from "just enjoying the feeling" to having to take them just to function. True opiate addiction or physical dependence is not fun..... It's a long, tough road that often leads to jails, institutions and even death.

Wow thank swiy for all the helpful information. I definitely appreciate it. Swim realizes the addiction potential of oxycodone and the negative events that it can lead to, however when he was sent to rehab he didn't have a huge problem with it. It was more out of hysteria from swims parents finding a large amount of it and being concerned than true addiction. Swim has always known when to stop in order to avoid the painful withdrawals and negative consequences but isn't opposed to a shot of heroin or 120 mgs up the nose on a friday night after a long work week.

Swim hasn't dabbled with opiates in a while so even 20-30 vicodin or percs would be a bit of a treat. Hopefully swim finds a long term solution to his knee problem and gets lucky enough to have some fun along the way.

[ChoppedandFaded]

This experience sucked. Swim not only left without any opiates but was ordered to take an expensive MRI and then further told there was nothing wrong with his knee. (As if the pain he feels hobbling around all day is just imaginary). Swim might have to hit the pain management clinic soon.