On 9/13/2025 at 11:34 PM, Briggsy said:

calcium tablets

 

There are warnings about calcium tablets. 

If you're only taking them for a couple of weeks, it may not be an issue though. I'm not sure.

 

Talk to your doc.

Also, consider that you want to "stay ahead" of increasing pain.

Instructions for dosage often say "daily, as needed" for this reason.

It's harder to control if you let it become severe, sounds like this is for short term pain management.

No need to "white knuckle" it if pain becomes increasingly severe.

But bottom line consult with your doc.

Flaming/bickering posts removed.

 

Please kep it civil and helpful. 

So just to recap.

I was in excellent health, taking no medication. I required a tendon reattachment surgery.

 

In total, I have been prescribed 9 different medicines within one week of the operation.

 

2 painkillers (tramadol 10 days, pregabalin 15 days)

1 antibiotic (dicloxacillin 5 days)

2 supplements (calcium & vitamin D3 50 days, vitamin B1,B6,B12 33 days)

1 anti-inflammatory (dexketoprofen 10 days)

1 benzodiazepine tranquiliser (lorazepam 5 days)

2 corticosteroids (prednisolone 5 days, triamcinolone acetonide 6g tube)

 

Apart from a small unexplained rash (near the point of the post-op nerve blocking anaesthetic) there is no call for extra medication.

 

I did ask the doctor and he simply said all medication should be taken as prescribed until the pills are finished. 

 

I cannot believe this is not over-prescription. I do not believe it is in my best interest to take all these strong medicines simultaneously. 

 

The prescribed calcium intake via supplement is 1.5 times the recommended daily intake. I eat a very balanced diet with lots of fruit, veg and dairy. So even a straightforward prescription of a mineral supplement has been over-prescribed. If I followed the doctor's instructions, I would be taking around 2.5 times the recommended daily calcium intake for 50 days.

 

I did not and will not start the lorazepam or prednisolone.

I discontinued the pregabalin.

I have reduced the dosage for the tramadol, dexketoprofen and calcium & vitamin D3

I took the dicloxacillin, vitamin B1,B6,B12 and triamcinolone acetonide as prescribed.

 

Many years ago, I remember getting a similar haul of drugs from Lat Phrao Hospital. Eventually I ended up going to another hospital, The new doctor looked at the bag of drugs and just said, "Throw them in the bin."

50 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

So just to recap.

I was in excellent health, taking no medication. I required a tendon reattachment surgery.

 

In total, I have been prescribed 9 different medicines within one week of the operation.

 

2 painkillers (tramadol 10 days, pregabalin 15 days)

1 antibiotic (dicloxacillin 5 days)

2 supplements (calcium & vitamin D3 50 days, vitamin B1,B6,B12 33 days)

1 anti-inflammatory (dexketoprofen 10 days)

1 benzodiazepine tranquiliser (lorazepam 5 days)

2 corticosteroids (prednisolone 5 days, triamcinolone acetonide 6g tube)

 

Apart from a small unexplained rash (near the point of the post-op nerve blocking anaesthetic) there is no call for extra medication.

 

I did ask the doctor and he simply said all medication should be taken as prescribed until the pills are finished. 

 

I cannot believe this is not over-prescription. I do not believe it is in my best interest to take all these strong medicines simultaneously. 

 

The prescribed calcium intake via supplement is 1.5 times the recommended daily intake. I eat a very balanced diet with lots of fruit, veg and dairy. So even a straightforward prescription of a mineral supplement has been over-prescribed. If I followed the doctor's instructions, I would be taking around 2.5 times the recommended daily calcium intake for 50 days.

 

I did not and will not start the lorazepam or prednisolone.

I discontinued the pregabalin.

I have reduced the dosage for the tramadol, dexketoprofen and calcium & vitamin D3

I took the dicloxacillin, vitamin B1,B6,B12 and triamcinolone acetonide as prescribed.

 

Many years ago, I remember getting a similar haul of drugs from Lat Phrao Hospital. Eventually I ended up going to another hospital, The new doctor looked at the bag of drugs and just said, "Throw them in the bin."

 

 

As a general rule, pain medications need not be taken if not needed i.e. no pain or pain mild enough to be relived by simple paracetemol. Exception for NSAIDs which, while helping pain, also have an anti-inflammatory action.

 

But rather than deviating from doctor's advice on the other meds (especially the prednisolone and the NSAID) I suggest you change doctors altogether, to one whose judgement you trust and who can clearly discuss with you what medications are and are not needed. 

 

Have you already had the surgery? Or is it scheduled for future? I am unclear as some of your posts sounded like the former and some the latter.

 

Are you located in Bangkok? Which tendon is involved?

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Have you already had the surgery?

I had the surgery 7 days ago.

 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Are you located in Bangkok?

No, Pattaya

 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Which tendon is involved?

Distal biceps tendon

2 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

I had the surgery 7 days ago.

 

No, Pattaya

 

Distal biceps tendon

https://www.pattayainterhospital.net/doctordetail.php?id=5&name=DR.DANAI PANDAENG

 

Has been recommended by other board members

 

Not taking the pain meds is no biggie, but altering the steroid and antinflammatory doses on your own is unwise as these meds can help with tendon healing. Steroid doses in particular need medical supervision/advice. 

1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

https://www.pattayainterhospital.net/doctordetail.php?id=5&name=DR.DANAI PANDAENG

 

Has been recommended by other board members

 

Not taking the pain meds is no biggie, but altering the steroid and antinflammatory doses on your own is unwise as these meds can help with tendon healing. Steroid doses in particular need medical supervision/advice. 

Ok, that's great but the prednisolone and the other steroid were only an add-on prescription today without explanation 7 days after the operation possibly in response to me mentioning I had a rash near my armpit. If it were to strengthen the tendon, they would have been prescribed from immediately after the operation.

 

The tendon itself appears to be healing well according to the doctor who felt it through the skin. 

 

The NSAID is a combination pill with tramadol. So, if I want reduce the tramadol, it reduces the NSAID. If I want to keep the NSAID as prescribed, I have to take pointless Tramadol. I have no pain. However, I can see the logic of the anti-inflammatory.

 

I am of the opinion this doctor is a big over-prescriber. If I asked him what he had prescribed to me, I don't think he would have a clue.

19 hours ago, Sheryl said:

But rather than deviating from doctor's advice on the other meds (especially the prednisolone and the NSAID) I suggest you change doctors altogether, to one whose judgement you trust and who can clearly discuss with you what medications are and are not needed. 

As you say, the best advice to always get a second opinion if you're not confident in what your doctor is telling you. Doctors are fallible.

In Europe millions of elderly are addicted to Lyrica. My mother can no longer go to sleep if she takes less than 75mg. Lyrica is probably no better than benzos when it comes to addiction. Note that unlike the "profen" drugs, Lyrica will has no anti-inflamatory effect.