The purpose of the study is to build upon our existing research to: (1) explore the efficacy of a disseminable Opioid Reduction Program (ORP) to reduce long-term use of prescribed opioids following TKR surgery, (2) assess whether lower opioid use following surgery is related to better functional recovery, and (3) model opioid use trajectories following TKR surgery (i.e., MMEs/week for 12 weeks), which will allow us to examine the factors that characterize at-risk groups.~There will be one control arm (Treatment as Usual or TAU) and one experimental arm (Opioid Reduction Program or ORP). The experimental arm will receive the intervention material twice. The first session is pre-surgery, and the second session is a shortened booster session approximately 2-weeks post-op.
In the context of prescribed opioids, research suggests that increased exposure is associated with long-term opioid use. Orthopedic surgeries are associated with the prescribing of more opioid narcotics than any other surgical specialty, particularly for Total Knee Replacement surgery, which is associated with severe post-operative pain. The proposed project is a randomized clinical trial to explore the efficacy of our Total Knee Replacement Opioid Reduction Program (ORP) vs. Treatment As Usual (TAU) in the reduction of opioid use following total knee replacement surgery.