hi julie   my name is tanya
and yes am sooo happy with my procedure... i havent hurt in a while i get the little jabs once in a while and (i know bad me) i forget to take my ra pills ....lol  i take them like three times a week when i remember and thank god so far my dr told me to cut them in half and take them twice a day  i was tking them four times a day ! so yes really saw improvement and he told me i might be able to get off completely once i reach 100lbs loss...really exicted i did not know we could take shots ..but again am early on the RA so i dont knwo if that makes a difference. so good luck to you and praying all goes well ...when is your surgery? talk to ya soon   Tanya

I am still awaiting my surgery date for RNY, but am using the Voltaren gel.  I have had 5 knee surgeries and was about to go nuts without my celebrex, but my PCP and ortho doc both said to use it.  I have OA and FMS and a tenative diagnosis of RA and am only 38 so i understand the worry.  The oral NSAIDS are so hard on the stomach lining and that is why we can't use them post op.  The gel has helped although my kids and dogs avoid me after the fact..(it doesn't smell very good) Hope this helps...

I also havve osteoarthritis in both knees. I also had arthoscopic knee surgery on my left knee to remove a menicous tear. I been going to physical therapy and they gave me exercises to do at home. They also put me on the recumbent bike. I told them I could never do a regular exercise bike because of the pain in my knees. I was suprised by the recumbent bike on how it did not bother my knees. My hubby bought me one for Easter and it is my daily exercise now. I start at 10, 30, 45 and now am at 60 minutes a day. I do have to take my feet off for a minute about every 20 minutes because my feet would go numb from the diabetic neuropathy. I do have plantar faciitis and heel spurs. Standing to long and walking to much bothers them. So the recumbent bike has really been my tool of exercise. We also have a wii fit but haven't used in such a long time I need to get my knees and feet to stop hurting first. I have a mri schedule for thursday for my right heel. Therapy isn't helping anymore and had one shot as well.

hi linda, thank you for the info...ould you send me some of the info that you nutritionist gave you about eating to lose on the lowest end that may help me...congrats on your weight loss!

I had surgery on my left knee in 2005 and on the right in 2006. I had RNY last July in hopes of keeping my knees and less pain--no such luck. I've lost 3 lbs in the past 3 months and know I need exercise, but doing any type of exercise that uses my knees is the pits. I took Pilates and had to drop out after I realized I was taking vicodin everyday. Usually I'll take it when I want to cry and then it just makes the pain tolerable. I think I am much more active so maybe like others, that's what is making the pain worse.

We have season passes to the zoos and Sea World, but I just realized I'd have to go in a wheelchair. Did that once and it was awful. I'm finding all the things I wanted to do after my RNY, that I'm not doing because of my knees.