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Topic: How Much Has WLS helped w Joint and Back Pain
Inquiring minds want to know! Pain is one of my biggest motivators for this surgery. I'd love to hear how much it has helped you with knee, foot and lower back pain* Thanks *so* much! 
*lower back has herniated discs, and I don't think they'll improve *that* much, however all the weight
pulling on that area can't be helping!
*lower back has herniated discs, and I don't think they'll improve *that* much, however all the weight
pulling on that area can't be helping!
Lucy van Pelt
Highest 255 Surgery 248 Current 170
Goal: 150
Highest 255 Surgery 248 Current 170
Goal: 150
Topic: RE: Anyone have relief w/ steroid shots ??
Hi -- I have herniated L5-S1 discs and have had 2 epi cortisone shots so far. I can feel the need for another one coming up! Mine seem to help for about 4 months, then not so much. I'm ready for another one. Oh joy. 
Lucy van Pelt
Highest 255 Surgery 248 Current 170
Goal: 150
Highest 255 Surgery 248 Current 170
Goal: 150
Topic: RE: Knee Arthritis
Molly:
Yep, the leg presses are like "sit down" squats. Just make sure you do little pushes when you do them (i.e. don't bend your knees too much). Treadmill can be good because it is low impact. Just make sure you don't put any incline on it and don't do it too fast. Cartilage has no blood supply. The way it gets nutrients is by absorbing them from the joint fluid (synovial fluid). Think of cartilage as being sponge like. When you walk (like on a treadmill) low impact, that actually probably helps it. But if you do it too fast it is too high impact, and if you do an incline, that can cause too much stress on the ligaments of the knee.
Good luck
btw... one of best quadriceps strenthening exercises which gives no stress to the knees are straight leg lifts. Lay down, put your hands under your buttocks palms facing down and have one knee bent with that foot flat on the floor (prevents back strain). Keep head back and neck relaxed. Raise opposite leg with knee straight until elevated. Move it up and down slowly until you feel a "burn" in the thigh muscle. Do the same number of repetitions on the other leg. Repeat 3 times each leg. Do this 4-5 days a week. If you do this religiously, 3 months later you should start to know significant leg strengthening and lessening knee pain.
Yep, the leg presses are like "sit down" squats. Just make sure you do little pushes when you do them (i.e. don't bend your knees too much). Treadmill can be good because it is low impact. Just make sure you don't put any incline on it and don't do it too fast. Cartilage has no blood supply. The way it gets nutrients is by absorbing them from the joint fluid (synovial fluid). Think of cartilage as being sponge like. When you walk (like on a treadmill) low impact, that actually probably helps it. But if you do it too fast it is too high impact, and if you do an incline, that can cause too much stress on the ligaments of the knee.
Good luck
btw... one of best quadriceps strenthening exercises which gives no stress to the knees are straight leg lifts. Lay down, put your hands under your buttocks palms facing down and have one knee bent with that foot flat on the floor (prevents back strain). Keep head back and neck relaxed. Raise opposite leg with knee straight until elevated. Move it up and down slowly until you feel a "burn" in the thigh muscle. Do the same number of repetitions on the other leg. Repeat 3 times each leg. Do this 4-5 days a week. If you do this religiously, 3 months later you should start to know significant leg strengthening and lessening knee pain.
Don
Topic: RE: Knee Arthritis
Thanks! I did figure out that the hamstring curls hurt too much. I stop doing. I will check the other names of things I do. I think leg presses I do. It a squat sitting down, right? I will copy these names and see what I am doing tomorrow. Thanks again. What about treadmill? I only use it every once in a while. I notice it aggravates my knees more so I do not use often anyway, just wanted you opinion. Thanks again.
HW 611 Pre-opW 580 LW 302 GW 238
Topic: RE: Knee Arthritis
Molly: You should be doing quadriceps strengthening exercises regularly, these are some of the most important ones to do. OA (osteoarthritis) of the knee causes quadriceps dsyfunction which adds to the pain and instability of knee OA pain. Ask your doc to refer you to a good PT to be taught how so you can do them on your own. Don't do the knee extensions and hamstring curls on machines in the gym, they can be harmful. Leg presses on a machine are good as long as you don't bend your knees to much when you do them.
Generally, low impact aerobic exercises to include elliptical, stationary bike, recumbent bike, and water exercises are all good choices to mix it up.
Good luck to you!
Generally, low impact aerobic exercises to include elliptical, stationary bike, recumbent bike, and water exercises are all good choices to mix it up.
Good luck to you!
Don
Topic: RE: RA questions
If nothing is working, the first question is "do you have RA as the cause of your pains?" as there are over 100 causes and types of arthritis.
If you have a very good rheumatologist, then you most likely do have RA. If you don't have a rheumatologist, then make sure you see one to do a complete evaluation and find the correct diagnosis.
Not all RA patients respond to the same meds. Sometimes it takes multiple trials of multiple meds before the correct combination is found. RA is an incredibly complex disease with many parts of the immune system being abnormal. That is why there are so many new medicines being investigated currently, even with such wonderful medicines as Remicade, Enbrel, Humira, Rituxan, etc. being currently available.
Good luck,
If you have a very good rheumatologist, then you most likely do have RA. If you don't have a rheumatologist, then make sure you see one to do a complete evaluation and find the correct diagnosis.
Not all RA patients respond to the same meds. Sometimes it takes multiple trials of multiple meds before the correct combination is found. RA is an incredibly complex disease with many parts of the immune system being abnormal. That is why there are so many new medicines being investigated currently, even with such wonderful medicines as Remicade, Enbrel, Humira, Rituxan, etc. being currently available.
Good luck,
Don
Topic: RE: Do you take Plaquenil?
Dawn: Firstly, there isn't anything called rheumatoid spondylitis (except back in the old days, like before 1960). I suspect that he meant that you either had rheumatoid arthritis (for which Plaquenil is an accepted treatment for mild cases), or ankylosing spondylitis (for which Plaquenil doesn't work so well in most cases.)
Plaquenil is by far one of the safest medicines used for arthritis. It is much safer than medicines such as sulfasalazine, Motrin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.. It "calms down" the immune system without actually suppressing it.
The eye problem scare is definitely blown out of proportion. It stems from the days when much higher doses were used and it could deposit in the back of the eye causing blurred vision, but it was reversible with stopping the medicines. Now, much lower doses are used and it is rare to get an eye problem. It is mainly seen in those who have been on it for 9 years or more, and even not very common in that group at all. As long as you see your ophthalmologist once a year, they'd notice something anytime you would. You can also download an "Amsler grid" off the internet and use it monthly as double insurance. It picks up any type of retina problem.
Otherwise, the vast majority of side effects are mild and dose dependent. Stomach upset is the most common... goes away on a lower dose.
Take it, it is much safer than anything else your doc may use. The bigger question is... will it be enough to control your arthritis? It can take up to a year to work.
Good luck!
Plaquenil is by far one of the safest medicines used for arthritis. It is much safer than medicines such as sulfasalazine, Motrin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.. It "calms down" the immune system without actually suppressing it.
The eye problem scare is definitely blown out of proportion. It stems from the days when much higher doses were used and it could deposit in the back of the eye causing blurred vision, but it was reversible with stopping the medicines. Now, much lower doses are used and it is rare to get an eye problem. It is mainly seen in those who have been on it for 9 years or more, and even not very common in that group at all. As long as you see your ophthalmologist once a year, they'd notice something anytime you would. You can also download an "Amsler grid" off the internet and use it monthly as double insurance. It picks up any type of retina problem.
Otherwise, the vast majority of side effects are mild and dose dependent. Stomach upset is the most common... goes away on a lower dose.
Take it, it is much safer than anything else your doc may use. The bigger question is... will it be enough to control your arthritis? It can take up to a year to work.
Good luck!
Don
Topic: RE: Anyone have relief w/ steroid shots ??
I assume you had an epidural cortisone injection. Is that correct?
If so, then you would have about an 80% chance of having significant pain relief. Many times, a series of 3 injections 1-3 weeks apart from each other to increase the chances for a successful response. But unfortunately, around 20% of patients do not get significant long lasting pain relief. If you did get an epi, you could ask your doctor to try 2 more shots to see if the full series would do you better than one shot.
If so, then you would have about an 80% chance of having significant pain relief. Many times, a series of 3 injections 1-3 weeks apart from each other to increase the chances for a successful response. But unfortunately, around 20% of patients do not get significant long lasting pain relief. If you did get an epi, you could ask your doctor to try 2 more shots to see if the full series would do you better than one shot.
Don
alice T.
on 6/7/10 8:09 am - kansas city, MO
on 6/7/10 8:09 am - kansas city, MO
Topic: RE: Anyone have relief w/ steroid shots ??
Hi there,
I actually had the set of three shots about 10 years ago for sciatica. It probably bought me about 9 months, but I ended up having surgery which worked out fine for me.
Last year I had some bad neck issues and have had 3 sets of 3 shots for my neck. The last set has not helped, so I am seeing an ortho surgeon in July.
I had the synvisc shots in my knee. Those really hurt. Did you have alot of pain with them? They bought me some time but I had arthoscopy about 3 years ago. It has helped, but it seems that both my back, knees and neck are all kicking back in.
Alice
I actually had the set of three shots about 10 years ago for sciatica. It probably bought me about 9 months, but I ended up having surgery which worked out fine for me.
Last year I had some bad neck issues and have had 3 sets of 3 shots for my neck. The last set has not helped, so I am seeing an ortho surgeon in July.
I had the synvisc shots in my knee. Those really hurt. Did you have alot of pain with them? They bought me some time but I had arthoscopy about 3 years ago. It has helped, but it seems that both my back, knees and neck are all kicking back in.
Alice
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