Difficulty Walking

I am currently still on a wait list here in Canada (estimates are 3-5 years). My problem is that I am between jobs at the moment (worked up until Dec 2005), and in the last month I have had a lot of difficulty walking. In the last five years I have put on about 75 lb I think, after a lot of stress that occurred in my life. I went out on a job interview yesterday and my knees were killing me when I got home. A couple of weeks ago I went into a walk-in clinic for my knees and was given anti-inflammatories, which did not really help. I know that I have to get the weight off, but have any of you gotten medication to help with pain so that it would be less painful to get out and walk in order to lose weight? Susanna

motrin 800 and naproxen... basically not much help at all but about all this poor old body can handle. the side effects from stronger pain relievers are evil.. or so I have been told. I was on Vioxx and Celebrex briefly before they were pulled off the market and my BP shot up sky high so I guess they have a point. Try to hang in there and hang onto the mobility you have....Good Luck!

Susanna, I really recommend doing some "pool walking". It lifts off the weight, but, helps you to get moving. It was all I could do before WLS. My knees were so bad. Lori 384/250.5/168

Susanna, Wow! I hadnt realized that the wait for WLS was so long in Canada. And I had the nerve to complain about 10 months! About 6 years ago, I went to an orthopedic doc because my knee pain was so bad. He very condescendingly told me to lose 50 pounds and he would do a knee replacement. he said I had very little cushion left in my knees and both of them needed done. I had tried vioxx, celebrex, motrin, naproxen sodium etc. Nothing helped me. Then someone told me about Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM. It has helped me so much! My knees dont hurt anymore and although I dont have a lot of flexability in them......I can walk without wincing. I swear by this stuff. And its not a medication so it cant hurt your belly. I knowI sound like a commercial for this stuff..............but it really has helped my poor old knees where nothing else did. Its relatively inexpensive too(another plus). Sorry I am so chatty(blah blah blah). Take care and good luck! willby

Thank you all for your replies. It seems like a catch-22 sometimes, needing to get out and walk and not being able to because of the pain. Pool walking is a good idea--I guess I just have to grin and bear it so to speak since I have to use transit to get around. Anyway, it will be a long road and it is great to know that there are some nice people to help along the way. Susanna

I'm in the same catch-22. I'll lose more if I can get up and exercise but my knees are killing me (and they have a tendency to go out without warning). I would love to do water aerobics/water walking but I can't get from my car to the pool (or from the pool to my car). I can't shower at home, either, without sitting down 'cause I can't stand for more than 5 minutes at a time -- both a knee issue and a stamina issue. I try to walk some around the house but its a lot harder to do when I know I'm just going to be in incredible pain. If I could get some relief, it would be nice (I take glucosamine/chondrotin and have started taking Celebrex btu their help is minimal -- noticeable but not grand). I am fortunate, though, that I've already had my banding so I hope to lose weight, albeit more slowly than I would if I could exercise. Lori

Hi Lori, I hear you!!! Especially about getting to a pool. I love water but it is such an issue to get to a pool (especially during our winters, when you have to get all bundled up just to go outside). I am lucky in that I can still stand up to shower, although by the time I am finished I am ready to sit down (stamina). I walk around my apartment, however I have a bachelor's suite so there is not a lot of room to walk around. I wish you all the best in your weight loss--at least you know that you are losing and not gaining. I viewed your profile and went to your beautiful niece's web page. I pray that she will be in remission and enjoy a happy life!!! Best wishes, Susanna

Thank you for the supportive words. My niece is doing great. Technically she's been blast free since the first week of treatment a year ago. Blast free means that there are no visible leukemia cells in her spinal fluid (poor thing gets routine spinal taps sometimes once or twice a month depending on where she is with treatment!). Because leukemia can't be seen until it is systemic, they have found that treating leukemia for 2.5 years is usually adequate. We're busy trying to keep her infection free (one of the only things we can control) and keep our fingers crossed that the leukemia doesn't return. Anyway, she's my inspiration and the ONLY reason I had the surgery. I wanted to be sure I did everything I could to be there for her and my sister (my dad died in '94 and my mom died a month before my niece was diagnosed last year). That being said, I also don't regret having the surgery. I'm trying to get the engery up to set myself up with physical therapy so that I've got trained professionals helping me make sure I don't do more damage to my knees. Lori