NSAIDS after gastric bypass

I had gastric bypass surgery in 2015. I have avoided NSAIDS totally but have been having ongoing pain after rotator cuff surgery in November and tylenol and vicoden do not relieve the pain fully. I have not gotten a good night's rest in months due to being woken up by pain EVERY night. I apply heat at times and other times ice but can't sleep for more than 2 hours. I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow to discuss the option of taking NSAIDS. I had surgery in Kansas City and now live in Tulsa so I don't have a local doctor who specializes in gastric bypass patients. I just want to go into the appointment as informed as possible. Are crushing the pills better than taking pills whole? Should I take a medicine to coat my stomach and help protect it? Are there fast dissolving melts and are they better than ingesting pills? I know extended release and coated pills are not recommended. Any feedback would be helpful. I have not had any complications from my gastric bypass surgery and would prefer to not start now!

I have bursitis and my doctor said that if it kept flaring up, she might prescribe me an NSAID patch, so the medicine wouldn't go through the digestive system. You could ask your doctor about something like that.

With NSAIDs, it doesn't matter how you take them. Even through the skin, the medication will thin the mucous lining of your stomach and increase your risk of an ulcer. Proceed with caution.

Jen

What does your surgeon say who performed your rotator cuff surgery? Is it common to have pain for so long? Does he think it will eventually go away?

When I had plastic surgery, my surgeon said nsaids are OK for us short term, but not to use them long-term. I did not want to risk it, though.

I am going to PT and OP for my shoulder and hand. Eventually it should go away but who knows when. The PT says for each person it is different plus it depends on the severity of the tear. My orthopedic doctor sucks. He just referred me to my PCP. He did not offer any other feedback or suggestions. I just want to be able to sleep through the night. This pain started in July and then I had the surgery in November. Still can't sleep through the night without pain. I am desperate so willing to consider NSAIDS.

There is no way to use an NSAID, any NSAID. They are systemic. Pills, creams, patches, injections, etc, all will effect the ability of your body to protect your stomach lining and digestive tract. I had a bleeding ulcer a couple of years ago, though I had never touched an NSAID. I would never risk it, for anything.

I'm surprised there is still pain 2 months after surgery and that someone is still prescribing Vicodin!!!!!! It has a very high risk of dependency and addiction.

I think you need to consult your surgeon to see if there is a reason to be in this much pain so far out of surgery.

Long term NSAID in any form is a big risk I wouldn't take personally.

I started with Tramadol in July and then progressed to Tylenol with codeine in September. I am supposed to take Naltrexone to help with food cravings but it is an opioid blocker so you can not take both at the same time. Food is my drug of choice so I stopped the pain meds so I can take the Naltrexone again. But ongoing pain and not enough sleep has led me to be very compulsive with food. I am miserable and that is why considering NSAIDS. The PT says I am progressing and each person is different with pain levels. Go back to the orthopedic doctor on 1/23.

There are other pain med options. Some folks state tramadol is good. It's narcotic-like med, that is less addicting. Also, you could try (in conjunction with your current meds) OxyContin, a long acting pain med which treats pain for longer periods, then you could use your current meds for breakthrough pain. I would stay away from the NSAIDS if at all possible.

I was told the same as Laura - that once in a great while, taking an NSAID when nothing else works is OK. Long-term or frequent use, no. It sounds like you need something long term, so that's not going to work (I personally have never touched them at all since surgery)