Question:
Pain control from arthritis after RNY
I know that after having RNY we are not to take Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Naprosyn, etc again. However, I have been taking 2 Naprosyn, and supplementing with Advil for 10 years fro arthritis pain. I have a fused right ankle, the result of osteoarthritis, and the same in my knees and hips. Some days, the advil is what allows me to function. I have tried tylenol in all types, and it just doesn't do anything for me! Is there anything out there that anyone else has found that helps? The pain limits my movement and my ability to walk right now, after surgery I am hoping to get enough weight off not to have to worry about it, but I have to walk during that time of weightloss also. — doglover (posted on July 26, 2003)
July 26, 2003
My heart goes out to you. I have terrible arthritis in my knees and a
tumor in my femur that cause me terrible pain, so I know what you are going
through. I took 12 Advil a day before surgery. Haven't had one since.
But, my surgeon does allow me to take Celebrex for 5 days at a time when
the pain is so bad I can't function. He said that the ideal thing is to
never take the Cox 2 Inhibitors or the NASIDS again, but sometimes, you
have to use them consertiviely. I was able to make a 30 day supply of
Celebrex last 6 months. Lately the pain has been much worse and even the
Celebrex wasn't helping. I have known since I had the RNY November 29,
2001 that I would eventually have to have knee replacement surgery; I was
just hoping I could put it off a couple of years. My orthopaedist told me
last November that it would have to be done within two years. Well, the
pain and disability has gotten excruciating; I'm taking vicodin three times
a day to control the pain. I went to the joint replacement specialist a
couple of weeks ago and I am scheduled for the first surgery July 30. If I
hadn't had the RNY and lost 181 pounds, this surgery wouldn't have been
possible and I would have ended up in a wheel chair. Best of luck to you.
— Patty_Butler
July 26, 2003
Hi..
I sure understand, as I have arthritis in every joint in my body. My
surgeon does allow me to take the cox-2 inhibitors, so long as I take
Zantac twice a day. This regime seems to be taking care of my pain pretty
well. Prior to surgery, I was on NSAIDS and Darvocet. Good luck!
— Linda S.
July 26, 2003
I take Plaquenil for mobiity in the joints. It is not an NSAID, has no
effect on the mucous production or stomach lining. It has issues of its
own, of course, but regular monitoring keeps those in check. It was
recommended by my rheumaologist. I have not been able to take NSAIDs since
the 80's, so was very relieved to find something that allows the joints to
move again, without that sort og "grinding" feeling.
— vitalady
July 26, 2003
Ultram is what was recommended by my surgeons office. It's stronger than
tylenol, yet non-narcotic.
— janice L.
July 27, 2003
I take Vioxx for pain. My surgeon said I would be able to continue this
after surgery.
— Lynn G.
July 27, 2003
Lynn, your surgeon is probally hoping you'll get an ulcer and he can do
another surgery on you. Vioxx is NOT SAFE for us as post ops. It's very
dangerous. It works great for pain, but is a gut eater.
— Danmark
July 28, 2003
Daniel, I hope you didn't really mean what you wrote about her surgeon
"hoping she gets an ulcer" so he can do another surgery! Pretty
ridiculous. I also take Vioxx 25 mg , with food, when I need it, with my
surgeon's okay! There are no absolutes with this surgery - it really
depends on the surgeon, the patient's condition, and the medication. My
particular surgeon is the head of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery at
major teaching hospital - if any one would be familiar with what NSAIDs can
do to the stomach,(or a pouch) he surely would. I would advise the poster
to personlly talk with her surgeon and explain the situation. If this
medication allows you to be comfortable and move, that is important, and
could lead to being able to use less medication in the future. (Besides,
Vioxx is usually only taken once a day. I can take one Vioxx and get as
much relief as 4 - 200mg ibuprofen every 4 hours. Now, that would
potentially cause more problems than Vioxx.) I agree - Tylenol is a big
waste of time and money for no relief; I don't even have any in the house.
We cannot give medical advice here, only speak from our own experience. I
again advise the poster to speak with her surgeon and get his advice on
whether or not she can take Naprosyn or perhaps another NSAID for relief.
If you have never had arthiritis, you have no idea of the pain it can
cause.
— koogy
July 28, 2003
Yes, unfortunately I do mean it. I've had a surgeon in the past (not wls)
that did this to me. Having to keep correcting surgeries is a real money
making gimic. Thankfully not all surgeons do this, but some do. If you want
to keep taking Vioxx, fine. But it WILL catch up with you. It's only a
matter of time.
— Danmark
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