Arthritis medications

Hi all.  I have arthritis in my feet and I also have pain in my knee.  I've been on Diclofenac and another medication for the pain.  Since my surgery 3 weeks ago I haven't taken the medication and I can really feel the pain.  When I was taking the medicine I still had pain but without the meds the pain is terrible.  My question is:  were any of you able to go back on your arthritis medication after the surgery?  At this point I won't be able to exercise because of the pain but if I had a bit of relief I might be able to at least walk a bit further. Thanks for your time, Kathi

Hi Kathi, I have suffered from Juvinille Rheumatoid Arthritis from the age of 3 momths old and resided in a childrens hospital for children from the ages of 3-5 until the docs got me walking again.  I am currently 46 years old andI have been on arthritis meds all my life until 12/6/06 when I went off of the NSAIDS I was taking in preparation of my RNY surgery that was scheduled for 1/10/07 until insurance caused a delay and now surgery is set for 1/24/07.  Well, "OUCH" is the word of each day for me lately.  I was told I cannot ever go back on the NSAIDS but my Rheumatologist says that's just "off the charts"  from anything he has ever known.  About a week ago, my Rheumatologist injected both ankles with cortisone since that medication is not classified as an NSAID and that has helped but I have the same question as you.  What are we to do from here?  Again, I know my Rheumatologist (I've been seeing him for 25+ years now) did mention to me that he might be calling my RNY surgeon to discuss this further.  Arthritis does not only affect the obese, it hurts people of all weights.  I know, at 66 pounds I use to hurt terribly.  Now I am just over 200 pounds and I don't hurt as much as when I was younger although I'm getting fleeting moments of reminders about the pain I once had.  My blod pressure is not controlled even on 2 meds and my BMI is 37.2 so the surgery is really my only choice in dealing with the blood pressure which they think will be well back in control following the RNY procedure.   As far as exercise, I am going to try swimming and a Gazille during my non-swim days.  I fear the pain will get worse but my Rheumatologist does not believe arthritis patients should be going off their arthritis NSAIDS or Anit-inflamatory meds for a lifetime.  It will be interesting to find out what is decided.   Darla Putnam

Have you talked to your surgeon about going back on your diclofenac?  I take that also.  While it doesn't completely relieve the pain, I can't do anything at all without it.  Stopping it is out of the question.  If it's a choice between no arthritis meds and WLS, the WLS will have to be put on hold.  :(  I'll be eager to see what you find out about your arthritis meds.

Thanks for everyones input.  I went to the doctor yesterday for my 4 week post op check.  He told me to go back on the Darvocet and said to use the Diclofenac when needed.  I didn't want to tell him I need it all the time.  LOL.  Today I was going food shopping and decided to take the both meds.  What a difference in how I feel.  The pain is still there but tolerable.  I sure hope once I lose all my weight that I won't be needing the medicines. Kathi

I have arthritis in my hips, middle and lower back. I have been taking celebrex (ok'd by my surgeon) and ultram for pain so I can sleep at night. I don't know if that is a good medication for you to try or not. Sandy

In having wls I thought that my RA would be much better. I was wrong. It came back full force with pain worse than I ever had it in my knees back joints eye neck hands feet and shoulders. I came off the prednisone and NSAIDS before wls. I take now methotrexate, rituxin infusions and darvocet for pain. I am having total knee replacement in february. I was taking the ultram but it did noting for me but make me drowsy. My hip joints are worn down and walking is very difficult at times for me without taking pain meds wherever I go before hand. I was told also that I would have problems without the NSAIDS and dealt with the pain for 3 months before surgery and almost 3 months after until starting back on the humira and the methotrexate. I get the cortisone injections quite often for one body part or another to help with movement. I have to get them in my foot and knee almost every 3 months and they last less and less now it seems. Since my body does not absorb meds as it used to it is getting where now I have to take pain meds also closer and closer together for it to work or a shot and it does wonders.

I took Arthrotec and then Diclofenac (generic of the main ingred in Arthrotec) for years for my arthritis.  I also had periodic cortisone shots in both knees for the pain.  My knees are basically bone on bone now and I'm not even 40 yet.  I also have plantar fasciitis in my feet and that is very painful.  I also have degenerative disc disease in my lumbar spine and am supposed to take Ultram for the pain there.  The NSAIDs also helped with that inflammation... Since my surgery (actually about 3 days prior), no NSAIDs due to the risk of ulcer, etc.  And, the arthritis pain was unreal the first couple of months.  I have had some rough financial patches and even the Ultram is a $40 copay on my insurance, so I was using the generic of that (not extended release like the Ultram) which is tramadol for the pain.  It does next to nothing for me unless I take it religiously 3 times a day and I often forget to do so, so I don't get the relief that I might.  Exercise is often tough because of the pain in my knees and back, but I continue to try.  I keep telling myself that with every 10 pounds lost, the pain and trouble is much less.  But, when it hurts, it HURTS!  You just can't get around that, can you?  I had cortisone shots in both knees in October and then again early this month.  My ortho will only do them every 3 mos, so that is my limit on those.  But, they do help make it all a bit more bearable. I've been told that we can NOT take the NSAIDs ever again due to the ulcer risk.  I have heard of folks on OH saying that their pain was soooo bad that their doc decided to let them risk taking the NSAID meds again and see what happened.  I hope to not get to that point.  I know that the exercising helps build up the muscles that surround and support my knees and my spine.  That is very important for me as I know that once those areas are better supported, those other muscles will help carry the load as opposed to my poor knees and spine doing all the work.  I hate to say "work through the pain," but quite often that is where I end up.  I hope that in the long run the muscles will do the job and make up for all this pain in the meanwhile...  I can get around so much better already..... 

I don't know if you found relief yet, but wanted to let you know that you can take MOBIC for arthritis pain as long as you also take an antagonist against ulcers such as Nexium, Pepcid, etc. I do use Mobic every day. I alsoI take Protonix which is similar to the Nexium, Pepcid I mentioned.  which I think is only a prescription med, but it has helped me for 2 years and no sign of ulcer--knock on wood. Take care. Karen

hi!  i have very bad arthur ALL over- in hands wrists, feet, knees, hips, neck and shoulders!  they told me to stop taking all ibuprofen 10 days prior (i take 800mg 2x/day) so, when i couldn't move and was in terrible pain the other day, my doc gave me SAMPLES of ultram- it's brand name for tramadol.  i gotta say, it works great and i can still function normal and it's extended release tablet- hope that helps!