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

I had both mine replaced at the same time.  It wasn't fun.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a good leg to stand on if I just did one, so we went with both.  Double the pain, double the fun... but both fixed in one..

Going off my arthritis meds is something that has held me back from WLS surgery.  I did have bilateral knee replacement surgery three years ago.  If anybody needs any info on that, feel free to email me. I can tell you, however, that I had to have another surgery (female type) and didn't have notice to go off my nsaids.  I did fine taking them right up until the surgery and immediately after it. Since pills are difficult for post WLS surgery, I'm not sure what happens for people who still need to take their arthritis meds post-op.  Anybody?

Hope you feel better. One day , before wls , I was helping to cut my mom's grass. Bent down to pick up a stick , and  , I couldn't move. After I finally got home ( this was the weekend,,,of course) and sat down I was there for ever. I went to my pcp on monday here he said it was my sacreliac (sp?) he said "yes , you do have one of those" I was on muscle relaxers for two weeks, had to sit to cook dinner. ( no one offered to help me at the time) My daughter was on vacation went to SC came home because of a Hurricane and decided to go to AC... Hello ! same weather there also !!! I have learned not to "assume" anything ! You have to TELL them to do it or it won't get done..( sometimes that doesn't work either) Hope you feel better soon. Sandy