Hello,

   I had my VSG done in June of 2010. Both of my knees are bad and falling apart on me. My left knee is the worst of the two and my knees are worst off than my hips are. My knee/hip surgeon told me that He & His Team normally do the hips first then the knees, but in my case, my knees need to be worked on first starting with my left knee then my right knee. At some point down the line, my hips needs to be worked on. My surgeon told me that both of my knees will be fully replaced. I am nervous & scared about these surgeries that I need.

For my pain in my knees & hips, I take Tylenol Extra Strength & Tylenol Arthritis. I take one or the other if needed.

The way I feel & what I have gone through, it feels like I have been to Dr. Frankenstein's Laboratory. When all is said and done, I'll become "The Six Million Dollar Man".

Sorry to hear what you have gone through with your knees & hip. I guess that the two of us are in the same boat.

I wish you the best & luck for you.

To you question about "Which would do first hip or knee?", I would do my knees first and then do my hips last. My surgeon told my that He & His Team normally do the hips first then the knees. My knees are worse off than my hips are, so my knees have to come first then my hips as I said earlier in my post.

What type of meds can an orthopedic suggest that will not cause stomach ulcers?  I sure don't want to have another surgery of any kind.   My joint and bone pain is so bad and tylenol does not help much at all.

Hi,

Speak to your ortho doc.  An ex-ray of your joints will tell the tale.  I could have weighed 90 lbs. and would still have pain.  I get operated on the left knee this Monday.  I had to come off of the Celebrex on Sunday that past and I am in hell.  I never realized how much of the pain they took away.  I am back to percs this week and come next week I will be on nothing.  OK demoral the day of the surgery. 

I really suggest you talk to your gastro doc before you continue on the nsaids.  I am on my ulcer meds for 3 months and the med is expensive.

Good luck to you.  Please keep in touch.

Jeanne

This is one thing that worries me no end as a newbie. What if I go through all this and I still live in pain every day? You've lost 200 pounds and still have pain. I worry that I've done so much damage to my knees that losing weight won't help. Let me know how your knee replacements go. The thought of having to go without nsaids is unthinkable - not sure what I'm going to do. 

Pick a body part and it probably aches on me at some point during the week.

It all started with my tailbone at about a year out from surgery. But everyone assured me that it was very common with weightloss and my body would basically realign itself to accomodate the lack of padding. Let's just say that never happened. After countless $$ spent in co-pays at the chiropractor's office, the family practice doc, the surgeon, the orthopedist and even the pain management clinic....I gave up and decided to live with it. There is a cushion in every chair I sit in. I have a tote bag that I've outfitted to conceal my "little old lady pillow" that I take with me to church, the drs office and out to eat.  I even sold the sofa and bought a softer one.  

Morning stiffness is a given. If I sit for more than 15 minutes I walk like a 900 year old woman. Sleeping is even painful with arms, legs, lower back and shoulders giving me a fit. It's a top of the line mattress that I used to find extremely comfortable and I've added a great topper to it that my dear boyfriend thinks makes it like sleeping in heaven.

With the exception of having taken a fall last year my knees had never bothered me....UNTIL...a few days before Christmas when I woke up with what felt like a twisted left knee. the sucker is killing me. It almost feels like the muscles in the back side are no longer long enough for my leg.  

I've got an appointment scheduled for later this afternoon. Unfortunately (or maybe not) I'll be seeing a new doctor as mine has retired. So I have a list of questions & concerns along with a timeline to help show everything in a nutshell. Is there anything yall can think of that I should include to ask or mention?  I'm not trying to micro-manage or second guess my new doc...I'm just trying to make the most effective use of my appointment time.

- Iris