Recent Posts
Topic: RE: arthritis and artificial sweeteners....
I totally feel ya!! I cannot take any "fake sugar" without having joint pain. I haven't had Stevia yet. I performed the same experiment as yourself and found the same results.
Right now, I'm experimenting with sugar and my 9 day old pouch. So far so good, I do keep it low.
Right now, I'm experimenting with sugar and my 9 day old pouch. So far so good, I do keep it low.
Topic: RE: RA after RNY X-post
I have RA as well. My first choices by my RD were Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) as well as Methotrexate. We tried many other combos, but right now I take the Plaquenil 2 times a day as well as the Remicade infusions. I feel normal again!! No pain getting up, no stiffness anymore. The only thing I still have is a weak grip. Jars tend to fall out of my hands/finger grip.
As stated by this doctor, if I have a flare up of pain, my doctor does a short term "blast" of Prednisone. THIS is the only way I will take the Pred!!
PLEASE find a GOOD Rheumitoid doctor. ALOT say its all in your head. Don't listen to them and find someone else!!
Good luck!!
PS: You need to have an ANA test done to try to pinpoint is this is RA.
As stated by this doctor, if I have a flare up of pain, my doctor does a short term "blast" of Prednisone. THIS is the only way I will take the Pred!!
PLEASE find a GOOD Rheumitoid doctor. ALOT say its all in your head. Don't listen to them and find someone else!!
Good luck!!
PS: You need to have an ANA test done to try to pinpoint is this is RA.
Topic: RE: Central Virginia Orthopedic Surgeon
Hi,
I live in Richmond and I am going through Commonwealth Surgeons also to see if I will have the surgery. I see Tuckahoe Orthopedists who are in the new medical building on the next street over from Bremo, on Maple. My husband and I have both had surgeries through them and my husband is scheduling his second meniscus knee surgery. He uses Dr. Caldwell. They have a great group. They operate at St. Mary's and also at a surgical center, I guess it depends on how serious the surgeries are as to which location is used. Also, they will sometimes refer to Commonwealth Pain located in the same building, I see them for injections. Those doctors are the top rated pain specialists in Richmond.
I went through Westend Orthopedics for a shoulder problem and it was awful. I switched to Tuckahoe in the middle of that.
I live in Richmond and I am going through Commonwealth Surgeons also to see if I will have the surgery. I see Tuckahoe Orthopedists who are in the new medical building on the next street over from Bremo, on Maple. My husband and I have both had surgeries through them and my husband is scheduling his second meniscus knee surgery. He uses Dr. Caldwell. They have a great group. They operate at St. Mary's and also at a surgical center, I guess it depends on how serious the surgeries are as to which location is used. Also, they will sometimes refer to Commonwealth Pain located in the same building, I see them for injections. Those doctors are the top rated pain specialists in Richmond.
I went through Westend Orthopedics for a shoulder problem and it was awful. I switched to Tuckahoe in the middle of that.
Topic: RE: How Much Has WLS helped w Joint and Back Pain
I have had 5 knee surgeries pre-op including a partial knee replacement due to a connective tissue disorder and my knee pain is much better than it was preop. I miss my celebrex, but I can honestly say that my arthritis pain has decreased quite a bit. I still have pain but it is much more tolerable than it was. My ortho told me that for every pound I lost it took 4 lbs of pressure off my hips and knees. This was the biggest part of my decision for the weight loss...worse case scenario..there is a lot less of me for my hubby to help up on the bad days.
Topic: RE: R.A. after RNY
I have been battling RA for over 10 years now....I have been on the methotrexate injections for about 5 years now and also take 2 plaquenil pills a day....the heavier I got the worse I felt....I am happy to say however, that since my surgery, I have not taken a single injection, and I rarely take my daily pills....I am going to go to my doctor and get some blood work done to see if I actually am still considered an RA sufferer. I joined the gym a week ago and I am feeling Grrrrreat!
Topic: RE: Arthrotec 6 years out.
Hi,
I've been taking Arthrotec for about for about 4 months now, for my arthritic knees. It got to the point where I had so much pain I was not really moving or doing much of anything other than what I absolutely had to do to get through my work day. As a result I have slowly begain to gain weight. I was so afraid to take any kind of NSAID but Arthrotec has not caused me any problems so far. I take 50mg once per day, sometimes twice if I have to do a lot of stuff.
Just yesterday the orthopedic specialist I went to see started me on "Orthovisc" injections in both knees and today my knees feel WONDERFUL. It is like a miracle. He also gave me a "chaser" (as he called it) of cortisone at the same time so that may be what's making my knees feel so much better but whatever it is, I don't care, it worked. I have not taken an Arthrotec today and haven't missed it. I sure hope this lasts because I'll feel a lot better about not taking the risk of the NSAID. I get three more shots of Orthovisc over the next 3 weeks and should hopefully get about 6 months of pain relief. Then, when the pain gets bad again I can have another series of 4 shots over 4 weeks but that's it. After that we move on to whatever the next step witll be.
Karen
I've been taking Arthrotec for about for about 4 months now, for my arthritic knees. It got to the point where I had so much pain I was not really moving or doing much of anything other than what I absolutely had to do to get through my work day. As a result I have slowly begain to gain weight. I was so afraid to take any kind of NSAID but Arthrotec has not caused me any problems so far. I take 50mg once per day, sometimes twice if I have to do a lot of stuff.
Just yesterday the orthopedic specialist I went to see started me on "Orthovisc" injections in both knees and today my knees feel WONDERFUL. It is like a miracle. He also gave me a "chaser" (as he called it) of cortisone at the same time so that may be what's making my knees feel so much better but whatever it is, I don't care, it worked. I have not taken an Arthrotec today and haven't missed it. I sure hope this lasts because I'll feel a lot better about not taking the risk of the NSAID. I get three more shots of Orthovisc over the next 3 weeks and should hopefully get about 6 months of pain relief. Then, when the pain gets bad again I can have another series of 4 shots over 4 weeks but that's it. After that we move on to whatever the next step witll be.
Karen
Topic: RE: Hip Replacement
Hi Reba,
I think the water exercises you are doing are great. I've had others tell me, and I've read that the water exercises are excellent. You don't have the weight on your joints, so you can move without as much pain.
I had the gastric bypass and post-op I was ditty bopping all over the place. I could walk so well. I walked and walked and walked...then my arthritis seemed to get worse and I couldn't do the walking and gained 60 to 80 pounds. I bounce up and down. I was so sad...I'd been living life again and now I couldn't walk. I should have kept moving in some way, but I just gave up and sat. Of course it was worse, not moving. I am going to move after the hip replacement if I have to put a fire under myself :)!
You are doing what you need to...moving and watching your diet. I am watching my diet again and have lost 14 pounds. Not much, but losing and not gaining. Keep busy, even if it's only with your hands (days you can't walk well) for I believe keeping a positive attitude by keeping busy will help until your doctor says the hip can be replaced.
I weigh 254 right now. My doctor cautioned that there are things that can go wrong, but since I am otherwise healthy, he is proceeding with my surgery.
Hang in there. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Let me know if you have a question, I'll try to answer it or tell you, I don't know.
Glad to know Kathie and my conversations were helpful.
Take care,
Vicki
I think the water exercises you are doing are great. I've had others tell me, and I've read that the water exercises are excellent. You don't have the weight on your joints, so you can move without as much pain.
I had the gastric bypass and post-op I was ditty bopping all over the place. I could walk so well. I walked and walked and walked...then my arthritis seemed to get worse and I couldn't do the walking and gained 60 to 80 pounds. I bounce up and down. I was so sad...I'd been living life again and now I couldn't walk. I should have kept moving in some way, but I just gave up and sat. Of course it was worse, not moving. I am going to move after the hip replacement if I have to put a fire under myself :)!
You are doing what you need to...moving and watching your diet. I am watching my diet again and have lost 14 pounds. Not much, but losing and not gaining. Keep busy, even if it's only with your hands (days you can't walk well) for I believe keeping a positive attitude by keeping busy will help until your doctor says the hip can be replaced.
I weigh 254 right now. My doctor cautioned that there are things that can go wrong, but since I am otherwise healthy, he is proceeding with my surgery.
Hang in there. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Let me know if you have a question, I'll try to answer it or tell you, I don't know.
Glad to know Kathie and my conversations were helpful.
Take care,
Vicki
Topic: RE: Hip Replacement
Vicuna and Kathie,
I'm glad that you both posted here. You've unknowingly provided support and education for me. My doc says that I have osteoarthritis in both hips....but, the right hip needs replacement now. The catch is, he says he won't do the hip replacement operation until I lose weight. He says that at my weight, 276 lbs, risk of complications are too high.
So, I have been in great pain....and just as Kathie says, I even avoid walking from one room in my house to the next room because it just hurts so bad.
One glimmer of hope came today, as I joined the YMCA and took their 1hr aquatic exercise for people w/arthritis. Afterwords, I sat in the hot whirlpool and let the jet**** my sore joints. Now , tonight, it seems as if there is not as much pain....not every single step is measured and taken gingerly.
Do you have any advice for me? Of course, I know that I need to lose weight to get the operation.....I intend, if all continues to go well....to do more & more of the water exercise in order to hopefully feel better and also to lose weight.
Thanks, Reba
I'm glad that you both posted here. You've unknowingly provided support and education for me. My doc says that I have osteoarthritis in both hips....but, the right hip needs replacement now. The catch is, he says he won't do the hip replacement operation until I lose weight. He says that at my weight, 276 lbs, risk of complications are too high.
So, I have been in great pain....and just as Kathie says, I even avoid walking from one room in my house to the next room because it just hurts so bad.
One glimmer of hope came today, as I joined the YMCA and took their 1hr aquatic exercise for people w/arthritis. Afterwords, I sat in the hot whirlpool and let the jet**** my sore joints. Now , tonight, it seems as if there is not as much pain....not every single step is measured and taken gingerly.
Do you have any advice for me? Of course, I know that I need to lose weight to get the operation.....I intend, if all continues to go well....to do more & more of the water exercise in order to hopefully feel better and also to lose weight.
Thanks, Reba
Topic: RE: knee replacement
Well, you are doing VERY well with the Band. I hope you're one of the lucky ones and continue to do well with it.
Let me know how the knee replacements do. For some reason I'm scared to have them done. I never hesitated about having my guts sliced and diced, but cutting through bone---it gives me the shivers just thinking about it.
Let me know how the knee replacements do. For some reason I'm scared to have them done. I never hesitated about having my guts sliced and diced, but cutting through bone---it gives me the shivers just thinking about it.
Topic: RE: knee replacement
Thanks for replying - I have severe arthritis in both knees and cannot walk because of the pain. Dr James Cobey of the Washington Hospital Center told me in Mar 09 that he would perform knee replacement surgery on both knees at 450 lbs. Now I think he is backtracking since I am now at that weight. I choose the band because it was an emergency situation plus I have a history of blood clots (PEs). I have reduced my weight from 615 lbs to 463 lbs since Feb 09. I am happy with the band thus far. I appreciate your response. Please keep in touch [email protected].
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