Just thought I'd give an update. I started losing weight after the nutritionist put me on a 1500 cal. diet. I had lap-band surgery on May 4. I have gone from 208,6 to 169 pounds. My back is an amazing amount better! Yes, I still get the bilateral facet injections, but where I had been getting relief for about 6 weeks then bad, I went from my last one late April to today with only the last 10 days hurting, and then not bad. At Easter I could walk no more than 10 min. at a time, slowly, and then many times had to wait 2 or more days before doing it again. Now I can walk for an hour at a good clip. I have also taken over the lawn mowing (push), wrestled the roto tiller all over my garden, and planted the whole thing by bending over. Last year I couldn't plant at all. Getting the weight of my giant belly off my spine has helped more than I imagined it would. And sooner, as well. More than weight off I have lost inches and dropped sizes (2). Today I measured, my upper abdoman is 39", a while after I began (I couldn't force myself to measure before) that was 45". I now have more energy, too.

If any one questions the benefit of losing weight for their back, let me tell you, DO IT! Sue

Well---I honestly hurt about as much now as I ever did. The biggest difference is that now, I EARN that pain! By that I mean that now I'm much more active---today I spent about 6 hours working in my garden, whereas pre-op about 30 minutes was all I could stand in a day's time.

I do still rely heavily on NSAIDs, and because I *knew* I was never going to be able to give them up---I have pain all over, not just in load-bearing joints---I chose the DS because it would allow me to continue to take NSAIDs 'at will'.

After one hip resurfacing and the other one needing done in the next 1-2 years, I decided on doing the lapband.  My knees are degenerating as well.  I have a lot of problems with dryness of my eyes.  My eye doctor says it is the same disease process as with my joints.  Do you have that problem as well?

Thanks again Don for you posts!!!  I was doing leg extensions and I stopped immediately.  I am going to see about getting some physical therapy when I come back from vacation in a few months or so.  I will definitely, try the exercise you stated daily also!!

Hugs,
Molly

Inquiring minds want to know!  Pain is one of my biggest motivators for this surgery.  I'd love to hear how much it has helped you with knee, foot and lower back pain*  Thanks *so* much!

*lower back has herniated discs, and I don't think they'll improve *that* much, however all the weight
pulling on that area can't be helping!