Has your pre-DS back problems>pain improved post-DS??

I go for my surgery consult Friday.  I was curious to see how life post -op with all the weight loss has improved any of you all's back problems and chronic pain?  I have 2 bulging disc's in my L-spine and Degenerative Disc Disease.  I live with pain daily and can only sleep upright  in my recliner.  I can only dream of sleeping on my stomach or back again.  Please share your experiences...Thank you.

I had severe pain before my DS, including nerve pain from low back stuff. I was on narcotics for several years for the pain problems. Now, three years postop and 245 pounds lighter, I still have some pain, and there are a few things I can't do, but I virtually never need anything more than a couple of Advil to take the edge off the pain. If I do need a bit of stronger pain medication, a couple doses of something like Vicodin or Percocet takes care of it. The difference is truly like night and day.

Thanks Elizabeth, I too have been on pain meds ( hydrocodone) for about 8 years as well as NSAID's.  I hope I have improvement after loosing most of my weight.  245 lbs??  WOW, your doing an amazing job!!

I was unable to stand for more than a couple of minutes at a time pre-op, because of searing low back pain. I could walk for longer than that, but standing in one spot was just out of the question. Now, it just isn't an issue. Lorcet was part of my daily life for a long time. Now I don't even take over the counter pain meds.

Now, the changes in the body can create new pains, but they tend to stabilize. I started having hip pain about 6 months out, and it lasted for 3-4 months. It wasn't really bad, just annoying. I think my body was just adjusting to a new size.

I was standing in line at WalMart tonight, annoyed because it was taking so long. Then I realized as I stood there, that I was only annoyed because I was impatient, not because the pain was so bad that I wanted to lie down in the floor right there to ease the pain, which is how I would feel pre-op. It was quite a WOW moment!

Anna, I know the feeling of wanting to lie down in the floor of Wal-mart (even if I could get down, I could NOT get back up)  lol....Wally World is one of my arch-enemies>>have to go, but can't always make it through the store without sitting for a rest.  Can't wait to be where you are.  CONGRATS!!!

I have Degenerative Disc Disease too.  I am only 2 weeks out about 16 lbs lost but even now my back pain has improved.  I have not taken pain killers in several days.  I am able to walk around the block, stand and turn over in bed with out the pain.  I am sometimes a little achy, but that's it.  I hope mine continues to stay this way as the weight continues to come off.

Good luck on your journey!!!!!

Kim

Thank you Kymma...I hope you continue to improve too!!  Please keep me imformed on your improvement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Oh my yes. Doctors always comment how horrible my L4 & L5 are when they see x-rays, but surprisingly I feel no pain from the damage any more, and no longer take any type of meds for it. Before WLS I was losing feeling in my right leg, alternating with horrible pain from the thigh to the toes, that I was told was from the nerve getting crushed in my back.

Since so much damage was done prior to my weight loss, I know I'll feel the pain again as I age, but part of the reason I chose the DS was so I wouldn't be limited in what drugs I could take to help it. For now, I can stand endlessly (used to be only a few minutes was my limit, walking I could last a little longer) now. The nerve is no longer getting pinched from my weight compressing my spine.

A day at something like Disneyland used to be impossible, now, I go there regularly, as well as snow skiing, water skiing, tennis and softball. I'm so happy with the life the DS has given me.

At 340 + pounds, I couldn't walk more than a few feet without stopping to sit or at least lean  because of the pain. Now I can walk & keep up with my grands. I occasionally get a twinge, but only if I do a lot. And I haven't taken pain meds in quite a while. My highest weight was 396 & I was in constant pain, back and knees. I couldn't walk & talk at the same time. And no matter how clold it was outside, walking always made me sweaty. I am SOOO happy I had the DS.

I did get significantly better after i lost 300 lbs, but then last year i was in a car accident...so it's worse again. I do know that even when it was "better" it was still an issue. PT, chiropractic, and pain management helped a bit more then when i was 500 lbs, but it didn't correct the underlying issues, and it didn't undo the years of damage obesity did to my body.

Scott