Arthritis Pain

At about how many pounds lost did you notice less pain in your joints? I know everyone is different but I really need something to look forward to right now. BTW what do they use for pain control since NSAIDS are a no-no?

I had probably lost a good 60lbs before I really began to notice the pain wasn't as bad. Unfortunately it only lasted a couple of years before my arthritis progressed and now the pais is worse than ever. But I am in much better shape for new knees than I was at 314lbs so there's that.

My doc has me on Tramadol right now. It was reclassified last year as a narcotic so it's harder to get now. After that no longer works they tend to move us on to stronger narcotics. Not all doctors, of course.

If you are not already aware please remember that it in the case of NSAIDs it is the drug itself that can cause ulcers in your remant stomach so the method they use to give it to you doesn't matter. I have run into doctors that wanted to use an IV. But it's just as bad as taking it orally.

Thanks for the heads up. I would have thought using a different route would change that.

Me too! One of the reasons I share that tidbit. Learned it here, actually.

Here's some more info

2nd paragraph lays it out.

I lost about 40 lbs before I saw a decrease in joint pain. Since I was already bone on bone, I had both knees replaced, as no amount of weight loss would completely address my knee issues, and my mobility would have still been limited. I am now pain free. As a previous poster stated, tramadol is used along with joint injections of either steroids or hyaluronic acid or both. Tylenol is often recommended, but may not work for some. I have even used Lyrica (pregabalin, used for fibromyalgia) when my pain was at it's worst. I tried everything short of narcotics for the pain. In fact, I had scheduled my joint replacement before I scheduled my RNY. I had RNY in Feb 2014, and the first joint replaced in March 2014. I had the second joint replaced in Oct 2014.

It may be good to have your joints evaluated by an orthopaedic specialist just to be sure what you are dealing with. Weight loss can help with joint pain, yet if the joint is damaged, not amount of weight loss can reverse it.

I'm glad you posted this because I too was told my knees were bone on bone a few years ago and was told I either needed to lose 85 pounds or have a double knee replacement. I just had RNY 8 weeks ago but already my knees feel a lot better but still hurt from time to time. I guess I need to go back to the knee doctor to get re evaluated now that I've lost weight and see if I still need the knee surgery. It sounds like I probably will. I didn't know how long I should wait before having another major surgery. I did great with the RNY so hopefully I will be able to bounce back from the knee replacement too. I haven't taken any type of oral medication for the knee pain post op and just use ice or topical stuff. Thanks for the info!

I've lost 130 lbs and still have a lot of pain in my bad knee. It hasn't gotten any better with weight loss or physical therapy, but I've also been a lot more active and using it a lot more. I had an MRI Monday and it looks like it's just arthritis. Totally not fair -- I'm 30! Ice and Tylenol take the edge off enough to help me survive bike rides at least.

I used to have a lot of "whole body" pain though when trying to get off the couch, climb stairs, etc., and that's been gone since I lost about the first 50 lbs. Even with the bad knee, I can stand up from the floor without having to put my hands down now.

It it was me,I would to consider VSG and not RNY.. unless you have a medical reason (GERD< etc) why RNY is the only one available..

Even though they do not recommend NSAIds for anyone with WLS... but NSAIDs are more risky for RNy because we have remnant stomach that can develop bleeding ulcers, that only surgery can detect...

Some people take NSAIDs with VSG..

I miss my simple advil and aleeve... really miss them. Tylenol is really not helping much and docs are very reluctant to prescribe any narcotic pain pills...

I have GERD already or I would be doing VSG without a doubt. I'm allergic to Tylenol so life will be interesting. But after hearing from real people WLS has helped them it puts some light at the end of the tunnel.

Alergic to Tylenol? Ouch..

You do need to consider the worst case that the pain would not go away as much.

At the same time - I am highly trained in herbal therapies, I use a lot of herbal combinations to control pain and inlfamation. Plus small dose of prednisone (but I am on steroids anyway - so for me it is jus****ching from cortisone to prednisone).

Good luck... I could not deal without NSAIDs And Tylenol at the same time.

My narco I use ocadionally - have Tylenol...