What to do about arthritis?

Good morning, I have had fairly severe osteoarthritis for years and one of the big reasons for having this surgery was to try to put off a total knee replacement.  My surgeon told me to stop my Mobic which was my anti arthritic medicine.  Now that I have been off it for 4 weeks, my joints are killing me.  It is really difficult to walk.  Will I ever be able to get back on my med or what?  I have started riding my exercise bike to get it some exercise since walking is so painful.  What do all the rest of you "old" folks do? Marilyn

Hmm good question.  As you lose weight, it will help...  not heal it of course, but it will surely help get the pressure off those already aching joints...  I had arthritic symptoms and was taking naproxen or flexeril... go****s been so long... I also had to have shots injected into my shoulders for bursitis/arthritis pain....  that has gone away.  Why dont you ask your surgeon if there is something you can take?  Would a dose of liuqid tylenol help it at all?  I am fairly susceptible to medications...  and so a dose of tylenol does wonders for me.. you could try one dose and maybe if you get any relief, try that on those bad days... of course it wont knock it out.  its tylenol! lol...  it wouldn't knock anyone out! lol Surely ask your surgeon and let him know you need something that you can take when the pain gets bad, IF he won't let you go on something for it all the time... 

Hey Marilyn I don't consider myself old (I'm 39) but I have tremendous joint and muscle pain....I am hoping that will improve after I have my surgery......I find that exercise even just being in a pool helps at least temporarily.....I go to Results Physiotherapy (used to be Tracy Caulkins Physiotherapy) in Nashville because they have a sal****er swimming pool that is 92 degrees and it helps greatly....None of the meds on the market do anything for my pain but the pool does help.......My insurance pays 80% of the cost since it is considered physical therapy.....if you have any questions about it, PM me and I'll try to help........good luck and congrats on having your surgery!!!!

Marilyn, I took Celebrex before surgery, and now I take Ultracet (ultram and tylenol) .  I take it mainly for my fibromyalgia, but I too have arthritis and it does help.  I just recently had knee surgery and it has helped me deal with that pain as well.  Since it has tylenol in it and I take about 6 a day (for fibro) I have to have liver function tests every 6 months, but have been on it 4 years with no problems. darlene

aha yes that's it Darlene! I took ultracet.  It helped me a lot...