Question:
Is there a 'safe' anti-inflammatory med that we can take post-op?
I'm having shoulder pain that (from previous pre-op experience) I know will require an anti-inflammatory to heal. Motrin/Ibuprofen are out of the question, right? Is there any safe anti-inflammatory drug that I can ask my PCP to prescribe? Thanks, as always, Vicki Lap RNY 4/1/03 260/176/160 — Vicki S. (posted on September 4, 2003)
September 3, 2003
The stock and accepted answer is yes, anti-inflammatories are out of the
question. That said, there are exceptions to every rule. There was quite
a discussion on a question about what to take for Fibromyalgia about 2 days
back. I listed a bunch of meds etc. I take Bextra as needed as a post-op
but limit it as much as possible and take it with food. This is with my
surgeon's blessing/understanding. Definitely discuss it with your WL
surgeon before having your PCP prescribe. Ultram, which is more of a
non-addictive pain medicine than an anti-inflammatory might work for you
and they are really tiny. Check out the fibro question and feel free to
e-mail me directly if I can help in any other way. I am the queen of
anti-inflammatories as I have done them all.
— zoedogcbr
September 3, 2003
One other thought. Ice is the mother of all pain medications, although it
does not last as long. Have you been icing? Also physical therapy might
be on some benefit too. Ask you PCP to prescribe 3-4 weeks of that and see
what it does. I've had both shoulders operated on so I am familiar with
shoulder problems and associated pain.
— zoedogcbr
September 3, 2003
I have chronic tendonitis in my right shoulder. My doctor sent me for some
physical therapy since we can't take anti-inflammatories any more. It was
a godsend. The physical therapist used ultrasound and heat treatments on
my shoulder and neck and taught me a series of exercises that are designed
to strengthen the muscles between the shoulder and neck. Now every time it
flares up, I just alter my exercise routine to add those exercises and it
works like a charm to calm things down. Don't know the root of your
shoulder pain, but perhaps this might be something you could try for yours?
It's better to fix it without drugs if you can.
— Cathy S.
September 3, 2003
Only your doc can tell you what meds you can take now. However, I too had
shoulder pain and went to a chiropractor..and, they worked wonders! Good
Luck!
— teresa M.
September 3, 2003
I agree - the doc says Vioxx and Bextra are OK, but they didn't do the
trick with my knee pain - I got so desperate I did ibuprofin for 24 hours
then stopped (it really helped, though I know we're not supposed to use
it). Don't forget to try local (skin-applied) pain reliever creams - they
really help! I also use a new spray on top of the cream for extra pain
relief. Hope it helps!
— Postop_nurse
September 4, 2003
It is my understanding...which may be limited...that we should/could not
take ibuprofin PILLS because they sit too long and can "burn"
holes in our stomachs but, that if you were to take the children's liquid
or liqui-gels that it was fine. I was even told by my nurse early on that
I could take children's advil/motrin if need be, and have occasionally with
no problems. You might want to call your surgeon's office and see what
they would suggest.
— eaamc
September 4, 2003
Vicki - call your own surgeon first and ask what you can have your PCP
prescribe. Anti-inflammatories are not necessarily out of the question;
different surgeons have different opinions on this. Please contact your
own surgeon. (Mine does allow ibuprofen and Vioxx on an as needed basis.)
— koogy
September 4, 2003
I have also reasoned that if the problem is that the pill will sit too long
in the pouch, that children's medication is the answer. I use the 50 mg
chewables, eat a cracker or something right before and follow them with
water. If the 50 mg doesn't work in an hour, I take another 50 mg. I have
come to the conclusion that I was severely overmedicated preWLS, since it
RARELY takes more than 50 mg of ibuprofen to get rid of my pain!
— ctyst
September 5, 2003
As you can see varying answers to this question, just like the debate over
calcium citrate vs. carbonate. I think overall its safer to stay away from
the anti-inflamatories and NSAIDs as we are prone to stomach ulcers anyways
and those drugs have been discovered to directly cause many post-op pouch
ulcers (and ulcers in normal tummys too). I took Vioxx for over a year,
one pill a day with food,and finally at 17 mo post-op developed a pouch
ulcer. Some people take the vioxx or motrin or bextra or celebrex with no
problems ever, and others develop ulcers. I think most surgeons/doctors
are willing to give a short trial of these drugs to you but most discourage
the long term use of any of the anti-inflamatories. I mentioned on the
OSSG-grad list that perhaps a liquid was better, since it was the pills
that burned thru the pouch, getting caught in crevices, but someone
responded that that even the liquids affect the prostaglandins/stomach
lining, something like that, and that it wasn't just trapped pills that
caused ulcers.
— Cindy R.
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