Question:
Any suggestions or has anyone else dealt with this?
I am having some issues. If anyone can offer some suggestions, please send them my way. I have degenerative disc disease and fibromyalgia. I have been doing some minor exercising prior to my surgery which is Sept. 15th. All I am able to do is water therapy and I also use a resistance type band for my upper body. I am also 374 lbs. and I cannot walk on my own. Anyways, the last few days, I have been in extreme severe chronic pain. I can hardly move at all. I hurt and throb so bad with the fibro pain all over my body. I know some of the pain is coming from not working out for a good 3 years, but this is getting to the point where I am not able to function because the pain is so horrific. Now, I am getting a bit worried with my surgery coming up if I am going to be able to handle the exercise needed post op to aide with my new tool to lose the weight that I need to. I know I have not over done any exercising, because I have only done limited amounts of exercise because my body can only take so much. I also have a recumbent exercise bike coming that I ordered for my lower body. But being in physical therapy during a few times during the past 3 years, even that has put me down and unmovable for a couple weeks at a time, because the pain is so immense and the doctor has had to write me off of the rest of therapy because I could not finish. Does anyone have any suggestions or is there anyone else out there who has gone through this? If so, what have you done to work through it? One of my biggest issues is I do not have any pain medicine and my pain specialists I have had over the years have always treated me like a druggie and have NEVER given me any meds that have ever relieved any of my pain. I cannot see myself continuing on this way. — bicngillette (posted on August 7, 2008)
August 7, 2008
For many years prior to my surgery, I did no exercise. I was 345, and age
58 when I started the process towards RNY--having surgery at age 59. My
ankles and feet would swell up a great deal if I was on my feet for more
than an hours. Once I had the surgery, I did limited walking, building up
the distance for exercise. As you lose wt, exercise will become easier. You
might speak to your doctor about any pain relief meds you can take with
your fibromyalgia that might be available in a liquid form. Liquid meds and
liquid vitamins are absorbed much easier by the post op patients. You can
also get DVD's that have chair exercises--exercises done in your home
sitting in a straight back chair. Also, if you have any access to a
swimming pool, you weigh virtually nothing in the pool, making exercising
much easier. I'd also check with your insurance company about any pain
management clinics available. My wife has spinal stenosis, causing great
pain. She attends a pain managment clinic, and uses Fentonal (SP?)
transdermal patches daily. My wife also had RNY revision from a 1980
gastric bypass in 2007. So there is some relief for pain. My wife has also
told me that there are more than 1 patient in her specific pain management
clinic that have fibro, just as you do. I think there are some relatively
new meds for fibro also available, not sure of brands, but have seen them
mentioned on OH. Exercise is needed after surgery, and finding some way to
ease your pain prior to surgery will help your progress after surgery. My
surgeon has also prescribed Celebrex to some patients, taken after
Prilosec, to prevent stomach ulcers. Check with your surgeon on this. These
patients has chronic arthritus issues or severe joint pain in knees or
ankles. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
August 7, 2008
When I had my lap band surgery done, I had been in a wheelchair for 6
months prior to the surgery and unable to exercise at all. I needed knee
surgery and one knee doctor refused to operate on my unless I lost a
substantial amount of weight.. like 100 lbs!! So I really felt like I was
in a bad spot.. I could not exercise due to my knees, but I desperately
needed to lose weight in order to get my knee surgery so I could walk
again. I finally decided to go ahead and have the lap band even if I could
not exercise. I did lose weight, and eventually was able to have my knee
surgery. Actually had two knee surgeries.. I had a tear in the cartiledge
in one knee and that was minor surgery, then about two months after that I
had knee replacement surgery in the other knee. I did some excercise during
physical therapy after my knee surgery, and have been trying to take short
walks every day since then.. but by the time I had the knee replacement
surgery I had lost about 80 lbs, so that helped a lot with being able to do
the physical therapy after the knee replacement.
I know how frustrating it is though. I felt like I was too young to be in
a wheelchair full time at 52 years old, but my knee doctor was refusing to
operate if I didn't lose weight.. for a while it seemed really hopeless!! I
finally decided i could not fix the knees but I could do something about
the weight.. that is why I went ahead and had the lap band despite being in
the wheelchair. I figured any weight I lost would help. And eventually I
found another knee doctor to do my knee surgery.. so I didn't have to wait
until I lost a full hundred pounds to get it. I've lost 104 lbs total now
and am OUT of the wheelchair and walking again (although somewhat stiffly
at times! LOL!).
— Maggie E.
August 7, 2008
What medication are you taking for the fibromyalgia. What you are
currently taking is not working. You need to talk to your doctor about a
change. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis in all my joints. The only
thing that has worked for my fibro pain has been Cymbalta. It has worked a
100% for me, the arthritis is doing better since surgery 5 weeks ago and a
29 pound weight loss. Water exercise, walking and weight training have
helped in the past. Call you doctor. I hope things get better soon. Let
me know how you make out. Lisa
— ldillabough
August 7, 2008
That is the problem! I have been through 4 pain specialists in the last 3
years who will do nothing for me for the pain. I have been through so many
medicines for both conditions, such as neurontin, tramadol, lyrica,
vicadin, patches, cymbalta, traction, Tens unit, physical therapy, water
therapy, myofascial (sp?) treatments, etc. Nothing has helped. And they
will not give me any hardcore pain meds, because they do not want me to
become addicted to those. So I am kind of stuck. Right now, I take
absolutely nothing for both of my conditions. I have been just living and
dealing with the pain for these years as best I can, bet when it comes to
exercising, forget it, it always puts me down and out and for long periods
of time. And then the doctors will just write me off of therapy, instead
of giving me something that will help me get through it. I completely
understand the addiction part of meds, but this is getting ridiculous. I
am the last person to ever be a drug addict. I hate swallowing any pill,
whether it be a vitamin, or medicine and can not stand the side affects
that I will face from them either. But their first impressions are always
that I am in there to gain drugs. The last pain specialist I saw made me
surrender to drug tests and sign a bunch of papers before giving me a
prescription for vicadin, which I told her over and over and over that they
do not do anything for me. I still have the bottle sitting here full,
minus 3 pills because they do not do a single thing for me. My drug test
came out as spic and span clean as it can be and she still refuses to give
me anything stronger than the vicadins. I am just at a serious loss here
and dont know what to do.
— bicngillette
August 7, 2008
1. You are depressed on top of all your other problems. Ask your primary
care doc to prescribe an antidepressant. and the starting dose is always
small to decrease the chance of side effects, so be prepared to ask for
increases until you find a dose that works.
2. Cut out the exercise until you have lost at least 50 pounds.
3. Find a fibromyalgia specialist that will actually help you.
4. Change doctors if they treat you like a druggie.
Good luck to you. The surgery will help alot.
Nancy Carle, RN
— nancycarle
August 7, 2008
I understand what you are feeling. I have fibro and any exercise I do,
except water, hurts. I have found that I am unlike most people who exercise
and the muscles hurt, but gets used to it and the pain subsides. If I
exercise like most I am knocked down from the pain. With fibro our muscles
hurt, plain and simple. Don't forget the weather affects fibro too.
I understand about having to deal with doctors who treat you like a drug
seeker. Fortunately I have found doctors who are willing to prescribe
narcotics for my fibro. One was a rehumatologist and my current doctor is
into rehabilation. You need a specialist. Primary docs don't like to
prescribe narcotics. I would be lying if I said that the addiction aspect
doesn't concern me, but the pain is the here and now, and that is real so
being "addicted" to a medication that helps me is not an issue. I
have taken methadone since 2000. I have taken the same dose for over 7
years. Taking narcotics for pain isn't the same as taking it to get a high.
I don't get high from the amount I take. I get pain relief. Not 100%, but a
good percentage. I have always been respectful of my responsibility to the
doctor. He is very libel when prescribing a narcotic and could lose his
license.
I had RNY surgery on June 20, 2008, have lost 40 lbs. and that has helped
the pain. WLS does not cure Fibro, but it does help with the pain.
My suggestion is to find a doctor who believes in relieving pain with meds
including narcotics when it is appropriate. When you find a new doctor to
try, ask if he believes in this type of medication at the time you call to
make an appt. Receptionist are very helpful and if he/she isn't even
interested in trying strong pain meds (even if addicting) then don't waste
your time with an appt. Is there something in your past that would concern
a doctor about giving you narcotics? Stay with water workouts. Have your
surgery if you qualify for it physically. Losing weight can only help! The
exercise will come easier with the weight loss. The only type of exercise I
can do is in water. Stick with what you can do. Take it one day at a time.
Good fortune to you and my thoughts and prayers are with you. Feel free to
contact me in the future if I can help. Cynthia
— cyntracer
August 7, 2008
I too had severe arthritis pain in my knees...I barely could walk with a
cane. (315+lbs on a 5'4" frame)....Right after my RNY (which was open
RNY) So I got a morphine drip and really good pain drugs for three
days...and some to take home too! Woo hoo! They only lasted a month and
they wouldn't give me anymore. I pouted, but after that first month I had
lost 44 lbs and WHAT a difference it make on my knees. I didn't excerise
much the first 6 months because of the knee pain and open RNY is a long
healing time. I began swimming and water exercise where I lost the rest of
my weight over about 18 months. Everyday the pain lessened until it was
completely gone...Now I also have degenerative disk disease in my
neck...When i get stressed it flares up really bad...I do my neck exercises
and take MSM, chondroitinand glucosamine and that helps with the joints but
the exerise and heat wraps take about a month til a flare clear up....But
it does! So there is hope...I take any sign of neck pain and start my
exercises immediately....I got really stressed and had to go to two months
physical therapy where they did deep heat ultra sound waves on my neck and
WOW!!! Nice! But it took every bit of that two months (every 2-3 days) to
feel better. Losing weight HELPS enormously...The pain is manageable. I
take tylenol when it's bad and that helps take the edge off, where before
they might as well have been as useful as a Sweet Tart....When it's really
bad...I will take a prevacid and powder aspirin...(Only on occassion and
with a full glass of water to wash it out of my pouch) Blue Emu oil is
pretty helpful for minor pain...lately I have a new spot of severe pain in
my elbow...NOTHING helps...This is a month now of pain and it's slowly
going away...Who knows where it will flare up next...but I have no flares
in my knees yet...I don't jump or jog...but I can walk and I can walk fast
enough to work up a heart rate and a sweat...So it does get better...and I
take ZERO drugs...LOTS of vitamins though! LOL Don't worry so much about
exercise...you just do what you can and you'll begin to have soooo much
energy. To this day, I don't do any real work out, but I am very active and
I do swim 3 times a week usually...I mow my lawn and I built a log cabin
(Starting at 3 mos post op doing easy stuff like staining logs and
painting) By the time the logs were up, I finished all the drywall and put
up the kitchen cabinets and did all the painting and trim. I sure did!...I
worked for a deck building company (I'm a woman carpenter) and built 13
decks two years after post op... Weird huh? Who woulda thought!? I did
all of that AFTER surgery...Before...I barely walked with a cane...I'm 4.7
years post op now and 44 years old...I feel 33...BETTER than I did at 33
actually. (Getting lazy though!) LOL
— .Anita R.
August 7, 2008
I too, suffer from fibromyalgia. The FIRST thing I have to tell you is
that if your doctor is NOT proscribing PAIN meds to help you deal with the
pain, then he is NOT a good doctor, and you need a DIFFERENT one! DEMAND
that he give you something like TRAMADOL to help you deal with the pain!
Too many doctors do NOT take fibromyalgia pain SERIOUSLY and consider it to
be a disease that is all in the MIND. They think it is just a WOMAN who is
COMPLAINING. I know that this is not true because I have it, and I am a
MAN! The GOOD news for you is that the pain MAY be helped by losing some
of the weight! It seems that OFTEN the loss of weight can significantly
relieve or ELIMINATE fibromyalgia pain. It will take TIME and PATIENCE.
In the MEANTIME, GET MEDICATION to help you DEAL with the pain. If you
have to get a NEW DOCTOR, DO IT! Tramadol is fairly effective in relieving
fibromyalgia pain. There may be OTHER medications that you can use. TALK
to a SPECIALIST about it and see what HE or SHE suggests. I hope this
helps, Hugh
— hubarlow
August 7, 2008
I can certainly empathize with you; I also have severe osteoarthritis, a
torn rotator cuff, and was diagnosed with fibro, myofascial pain syndrome,
and cervical stenosis within the last 1-1/2 years, and my lower
degenerative disc disease has become so severe in the last year (despite -
or maybe because of ;-) - walking 2 miles each morning and losing 60 lbs.
preop) that I'm scheduled for an epidural next week. My physical therapist
has always told me to keep moving, no matter how little it seems to be. I
recently brought my sister (who'se visitng from Canada) to Curves, and
while waiting mentioned to the lady at the desk that I wish I could do the
exercises. What do you know - she told me about women coming in in
wheelchairs that still exercise! I always thought that the machines were
resistance ones, like in the gym, but they're not. There's NO resistance on
them; the resistance increases as you increase the rate. I'm going to talk
to my PT about this. As for the pain - I'm sure any research you've done,
your body's feedback, and the pain clinics have told you narcotics don't
work for people like us. I also take Celebrex; has anyone mentioned Lyrica
for your fibro pain? It's the fairly new drug that's the first to be FDA
approved specifically for fibro. It either works or it doesn't, and there's
a pretty wide dosage range. I'm lucky - although I'm still in daily pain,
it helps. Just a suggestion - good luck!
— obeseforever
August 7, 2008
I,too have the same problems as you and I totally understand how you feel.
There are several things that worked for me. First, get a good
rheumatologist that specializes in fibromyalgia, which is a sleep disorder.
The meds that work wonderfully for me is Cymbalta, Lyrica and Flexeral.
Secondly, fire your pain doctor and get one that is sympathatic,
understanding, and sensitive to your pain. Unfortunately, anyone with our
diagnosis need good pain management to function. In this day and age there
is no reason for anyone to suffering because of one doctor's ignorance.
There are so many good pain medications and treatments there are no excuses
why anyone should have to suffer. My pain doctor has me on Kaiden, 24 hr
release Morphine which works great once I got the dosage that helped. Talk
to your medical doctor and explain your situation ask for a referral to
another pain specialist. Go online and find a pain specialist in your
state. I live in WV, I can tell you several pain clinics if you can come
to WV. Good luck.
— Julianna M.
August 7, 2008
Hello, you have received some excellent answers to your questions about
pain management and excercise. I too, have fibromyalgia and was unable to
excercise other than in the pool before my surgery in 2005. Now after
losing approximately 110 pounds, I am able to walk my dog and stand for
more than 1 hour. I still excercise in the pool and also have gone back to
work part-time after being out of work for over 7 years.
Managing pain is very important during your weight loss period. The more
weight I lost, the less medicines I had to take for pain. I went from
Dugersic Patches to Tramadol, which is just Tylenol +.
Be patient, get a new docotor who will treat your pain, and look forward to
your new quality of life after surgery.
— YaVon
August 7, 2008
I have the same problems you do. I could not tolerate exercising and so I
had accupuncture which helped a whole lot. I now am on Lidoderm patches
for my knees and I take
a very small pill oxycotin 2 x's a day (spelling?). The pain is there but
it is now bearable most of the time. In the morning it is bad, but I have
learned to live with it. I was taking many pain pills and developed
gastric ulcers. I will have by pass surgery on Oct 7, of this year and
hopefully will not need a cane to walk because the less weight you carry
the easier it all becomes. I lost 25 lbs in the past 6 mos and noticed the
difference in walking, standing, sitting etc. Pls see other pain mgt
doctors, I am sure one will come up with the right plan for you. I went
thru 8 md's before finding one that could help me. Good luck, mrs
— Mich44
August 7, 2008
Hi Carrie, congratulations on deciding to have WLS! I am 5 years post op
from Roux en y and it was the best thing I've ever done. I know what
you're going through, I have fibro and disc problems plus I've had 3 back
surgeries. The bad news is that weight loss will not make these problems
go away, but the good news is that every pound you lose helps. I've kept
off 80 pounds for 5 years, not as much as I had hoped but still a major
accomplishment. Stay in the water, it is the best thing you can do, stay
active but don't push yourself. What you really need to do is find a good
Rheumatologist to work with you towards finding the right course of
medicines to manage your conditions. I try to take as little pain medicine
as possible because I don't want to become dependent on them. I have a lot
of pain but I also have a high pain tolerance. My doctors have me on
Tramadol, Lexapro, Flexeril, Wellbutrin XL and Trazadone. They feel that
getting a good night's sleep is the most beneficial thing you can do for
fibro and I agree. I have good days and bad days, but am able to do much
more than prior to WLS. Last summer before fracturing my foot I was
walking 6 miles a day. Just try to be patient, find a good doctor and
don't push yourself. Best of luck!
— Lisa R.
August 8, 2008
You might want to check out OPC 3, it is an isotonix antioxidant, which
helps reduce inflammation, has reduced cholesterol. I take it everyday.
It is amazing that my pain level has decreased so much. email me for more
information. I too am on the journey to WLS. I am told that I will still
be able to take all of my vitamins that I am taking now because of their ph
ready status. They are powder and you add water to them. I currently take
OPC3, Vit C, Multi-mineral, Multi-vitamin, I will have to add Calcium and
B-12. Good Luck in finding your pain answer. Soon to be on the loser's
bench.
— jenks621
August 8, 2008
Not all pain clinics and pain doctors are the same. If the one you are
seeing now isn't working for you, please, please, please find somewhere
else to go. I wasted a year of my life thinking that I was getting good
care when in reality I was just getting worse. If you are getting the pain
relief you need, find someone else. I have found that pain clinics
affiliated with major hospitals tend to have more resources than private
doctors. I just had a spinal cord stimulator put in... it's not a miracle
and I still have pain but its a lot less than before.
I think that you are going to find that the weight loss is going to
decrease your pain... it won't take it all away, but you should get a
decrease. Stick with the pool exercise and do the bike as much as you can.
Even if all you can do is 5 minutes a day, that's better than nothing.
Hopefully losing weight will make it easier for you to get around and be
more active.
Hang in there!
— mrsidknee
August 8, 2008
Hi Sherry, My name is Melody and I know exactly where you're coming from.
I have fibro, OA(osteo-arthritis) and RA(rheumatoid arthritis) I was to the
point where you are now. The first couple of weeks were rough but then
things got better, you have pain meds to help with the pain caused by the
surgery and it will help some with your fibro and OA too, walking and
drinking your water is the most important thing you need to do for the
first few weeks, after that its walking, water and protein, I had the DS
because it has the best long term results and I didn't want to have to go
through it again and most RNY, not necessarily all, but most, end up with
revisions to a DS within approximately 5 yrs. anyway, you'll be up walking
about 4 hrs after surgery, I'm sure everyone is different but for me I was
able walk as far as the door to my room the first time I was up then they
encourage us to walk a little farther each time, you'll get up and walk
every hr, the weight comes off pretty fast the first couple of months so
you'll be surprised how fast you will feel better, I had DR.K in Delano so
I wasn't able to come home, due to the distance, until after my 1 week
post-op appointment and within the first week or two after being home I was
feeling like a new person, I felt lighter, I was able to walk farther than
I'd been able to walk in over 6 yrs., I needed help standing and sitting
for the first few weeks due to the incision but then I was able to get up
and down on my own. They will refill your pain meds as long as you need
them for the pain caused by surgery but not for your chronic pain. For my
chronic pain I was using alot of vicodin but it wasnt helping that much
anymore so my pcp sent me to a pain specialist who put me on morphine es
30mg twice a day and baclofen 10mg twice a day and my pcp followed up with
that, I still have pain but nothing like it use to be, due to the OA and
fibro I will never be pain free but I am currently maintaining at a pain
level of 4 sometimes higher if I over do it. My Life is so much better now
and my co-morbidities have all resolved themselves. I had high
cholesterol; high blood pressure, and I was taking a medication for an
irregular heart rate, I no longer have high blood pressure, my cholesterol
is normal and my heart problems have corrected themselves, I also had
severe reflux and I no longer have that either, I had circulation problems
in my lower legs that caused swelling and had gotten so severe that with
all my other health problems I spent all of my days in my recliner with my
feet up, I hurt so bad I had to take pain meds an hour before getting out
of bed and then could only walk to my recliner before needing to sit back
down, I was a mess and at the time I wasn't even 50 yet, plus no matter if
I ate or didnt eat at all I still gained weight every week, some of it was
fluid but still I was gaining. this surgery has been a life saver for me
and I hope it's the one you choose, it can save your life too. I have been
on disability for several years due to all my problems and although I'm
still disabled it has given me a new lease on life. One thing that made it
a smooth process for me is that I have medicare and so I didn't have a
waiting period or need to get pre-approved so anyone who reads this, if you
have medicare you can have this surgery if you need it. I hope this has
helped you and wish you the best of luck and many prayers on your journey.
sincerely, Melody Loving myDS switched 9/05/2007 sw289/cw200/gw165
— purpleangel0909
August 9, 2008
My doctor say's they have found new research that fibromyalgia is due to
not getting enough Calcium with Vit. D so have your dr. check and see if
you need more calcium with Vit D. that may help with some of the pain I
have alot of the same probblems since I have had surgery 4 yrs ago.
— pam74
August 9, 2008
Best thing for "fibromyalgia" and reducing arthritis pain is
powerful "liquid" vitamin/mineral VEMMA. Go to
www.vmaTeamTraining.com , select "video presentations" half way
down the page. On second page select audio by Dr.Everett Tucker,MD from
Little Rock Ak. He suffered from fibromyalgia. Then go to
www.TrySomeVemma.com Vemma loaded with vit D3 and calcium.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 15, 2008
Being a nurse, an obese person with chronic pain and having a father
disabled with back pain, I completely understand where you are coming
from.
I don't understand why any pain management specialist wouldn't give you
anything for pain? Perhaps you should see someone else who would be
willing to presribe something for you. There is some stigma attached to
Fibromyalgia in that it is a fairly subjective diagnosis and a lot of
people think patients use it to get their hands on narcotics. And some do,
however, for those who really do have this debilitating disease, it is
absolutely miserable.
I have arthritis in my hips and lower back and may have Fibromyalgia and I
take Cymbalta (an antidepressant) which really did help my chronic pain. I
do have to take liquid Lortab occasionally when my pain is severe. Here's
where my biggest concern for you lies: are you taking anti-inflammatory
drugs for your pain? If so, you will no longer be able to take them after
WLS forever as they can cause ulcers or erode your stoma. Some weight loss
surgeons will allow Celebrex. I have known people who were never told this
before surgery and really suffered after when they had to stop taking these
meds they had taken for a long time. If you can't take
anti-inflammatories, you'll probably have to take some type of narcotic
pain medicine (opiates) which a lot of docs are hesitant to prescribe as
they are very addictive. Having read and heard so many stories about WLS
people "transferring addictions" from food to narcotics, it is a
cause for concern.
As you lose weight, your pain should decrease significantly. I know mine
has. I had to get back into the pool as it didn't hurt, I didn't sweat and
it felt good. I didn't particularly like donning my bathing suit at 400#
in a public pool, but, I had to put those feelings aside to save my life.
Find a doc that specializes in Fibromyalgia.. perhaps a rheumatologist who
believes you are a person in pain and not a druggie and get some help asap.
I also recommend a psychiatrist and/or some talk therapy... it is very
hard to deal with chronic pain and usually there is some depression
involved. I also see that in your last sentence in which the wording
concerns me... "I cannot see myself continuing on this way".
There are some meds he/she can prescribe that help with depression and
chronic pain and it never hurts to talk to someone.
If you can afford it or if your insurance covers it, I highly recommend
massage. I get one every week or every other week and it has changed my
life. I also do a lot of stretching and relaxation/meditation. Positive
self talk as well.
All of these things together have helped me as well as WLS.
Good luck, please keep us informed,
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
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