Question:
Did WLS make me more prone to getting hurt?

This is a long story so I'll just sum it up. I'm a cluzt and caught my leg and fell backwards on Oct 6th. I should have broke my leg but was VERY fortunate. However when I tried to get up my left arm/shoulder hurt like holy heck. To the best of my knowledge (it happened so quick) I only landed on my not so fat butt and NOTHING else. I was in the grass so there was nothing to hit my arm on. But I ended up in the emergency room and x-rays said I chipped a sliver of bone off (the size of a grain of rice) on a big bone (top of arm bone?). Well I have been in "constant" pain since then. This is one of the worst pains I've had in my life, and I've had allot of surgeries so I can compare pain! Anyway, I finally opted for physical therapy (this is the third week) and next week will be my last. Then I see the bone doctor again. Basically my Rotator Cusp isn't working and more than likely I will HAVE to have surgery. Then after four weeks in a sling there will be more physical therapy. After 7 weeks of pain, my already severe depression is getting worse. I haven't had a decent night sleep during this time because of the pain. From 1-10, most of the time it rates 6 although sometimes higher. As near as they can tell, a tendon pulled away from the bone. I have noticed that since my tremendous weight loss that my arms arm not puffed out anymore... they are flatter (on my upper arms near the shoulders). But now, after this mess, my left arm has a bulge. Perhaps it is a muscle that is not hooked by a tendon to bone anymore and gravity has made it fall downward. Anyway I'm wondering if my fast weight loss has made my muscles and bones weak, and perhaps I would not have hurt this so severely if I hadn't lost the weight? In any case surgery is almost a sure bet as therapy isn't helping much. Does anyone have any ideas on how to hopefully avoid this in the future... other than be more careful where I step? lol (Ouch) I have to find something humorous in this painful situation. Also is there anything that may help with the pain? I have more codeine left however I hate to use strong pain killers very often. I've been on many pain killers over the years and have been very fortunate NOT to get hooked on any of them. I wish to keep it that way, however this pain is bad, even after 7 weeks. I bought extra strength Tylenol. Tylenol has NEVER helped pain anyway, but it was worth a try. It doesn't stop any pain at all. Any serious advice would be appreciated. Thanks.    — Danmark (posted on November 27, 2001)

November 26, 2001
I tripped a month or so ago on the garden hose I was using. BAM, went down like a ton of bricks, hit my knee hard. Its still sore. But I might have shattered it if I had been 90 pounds heavier. So lighter you have less cushoning but less impact from less weight. Its probably a mixed bag but I am glad to be lighter, and if someone were to break a bone klighter would make it easier to get around.
   — bob-haller

November 27, 2001
I would think losing weight would make people less "clumsy". But then again there are plenty of thin clumsy people. I would just think your fall was just an accident and not necessarily a "side effect" from losing weight. Sounds like you are in a lot of pain and if it were me and the extra strength Tylenol didn't work , I would be taking the Codine that you have. Just don't abuse it and you shouldn't get "hooked". Living in pain is no fun and if you need pain meds, then you need pain meds. Maybe try 1/2 a dose at first to see if that's all it takes. You also asked if fast weightloss makes your muscles and bones weak....First, if you aren't getting your proteins in then , yes, you will lose muscle. Weaken bones.....unless you have not been taking calcium citrate supps for a very long time , losing weight should not weaken your bones, usually it is the opposite. The bones are stronger from carrying the excess weight.......Hope you feel better soon.
   — Kim B.

November 27, 2001
Hi, I'm sorry I can't really answer your question, butI wanted to mention what I use for pain. I have found acetaminophen in any form (extra strength Tylenol included) doesn't do anything for me. My mom got rushed to the hospital because of an alergic reaction to codine and I had a teacher who got violently ill from it (she said it was worse than her pain and was throwing up). Codine is very powerful (and addictive... I had a friend in HS who's sister sold extra codines to people for 50 bucks a pill). I guess I just don't want to go there. My aunt died of cancer many years ago and she got addicted to pain killers... not a pretty sight. I have found the most effective thing for me (everyone's different) is taking Ibuprofen (usually Advil). It always helps me with pain (muscle, menstrual, head, or otherwise). If you've never tried anything with Ibuprofen, I'd say give it a try. I swear by it ever since one doctor said to take a combination of advil, sudafed, and robitussin (she wouldn't give me an antibiotic because I had a virus.... I had a 104 fever though and boy did I cuss that poor woman out, lol). It's great though. I hope you feel better soon :)
   — [Anonymous]

November 27, 2001
Tylenol is usually not very effective for musculoskeletal pain. Go back to your doc and let him know that you are in severe pain, that the pain is constant, that it interferes with your sleep and that it and the lack of sleep are affecting your mood. There are many non-addicting analgesics available and a competent physician can find the right one for you. They seem to have a plan for repairing the injury; so, your problem is the PAIN. You have to be assertive and make that crystal clear to your docs. I haven't read any stats that say we become more accident prone or clumsier as we lose weight. Fat people have accidents too. Blame it on bad luck...bad karma...a hex... whatever; but, your wls and weight loss have nothing to do with your accident.
   — [Anonymous]

November 27, 2001
Hi Daniel. Sorry to hear you got hurt! The previous poster is right: Tylenol probably won't do much for the kind of injury you have. You need an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Over the counter you have a couple of choices: aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxyn. Aspirin is not so good for those of us with WLS. I have taken ibuprofen without any problems and have heard the same from others. Naproxyn never did me any good even at prescription strength, but it's worth a try if you can't take ibuprofen. As long as you don't have any stomach problems, like ulcers or reflux, you could try ibuprofen or naproxyn. I have in the past taken as many as four 200 mg ibuprofen for severe pain because that is the same as taking a prescription-strength motrin (800 mg). Good luck!
   — ctyst

November 27, 2001
Daniel, I've always been a clutz too and it hasn't gotten any better since my wls! In March I fell at work and ended up having surgery for what they thought was torn cartilidge but ended up being traumatic arthritis (grade 4 - the worst you can get, just my luck). Before I even got finished with therapy for that my shoulder started hurting really bad and I had to have a MRI and am now in physical therapy for that too. I may also be facing surgery for the rotator cuff so I know what you are going through. I keep reminding myself how much harder these injuries would have been on my body if I was as heavy as I had been before. As far as the pain medication I also suggest talking with your doctor. There is no reason for anyone to be in more pain than necessary. I manage to get through the day most of the time but have ended up resorting to sleeping pills just to be able to get some rest at night because of the pain in my shoulder. Good luck and watch where you step!
   — georgiacarol

November 27, 2001
I am really sorry you are going through this! For me, the weightloss DID make me clumsy- kind of like a teenager hitting a growth spurt in reverse! Last year, playing soccer for the first time, I hyperextended my knee just walking! I got Viox from my doctor, which I always keep some around because it works much better than Tylenol or anything else. Then, the beginning of November, my rotator cuff got pinched somehow- I don't even know what I did! I got a cortisone shot and more viox and was fine within a week. I am paranoid that the malnutrition from this surgery (I am almost 2 years out) is breaking down my cartilage and bones, but I don't think so:) I am even more physical playing soccer this year (been taken down a few times without any injuries!) and I am more used to my body now. I also have to remember I am almost 43 years old, so some things are going to hurt and deteriorate from age as I get older. I DO know I am religious with my vitamins, calcium, and I started taking glucosimin for joints, but that is inconclusive as to whether that helps just yet. I hope you can get some relief!
   — M B.

November 27, 2001
Indirectly, it can. I am much more active since the weight loss, so I have a lot more opportunities for sports injuries (who knew jogging could be soooooo hard on your knees!). I also know that I had a bit of an adjustment period in manipulating my new body - kind of similar to getting used to driving a Miata after you've spent your life driving a van! -Kate-
   — kateseidel