Question:
Pain control from arthritis after RNY

I know that after having RNY we are not to take Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Naprosyn, etc again. However, I have been taking 2 Naprosyn, and supplementing with Advil for 10 years fro arthritis pain. I have a fused right ankle, the result of osteoarthritis, and the same in my knees and hips. Some days, the advil is what allows me to function. I have tried tylenol in all types, and it just doesn't do anything for me! Is there anything out there that anyone else has found that helps? The pain limits my movement and my ability to walk right now, after surgery I am hoping to get enough weight off not to have to worry about it, but I have to walk during that time of weightloss also.    — doglover (posted on July 26, 2003)

July 26, 2003
My heart goes out to you. I have terrible arthritis in my knees and a tumor in my femur that cause me terrible pain, so I know what you are going through. I took 12 Advil a day before surgery. Haven't had one since. But, my surgeon does allow me to take Celebrex for 5 days at a time when the pain is so bad I can't function. He said that the ideal thing is to never take the Cox 2 Inhibitors or the NASIDS again, but sometimes, you have to use them consertiviely. I was able to make a 30 day supply of Celebrex last 6 months. Lately the pain has been much worse and even the Celebrex wasn't helping. I have known since I had the RNY November 29, 2001 that I would eventually have to have knee replacement surgery; I was just hoping I could put it off a couple of years. My orthopaedist told me last November that it would have to be done within two years. Well, the pain and disability has gotten excruciating; I'm taking vicodin three times a day to control the pain. I went to the joint replacement specialist a couple of weeks ago and I am scheduled for the first surgery July 30. If I hadn't had the RNY and lost 181 pounds, this surgery wouldn't have been possible and I would have ended up in a wheel chair. Best of luck to you.
   — Patty_Butler

July 26, 2003
Hi.. I sure understand, as I have arthritis in every joint in my body. My surgeon does allow me to take the cox-2 inhibitors, so long as I take Zantac twice a day. This regime seems to be taking care of my pain pretty well. Prior to surgery, I was on NSAIDS and Darvocet. Good luck!
   — Linda S.

July 26, 2003
I take Plaquenil for mobiity in the joints. It is not an NSAID, has no effect on the mucous production or stomach lining. It has issues of its own, of course, but regular monitoring keeps those in check. It was recommended by my rheumaologist. I have not been able to take NSAIDs since the 80's, so was very relieved to find something that allows the joints to move again, without that sort og "grinding" feeling.
   — vitalady

July 26, 2003
Ultram is what was recommended by my surgeons office. It's stronger than tylenol, yet non-narcotic.
   — janice L.

July 27, 2003
I take Vioxx for pain. My surgeon said I would be able to continue this after surgery.
   — Lynn G.

July 27, 2003
Lynn, your surgeon is probally hoping you'll get an ulcer and he can do another surgery on you. Vioxx is NOT SAFE for us as post ops. It's very dangerous. It works great for pain, but is a gut eater.
   — Danmark

July 28, 2003
Daniel, I hope you didn't really mean what you wrote about her surgeon "hoping she gets an ulcer" so he can do another surgery! Pretty ridiculous. I also take Vioxx 25 mg , with food, when I need it, with my surgeon's okay! There are no absolutes with this surgery - it really depends on the surgeon, the patient's condition, and the medication. My particular surgeon is the head of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery at major teaching hospital - if any one would be familiar with what NSAIDs can do to the stomach,(or a pouch) he surely would. I would advise the poster to personlly talk with her surgeon and explain the situation. If this medication allows you to be comfortable and move, that is important, and could lead to being able to use less medication in the future. (Besides, Vioxx is usually only taken once a day. I can take one Vioxx and get as much relief as 4 - 200mg ibuprofen every 4 hours. Now, that would potentially cause more problems than Vioxx.) I agree - Tylenol is a big waste of time and money for no relief; I don't even have any in the house. We cannot give medical advice here, only speak from our own experience. I again advise the poster to speak with her surgeon and get his advice on whether or not she can take Naprosyn or perhaps another NSAID for relief. If you have never had arthiritis, you have no idea of the pain it can cause.
   — koogy

July 28, 2003
Yes, unfortunately I do mean it. I've had a surgeon in the past (not wls) that did this to me. Having to keep correcting surgeries is a real money making gimic. Thankfully not all surgeons do this, but some do. If you want to keep taking Vioxx, fine. But it WILL catch up with you. It's only a matter of time.
   — Danmark