Question:
Do bones shift after losing a lot of weight?

I saw the Dr. today because of pain in my tail bone area. She did an x-ray and said my tail bone was straighter than most people. She said this was proably due to losing the excess weight and now my bones are shifting to accomendate the "new me". I have noticed my feet hurt more also. I am 14 months post op and 160 lbs smaller. Anyone else experience pain in their bones due to losing weight? Sounds far fetched to me, but I don't have a medical degree. The only treatment is ice packs, sitting in a donut shaped cushion and wait it out. I can't take aspirin or motrin which is the generally reccommended treatment. She said if it got to the point where I couldn't stand it, they could insert, under x-ray, steroids into it. What do you think?    — june22 (posted on March 18, 2004)

March 18, 2004
HI SORRY ABOUT THE PAIN I KNOW EXACLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING THOUGH. IVE BEEN THERE.I WOULD CRY WHEN I GOT UP FOR WORK IN THE MORNING AFTER LAYING THE HIP PAIN WAS WORSE THAN CHILD BIRTH I SPENT MORE ON CHIRO PRACTER THAN ON WLS.I FINALLY SAT ON ICE PACKS FOR AT LEAST AN HALF HOUR BEFOR I COULD MOVE.IMAGINE HOW SPREAD OUR HIPS WERE TO ACCOMIDATE OUR WEIGHT. WE COULD NOT MKE OUR FEET TOUCH AND NOW WE CAN CROSS OUR LEGS.THAT IS ALOT OF CHANGE. WHAT HELPED THE MOST WAS MASSAGE THERAPY WORTH EVERY PENNY.FIND A GOOD ONE AND STICK TO IT.THE DEEP HIP MASSAGE AND BUTT MUSCLES IT IS GREAT. THAT IS MY TREAT TO MY SELF EVERY 10 LBS INSTEAD OF CHOCOLATE.LOL.IT REALLY HELPS.AN THE PAIN WILL LEAVE AS FAST AS IT CAME ONE DAY YOU WILL THING HEY WHEN DID THAT PAIN GO?.GREAT!!!.HEY TRY IT A DEEP MASSAGE WILL LOOSEN THE MUSCLE AND RELAX THE TISSURE TO HELP MOVE THINGS. HOPE THIS HELPS TAKE CARE ,
   — patty L.

March 18, 2004
Brenda, You know, I'm 14 mos post-op and started having neck, shoulder and back discomfort a couple of months ago. The pain inbetween my shoulder blades was very uncomfortable. I finally went to see a chiropractor for the first time in my life. He told me that it is very possible my spine was adjusting to the new me...obviously with the weight loss, we carry ourselves differently, walk differently, sit differently, etc. He recommended regular adjustments and massage therapy. The treatment he gave me that day was a miracle! It felt so good and I had relief within a few hours of the treatment. That was 2 weeks ago. I obviously need to go again, the discomfort seems to be returning. I'll def be rescheduling another treatment and looking for an affordable massage therapist to begin treatments. Regarding the steriod injections....they sound worse than they are. Several years ago, I developed heel spurs that were very painful. I went for several treatments of steriod injections. The actual injection was intimidating, but the relief was instantaneous and completely cured the pain. You might talk to your surgeon about taking anti-inflamatories for a short time. Obviously, there is a risk of long-term usage and ulcers, but for short term therapy, it may be a good alternative for you. Best of luck ~ You're not alone. Open RNY 1/3/03 330/166 & holding at goal!
   — chelle3081

March 18, 2004
Your body is going through MAJOR shifts as it adjusts to the weight loss. Eventually it will settle down but in the mean time do the things she suggests and also check into some chiropractic for some of it. I have lost 200 lbs before and both that time and this time I experienced this phenomena. Low back pain was some of the worst for me but now it has settled out and my low back has not been too much of an issue since about 10 months PO. Which is amazing considering I have severe degenerative disc disease in the low back. <p>However, at about 9 months my knees became a major issue. I've had knee problems for years but had found ways to deal with it and minimize the effect on my life. But all of the sudden I developed severe pain along the outsides of both knees and it is unrelenting pain when it comes to going down stairs. I've been informed that knee replacements is the only fix. I will get another opinion or two but this particular surgeon is very conservative and would not have recommended replacements if there were other options. So even losing tons of weight doesn't mean all of the muskuloskeletal things go away - unfortunately!
   — zoedogcbr

March 18, 2004
I have had some very strange aches and pains that have come, stayed a few weeks and then left. Don't forget, your center of gravity is changing and everything needs to adjust. My tailbone does hurt some, but I think its from lack of padding!
   — lorien

March 18, 2004
Hi, I had the same problems. The answer is to see a chiropractor. Your body weight is shifting around after the weight loss. After a few visits of having my spine aligned the pain went away. Give it a try, I'm sure it will help. Good luck. Linda
   — kkubinski99

March 19, 2004
Yes, Our skeleton adjusts to the new us, how we carry ourselves and the physics of how our adjusted mass is supported by this frame of bone. My tailbone is huge! I have to be careful about plopping down on a hard chair, because I hit that big ole tail bone and shoot pain up my spine. I experienced back ache when I was losing lots of weight in a short period. I am now 18 months out and the weight loss is alot slower, but still losing. I think also that the bones will remodel and the frame may decrease some if the body mass remains less for long enough, just as the skeleton built up to accommodate my body being obese for several years. What is very important for all of us is to get our clacium in to keep our bones strong.
   — Jenny_B

March 19, 2004
My weight loss has not been massive, but I can still tell a difference in my posture, and now, at 16 months out, I have developed some nagging lower back pain. Tthe only thing I can come up with is that the changes in my body are causing the pain, therfore, my insurace company should pay for my abdominal reconstructive surgery. (At least that's what I am going to tell them!)
   — koogy