Question:
I'm living with alot of pain, and wondering if surgery will help me. My back kills me

my thighs and legs hurt constantly. I hate living on pain meds.    — Beverly F. (posted on December 13, 2002)

December 13, 2002
Before my surgery I had problems with my knees, feet and ankles hurting each morning as I got out of bed and my back would hurt all day. I had RNY 10/15/2002 and have lost 50 pounds so far and all pain is gone and I still have another 120 lbs to go. My doctor told me that any permanent damage that was done by the weight wouldn't be fixed, but pain caused by the weight would be greatly relieved. Good luck.
   — Yolanda J.

December 13, 2002
I used to suffer from severe back pain before surgery. With the loss of only 41 lbs so far....I have not had a day of pain since. I started at 318 lbs.
   — J. W.

December 13, 2002
I had back surgery in '91, then herniated another disc about a year before looking into WLS. It was what made me desparate enough to research it. I was living on pain meds and still in pain, but drugged up in pain every day. I am now 13 months post-op, at goal, and *almost* pain-free. I still have a herniated disc that acts up when, say, traveling long distances. But my usual day-to-day stuff doesn't bother me. I used to have to sit down and take a break in the middle of cooking, doing the dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc. Life was really difficult for me. WLS has given me my life back!!
   — Cheri M.

December 13, 2002
Ohhhhh! I am so glad you asked this question. Before my open RNY on 8/27/2001 I was in constant misery. 278 on a 5'2" frame was just too much for my body to handle. Just as everyone else who answered, I lived on pain killers just to get through the day. I still had pain on the medicines. Had the surgery, dropped 20 pounds and my back began feeling better immediatly. My asmtha calmed down as well. The more weight I lost the better I felt. Though I still have pain from other problems, so I am still living with the pain killers. I can honestly say that with much of the weight off, I can live with the pain easier. My depression is much much lower. The pain is just plain easier to deal with. Until someone has walked in our shoes, people just don't understand how miserable the weight makes us feel, and how it escalates other problems that might be alittle more barable. Good question. Have the surgery.
   — K T.